cesses in Florida, northern Mississippi, western Tennessee and Kentucky, western Louisiana and eastern North Carolina, reflecting the highest honor on the skill and conduct of our commanders, and on the incomparable soldiers whom it is their privilege to lead. A naval attack on Mobile was so successfully repulsed at the outer works that the attempt was abandoned, and the nine months' siege of Charleston has been practically suspended, leaving that noble city and its fortresses imperishable monuments to the skill and fortitude of its defenders. The armies in northern Georgia and in northern Virginia still oppose with unshaken front a formidable barrier to the progress of the invader; and our generals, armies, and people are animated by cheerful confidence.

Let us then, while resolute in devoting all our energies to securing the realization of the bright auspices which encourage us, not forget that our humble and most grateful thanks are due to Him, without whose guidance and protecting care all human efforts are of no avail, and to whose interposition are due the manifold successes with which we have been cheered.

RICHMOND, May 2, 1864.

The message was read.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Ordered, That it lie upon the table and be printed.

The President pro tempore laid before the Senate the reports of the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of the Navy, the Postmaster-General, and the Attorney-General.

On motion by Mr. Orr,

Ordered, That they lie upon the table.

On motion by Mr. Haynes,

The Senate adjourned.

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1864.

OPEN SESSION.

Pursuant to the resolution of yesterday, the Senate proceeded, by ballot, to the appointment of the standing committees provided for by the thirty-first rule of the Senate, and the following committees were appointed:

A Committee on Foreign Relations, consisting of Mr. Orr (chairman), Mr. Wigfall, Mr. Caperton, Mr. Johnson of Missouri, and Mr. Simms.

A Committee on Finance, consisting of Mr. Barnwell (chairman), Mr. Hunter, Mr. Graham, Mr. Semmes, and Mr. Jemison.

A Committee on Commerce, consisting of Mr. Oldham (chairman), Mr. Dortch, Mr. Maxwell, Mr. Haynes, and Mr. Walker.

A Committee on Military Affairs and Militia, consisting of Mr. Sparrow (chairman), Mr. Wigfall, Mr. Burnett, Mr. Henry, and Mr. Johnson of Arkansas.

A Committee on Naval Affairs, consisting of Mr. Brown (chairman), Mr. Baker, Mr. Simms, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Johnson of Georgia. A Committee on the Judiciary, consisting of Mr. Hill (chairman), Mr. Haynes, Mr. Walker, Mr. Watson, and Mr. Semmes.

A Committee on Indian Affairs, consisting of Mr. Johnson of Arkansas (chairman), Mr. Johnson of Missouri, Mr. Oldham, Mr. Maxwell, and Mr. Caperton.

A Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, consisting of Mr. Mitchel (chairman), Mr. Jemison, Mr. Baker, Mr. Haynes, and Mr. Oldham.

A Committee on Public Lands, consisting of Mr. Baker (chairman), Mr. Henry, and Mr. Johnson of Arkansas.

A Committee on Patents and Patent Office, consisting of Mr. Maxwell (chairman), Mr. Hill, and Mr. Haynes.

A Committee on Claims, consisting of Mr. Burnett (chairman), Mr. Baker, and Mr. Johnson of Missouri.

A Committee on Territories, consisting of Mr. Wigfall (chairman), Mr. Mitchel, and Mr. Barnwell.

A Committee on Accounts, consisting of Mr. Caperton (chairman), Mr. Dortch, and Mr. Simms.

A Committee on Printing, consisting of Mr. Watson (chairman), Mr. Orr, and Mr. Haynes.

A Committee on Engrossment and Enrollment, consisting of Mr. Dortch (chairman), Mr. Caperton, and Mr. Maxwell.

On motion by Mr. Orr,

Ordered, That the Secretary cause a list of the standing committees to be printed for the use of the Senate.

On motion by Mr. Orr,

Ordered, That the report of the Secretary of the Navy be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs; that the report of the Secretary of the Treasury be referred to the Committee on Finance; that the report of the Secretary of War be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs; that the report of the Postmaster-General be referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, and that the report of the Attorney-General be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. On motion by Mr. Orr, and by unanimous consent,

Ordered, That 200 additional copies of the President's message be printed for the use of the Senate.

On motion by Mr. Orr,

Ordered, That so much of the President's message as relates to foreign affairs be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations; that so much as relates to the finances be referred to the Committee on Finance; that so much as relates to military affairs be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and that so much as relates to naval affairs be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

On motion by Mr. Sparrow,

The Senate adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1864.

OPEN SESSION.

Mr. Johnson of Arkansas submitted the following resolution for consideration:

Resolved (the House of Representatives concurring), That the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives adjourn their respective Houses, sine die, on Monday, the sixteenth day of May, instant, at twelve o'clock meridian.

Mr. Hill presented the memorial of officers of Anderson's brigade, praying a change in the law granting rations to officers of the Army; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Sparrow presented the memorial of Messrs. Wedderburn & Alfriend, proprietors of the Southern Literary Messenger, praying exemption from military service; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Sparrow (by leave) introduced

A bill (S. 1) to provide and organize a general staff for service in the field, to serve during the war;

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

Mr. Brown (by leave) introduced

A bill (S. 2) for the establishment and equalization of the grades of officers of the Navy, and for other purposes;

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

Mr. Dortch (by leave) introduced

A joint resolution (S. 1) of thanks to Major-General Hoke and Commander Cooke and the officers and men under their command for the brilliant victory over the enemy at Plymouth, N. C.;

which was read the first and second times and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment being proposed, it was reported to the Senate.

Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time.

The said resolution was read the third time.

Resolved, That it pass, and that the title thereof be as aforesaid. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.

Mr. Graham submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Finance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the act to tax, fund, and limit the currency, passed at the last session of Congress, so as to provide that bonds of the Confederate States to be received by any State in pursuance of the twelfth section of said act shall be coupon bonds, and exempt from taxation, and that all Confederate notes of any of the old issues held by any State on the first day of April, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, may, at the option of such State, be exchanged for such bonds, or for Treasury notes of the new issue; and further, that all just demands of any State against the Confederate Government accruing but unpaid, prior to the said first day of April, shall be paid in Treasury notes of the new issue provided for by said act.

Mr. Orr (by leave) introduced

A bill (S. 3) to authorize officers of the Army and Navy to purchase rations;

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

Mr. Orr presented the petition of employees and detailed men in the Quartermaster's and other departments at Columbia, S. C., praying additional compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. Orr submitt d the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Printing be instructed to inquire and report the causes of delay in executing the printing of the laws passed by the Provisional Congress and other public printing ordered by the Senate during the last Congress, and what, if any, order is necessary to secure its execution.

Mr. Caperton presented the petition of the governor, treasurer, and auditor of public accounts of the State of Virginia, praying that provision may be made for the redemption of the Confederate States Treasury notes held by the State of Virginia on the first day of April, 1864; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. Maxwell (by leave) introduced

A joint resolution (S. 2) of thanks to General Finegan and the officers and men of his command;

which was read the first and second times and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment being proposed, it was reported to the Senate.

Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time.

The said resolution was read the third time.

Resolved, That it pass, and that the title thereof be as aforesaid. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.

Mr. Johnson of Arkansas (by leave) introduced

A bill (S. 4) to provide means of transit across the Mississippi River for members of Congress residing west of said river in going to and returning from the Confederate States Congress;

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

On motion by Mr Hill,

The Senate adjourned.

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1864.

OPEN SESSION.

The Hon. Robert W. Barnwell, from the State of South Carolina, attended.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Dalton:

Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed the following resolution; in which they request the concurrence of the Senate:

“Resolved, That the Doorkeeper be directed to furnish to the proper officer of the Senate, for distribution in that body, copies of all bills and other papers printed for the use of this House, and that the Senate be requested to adopt a like rule as to the papers printed for the use of the Senate."

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted yesterday by Mr. Johnson of Arkansas, fixing a day for the adjournment of Congress; and

On motion by Mr. Hill,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Sparrow submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Finance be instructed to inquire—

First. Into the propriety of so amending the first section of the act entitled “An act to levy additional taxes for the common defense and support of the Government," approved February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, that the value of the property specified in said section shall be estimated at the time of assessment, like other property taxed by said act.

Second. That, should the committee disapprove this change, they then inquire into the expediency of modifying the said first section of the said act so that in estimating the value of the productions paid as tithes, the same shall be estimated according to the value thereof in the year eighteen hundred and sixty.

Mr. Brown (by leave) introduced

A bill (S. 5) to protect Senators and Representatives in Congress from annoyance when traveling in the Confederate States;

which was read the first and second times and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and

66

On motion by Mr. Sparrow, to amend the bill by striking out against," line 12, and inserting without,

66

It was determined in the negative.

No further amendment being proposed, the bill was reported to the Senate.

Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time.

The said bill was read the third time and the title was amended. Resolved, That it pass, and that the title thereof be "An act to provide passports for Senators and Representatives in Congress when traveling in the Confederate States."

Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.

Mr. Johnson of Missouri (by leave) introduced

A joint resolution (S. 3) of thanks to Missouri officers and soldiers in the Confederate service east of the Mississippi River;

which was read the first and second times and considered as in ComImittee of the Whole; and no amendment being proposed, it was reported to the Senate.

Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time.

The said resolution was read the third time.

Resolved, That it pass, and that the title thereof be as aforesaid. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.

Mr. Johnson of Missouri (by leave) introduced

A bill (S. 6) for the relief of States holding Confederate securities; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. Dortch (by leave) introduced

A joint resolution (S. 4) for the relief of John D. Southerland; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. Barnwell presented the memorial of officers of the First Army Corps, praying a change in the law granting rations to officers of the Army; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Orr (by leave) introduced

A bill (S. 7) to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for the payment of the interest on the removal and subsistence fund due the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina," so as to authorize the Secretary of War to pay the interest in cash or provisions;

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

Mr. Orr submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire and report what, if any, legislation is necessary to vacate the commissions of general, field, and staff officers who have no commands or duties to perform.

Mr. Orr submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire and report upon the expediency of reducing the cavalry force now in the service of the Confederate States, in consequence of the scarcity of forage.

Mr. Haynes submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That twenty-eight copies of the acts and resolutions of the Provisional Congress, and treaties, with the table of contents, be bound in pamphlet form by the Public Printer, and furnished by him to the Senate for the use of its members,