A message was received from the President, by his Private Secretary, Mr. Harrison, informing Congress that the President on yesterday approved and signed an act entitled "An act to establish certain post routes therein named."

Also, an act entitled "An act to provide for the further defense of the Bay of Mobile and the Alabama River."

Mr. Munnerlyn offered

A resolution that the Military Committee be instructed to inquire into the propriety of: First, allowing the chief surgeon of a hospital to grant furloughs to any sick soldier under his charge whenever in his judgment it may be necessary; second, allowing the colonel of a regiment under certificate of the surgeon to grant furloughs to sick soldiers without reference to the brigade commander, should he be inconveniently distant; third, allowing any soldier furloughed full transportation to his home and back;

which was laid on the table.

Mr. Conrad offered

A resolution that the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the expediency of enacting a law providing for some more convenient and expeditious method of procuring the dismissal of general officers for gross misconduct or neglect of duty, or manifest incompetency, than by the sentence of a court-martial;

which was read and laid upon the table.

Mr. Perkins offered

A joint resolution for the preservation of public documents;

which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Printing.

Also, a bill to provide for the employment of negroes on Government works; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Dupré presented the letter of S. C. Taylor in relation to a repeating gun; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, without being read.

Mr. Singleton offered

A resolution that the Secretary of War be requested, if not inconsistent with the public interest, to furnish to this House copies of the reports of Colonels Hunton, Griffin, and Featherston of the battle of Leesburg, or Ball's Bluff, on the 21st of October last; and a copy of the report of Colonel Barksdale of the engagement near Edwards Ferry on the 22d of the same month;

which was read and agreed to.

Mr. Davis introduced

A bill supplemental and amendatory of an act to authorize the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in certain cases;

which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Clapp introduced

A bill to provide for the removal or destruction of property in certain cases and to perpetuate the testimony in such cases;

which was read the first and second times, ordered to be printed, and referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. Bell offered

A resolution to authorize the Committee on Military Affairs to continue its labors during the vacation of Congress.

Mr. Curry moved that its consideration be postponed and that it be placed upon the Calendar.

Mr. Swan called the question; which being seconded, the motion was agreed to.

Upon motion of Mr. Kenner, the House then resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session;

When,

Mr. Chambers, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported as correctly enrolled

A bill of the Senate to regulate the mode of paying the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, and the disbursement of the contingent fund;

And the Speaker signed the same.

A message was received from the President, by his Private Secretary, Mr. Harrison, informing the House that he had this day approved and signed a joint resolution for the relief of Mrs. Julia Tyler, executrix of Hon. John Tyler.

Upon motion,

The House then adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.

SECRET SESSION.

The House being in secret session,

The Chair presented a message from the President; which is as follows:

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, March 24, 1862.

To the honorable the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

SIR: I herewith transmit for the consideration of the House of Representatives a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, with accompanying papers, which afford information sought by the resolution of the House of Representatives on the 17th instant.

I also suggest that these papers be regarded confidential, and be considered in secret session.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

On motion of Mr. Kenner, the House then went into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Curry being in the chair, on

A bill making appropriations for the support of the Government from 1st April to 30th November, 1862, and for objects hereinafter expressed;

and having spent some time therein, on motion of Mr. Kenner, the committee rose and, through their Chairman, Mr. Curry, reported that they had concluded the consideration of the bill and recommended its passage, with sundry amendments.

And the question being upon agreeing to the amendments of the committee,

Mr. Kenner demanded the previous question; and the demand being sustained, the amendments were agreed to, and are as follows, to wit: By filling the blank in the clause providing for the pay and mileage of Senators with the words "seventy thousand dollars.”

By filling the blank in the clause providing compensation for the clerks and officers of the Senate with the words "eight thousand four hundred and sixty-seven dollars."

By filling the blank in the clause appropriating the contingent fund of the Senate with the words "eight thousand dollars.”

By filling the blank in the clause for the pay and mileage of Members and Delegates of the House of Representatives with the words "three hundred thousand dollars."

By filling the blank in the clause fixing the compensation of clerks and officers of the House of Representatives with the words "seven thousand one hundred dollars." By filling the blank in the clause appropriating the contingent fund of the House of Representatives with the words "ten thousand dollars."

And in the clause relating to the salaries of the chief and subcollectors of the war tax, by striking out the words "three hundred and sixty-seven thousand two hundred" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "two hundred and fifty thousand." And in the clause relating to the wages of the assessors of the war tax, by striking out the words "four hundred and seventy-five thousand" and inserting in lieu thereof "three hundred thousand."

And by striking out in the clause relating to the rent of executive buildings the words "President's House," and also in the same clause, by striking out the words "fourteen thousand dollars” and inserting in lieu thereof the words "eleven thouand six hundred and twenty dollars."

And by inserting after the clause providing for the contingent expenses of the Department of War, as an additional clause, the following, to wit:

"For floating defenses of the western waters, five hundred thousand dollars, in accordance with the letter of the President of March twenty-fourth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and to be expended by the Secretary of War."

And by adding at the end of the bill, as additional clauses, the following, to wit: "For construction of ironclad vessels in Europe, two millions of dollars.'

Territorial.

"Salaries of the governor and commissioner of Indian affairs, and secretary, judge, attorney, and marshal of Arizona Territory, six thousand five hundred and sixty dollars."

"Compensation of members of the legislative assembly of Arizona Territory and pay of officers, twelve thousand dollars."

Contingent expenses of the legislative assembly of Arizona Territory, including printing the laws, five thousand dollars."

"Contingent expenses of Arizona Territory, seven hundred and seven dollars."

The bill was then engrossed and read a third time.

Mr. Lyons moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

Mr. Swan moved a call of the House.

The motion did not prevail.

Mr. Davis moved that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was lost.

A message was received from the President, by the hands of his Private Secretary, Mr. Harrison.

And on motion of Mr. Davis,

The House adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.

THIRTY-SECOND DAY-WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1862.

OPEN SESSION.

The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Right Rev. Bishop Johns.

Mr. Miles offered

A resolution that the President be requested to communicate to this House, if not deemed incompatible with the public interest, the number of vessels which have been commissioned as privateers, their tonnage, armament, and crews, together with the number, character, and value of the prizes which they have captured, so far as the Government may have received information of the same;

which was read and agreed to.

Mr. Miles also offered

A resolution that the Committee on Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of appointing a commission by law, to

be composed of such scientific and skillful persons as the President may select, whose duty it shall be to report to Congress at its next session a system of gold and silver coinage for the Confederate States;

which was read and agreed to.

Mr. Miles also introduced

A bill to promote the efficiency of the Medical Department of the Army;

which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Heiskell offered

A resolution requesting the Speaker to appoint a committee, to consist of three members, whose duty it shall be to inquire into the management of and inspect the various ordnance establishments in the city of Richmond and vicinity, and report on the condition of the same, with a view to increase the efficiency of the same, if practicable; which was read and agreed to.

Mr. Tibbs presented the letter of Capt. William L. Brown, asking pay for horses lost; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, without being read.

Mr. Gardenhire offered

A resolution that the special committee on the Roanoke affair be, and they are hereby, instructed to inquire whether the commissaries and quartermasters of East Tennessee are loyal to the South, and whether they, or some of them, have not squandered Southern funds upon Lincoln favorites, with a purpose to advance the cause of the despot.

Resolved, That said committee be authorized to send for persons and papers, if deemed necessary, and that they report the remedy by bill or otherwise; which was read and referred to the special committee on the destruction of public property.

Mr. Boteler presented a memorial from John McKown and others, asking pay for horses; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.

Also, a memorial of W. H. Raffner in reference to making Treasury notes a legal tender; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, without being read.

Mr. Chambliss presented a memorial from A. R. Smith, of Portsmouth, Va., asking certain relief; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.

Also, the communication of John E. McWilliams, asking pay for work; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.

Mr. Baldwin presented the memorial of J. C. Homan, of Rockingham, Va., asking pay for horses; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.

Mr. Lyons offered

A resolution that when a message shall be received from the President it shall be read immediately unless the House shall be engaged in voting, in which event it shall be read as soon as the vote has been completed and announced by the Speaker;

which was read and, upon motion of Mr. Royston, laid upon the table. Mr. Royston offered

C J-VOL 5-05-10

A resolution that the President be respectfully requested to communicate to the House of Representatives what additional sums of money, if any, in his judgment, are necessary to be appropriated by Congress at the present session in addition to the estimates proposed and sent to this House by the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy, in order to secure a more vigilant and successful prosecution of the war and effective defense of the Confederate States of America;

which was read and agreed to.

Mr. Garland offered

A resolution that the thirty-sixth rule of this House be so amended as to increase the number of members constituting the Committee on Military Affairs to thirteen, and the Speaker shall appoint four additional members on such committee in such manner that each State shall be represented on the same;

which was laid over under the rules.

Mr. Kenner, by the consent of the House, from the Committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred

A bill fixing the compensation of certain officers therein named, reported the same back, with the recommendation that it pass with an amendment.

The rules were suspended;

The bill was taken up.

Mr. Kenner, from the committee, moved to amend the bill by striking out all after the enacting clause; which is as follows:

That the annual compensation of the President of the Confederate States of America shall be at the rate of eighteen thousand dollars per annum, payable quarterly, and that the annual compensation of the Vice-President of the Confederate States of America, the Secretaries of State, of the Treasury, of War, of the Navy, the Postmaster-General, and the Attorney-General shall be at the rate of four thousand dollars each per annum, payable quarterly.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage,

and insert in lieu thereof the following words, viz:

That the President shall receive for his services during his term of office an annual salary of twenty-five thousand dollars, payable quarterly in advance, to commence on the twenty-second day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, the time at which he entered upon the duties of his office.

And be it further enacted, That until a suitable executive mansion shall be provided for the President, the rent of one suited to the purpose shall be paid by the Government.

Mr. Royston demanded the yeas and nays on agreeing to the amendment;

Which were ordered,

(Yeas.
7 Nays

60 [62]

16

And are recorded as follows, viz: Yeas: Arrington, Ashe, Atkins, Baldwin, Barksdale, Bell, Boteler, Boyce, Horatio W. Bruce, Eli M. Brace, Burnett, Chambers, Chambliss, Chilton, Chrisman, Clapp, Clark, Conrad, Conrow, Cooke, Crockett, Dargan, Davis, Dawkins, De Jarnette, Dupré, Garland, Herbert, Holcombe, Jenkins, Johnston, Kenan of Georgia, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Lander, Lewis, Lyon, Lyons, Machen, Marshall, McDowell, McLean, McRae, Miles, Moore, Munnerlyn, Perkins, Preston, Pugh, Read, Russell, Sexton, Singleton, Smith of Alabama, Staples, Strickland, Tibbs, Trippe, Villeré, Welsh, Wright of Texas, and Mr. Speaker.