The Chair appointed Mr. Welsh of Mississippi. Mr. Goode introduced A bill to amend the act entitled "An act to exempt certain persons from enrollment for service in the armies of the Confederate States;' which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Boteler offered A joint resolution of thanks to Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson and the officers and men under his command; which was read the first and second times and, the rules being suspended, was engrossed, read a third time, and passed unanimously. Mr. Chambliss offered the following resolution; which was readand agreed to, to wit: Resolved, That the Military Committee inquire into the expediency of directing all soldiers now in the service of the Confederate States under the age of eighteen years to be discharged at once, and forbidding the future enlistment of persons under that age. Mr. Collier offered A resolution instructing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the expediency of so amending existing laws as to require the commutation value of clothing for the Army to be fixed at its actual cost value; which was read and agreed to. Mr. Lyons offered A joint resolution in relation to providing for the families of soldiers; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Commictee on Military Affairs. Mr. Russell introduced A bill to be entitled "An act relating to Kansas;" which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Public Lands and Territories. Mr. Garnett gave notice that he would move to change the rules; which was laid over for two days under the rules. The Chair announced as the Committee to Examine Hospitals: Messrs. Wright of Georgia, Farrow of South Carolina, Goode of Virginia, Smith of North Carolina, and Bell of Missouri. And as the Committee on the War Tax: Messrs. Ayer of South Carolina, Lyon of Alabama, Heiskell of Tennessee, Collier of Virginia, Chrisman of Kentucky, Lander of North Carolina, Sexton of Texas, Welsh of Mississippi, Clark of Georgia, Conrow of Missouri, Hilton of Florida, and Hanly of Arkansas. On motion of Mr. Elliott, The House adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow. FIFTH DAY-FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1862. OPEN SESSION. The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Bishop Early. Mr. Currin introduced A joint resolution of thanks to Col. N. B. Forrest and the officers and men under his command; which was read the first and second times and, the rules being suspended, was engrossed, read a third time, and passed unanimously. Mr. Foster offered A resolution requesting the President to furnish the report of Gen. George B. Crittenden of the battle of Fishing Creek; which was read and agreed to. On motion, leave of absence was granted Messrs. McRae and Baldwin, on account of sickness. On motion of Mr. Jones, the House then resolved itself into Committee of the Whole on the message of the President and accompanying documents, Mr. Curry being in the chair; and having spent some time therein, rose and reported, through their Chairman, that they had had under consideration the matter referred to them, and had come to no conclusion thereon. On motion of Mr. Kenan, the House resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session. The Chair presented a message from the President; which was read and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, and is as follows, to wit: RICHMOND, VA., August 22, 1862. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States: I herewith transmit for your information a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, supplementary to his report appended to my message to Congress of the 18th instant, and covering the report of Lieut. John W. Dunnington, Confederate States Navy, of the engagement at St. Charles, on the White River, in the State of Arkansas. On motion, JEFFERSON DAVIS. 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: RICHMOND, VA., August 22, 1862. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States: I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, covering estimates of the amount required to meet a certain contract, to which I invite your careful consideration. JEFFERSON DAVIS. On motion, the message and accompanying documents were referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. Mr. Vest presented a memorial concerning the building of gunboats on the Mississippi River; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, without being read. And on motion of Mr. Foote, The House resolved itself into open session. SIXTH DAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1862. OPEN SESSION. The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Bishop Early. On motion of Mr. Holt, the rules were suspended to enlarge the Committee on Commerce by the addition of one member; and The Chair appointed Mr. Hartridge thereon. On motion, leave of absence was granted Mr. Royston, on account of sickness in his family. Mr. Miles introduced A bill to authorize the grant of medals as a reward for courage and good conduct on the field of battle; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Also, a bill changing the organization of the Engineer Corps of the Provisional Army; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Also, a bill to authorize the appointment of additional officers of artillery for ordnance duties; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Also, a bill concerning partisan rangers; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Also, a bill to regulate promotion in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States, and to amend the act entitled "An act to further provide for the public defense," approved April 16, 1862; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Also, a bill to increase and regulate the appointment of general officers in the Provisional Army; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Gartrell introduced A bill amendatory of an act entitled "An act concerning the transportation of soldiers, and allowance for clothing of volunteers," etc., approved May 21, 1861; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Bonham offered joint resolutions of thanks to Col. Thomas G. Lamar and the officers and men engaged in the battle of Secessionville; which was read the first and second times, and the rules being suspended, the resolution was taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed unanimously. Mr. Villeré offered joint resolutions in relation to P. Soulé; which were read the first and second times and, the rules being suspended, were taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed. Mr. Clopton moved a suspension of the rules to enable the Chair to enlarge the Committee on Naval Affairs by the addition of one member. The motion prevailed; and The Chair appointed Mr. Hodge thereon. On motion of Mr. Jones of Tennessee, the House then resolved itself into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Curry being in the chair; and having spent some time therein, the committee rose and Mr. Curry reported that the Committee of the Whole had had under considera tion the President's message and accompanying documents, and reported thereon the following resolutions, to wit: Resolved, That so much of the President's message and accompanying documents as relates to finance be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. That so much as relates to the Army be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. That so much as relates to the Navy be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. That so much as relates to the Indian nations be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs; which were read and agreed to. Mr. Barksdale, by the consent of the House, introduced joint resolutions of thanks to Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn and the officers and soldiers under his command and the citizens of Vicksburg, Miss.; which were read the first and second times and, the rules being suspended, were taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed. Mr. Clopton offered A resolution that the Committee on Ways and Means be instructed to inquire and report what further legislation, if any, is necessary to protect the Government and people of the Confederate States against the disastrous consequences of a counterfeited currency; which was read and agreed to. Mr. Chilton offered A resolution that the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting such amendment to the bill usually called the conscript law as shall provide for exempting or detailing from military service such number of physicians as shall be necessary to provide for the families of our soldiers and our citizens sufficient medical aid, also a sufficient number of persons to keep in subjection our slaves and direct their industrial pursuits; which was read and agreed to. Mr. Hanly offered A resolution instructing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into existing laws and regulations of the War Department pertaining to the payment of the monthly pay and commutation money of the men and noncommissioned officers of our Army, and report to this House whether in their opinion any change is necessary to insure prompt payment of the same, and if so, that they be directed to report by bill at their earliest convenience; which was read and agreed to. Mr. Lewis presented the memorial of sundry citizens of Georgia in relation to the pay of collectors of the war tax; which was referred to the Special Committee on the War Tax, without being read. Mr. Strickland offered the following resolution: Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for carrying into effect the fifth clause of the eighth section of the first article of the Constitution, and also of putting in operation the mint at Dahlonega in the State of Georgia; and report by bill or otherwise; which was read and agreed to. Mr. Hartridge introduced A bill to amend an act approved February 15, 1862, entitled "An act to alter and amend an act entitled 'An act for the sequestration of the estates, property, and effects of alien enemies,"" etc.; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Munnerlyn presented the petition of sundry citizens of Georgia in relation to Sunday mails; which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, without being read. Mr. Trippe offered joint resolutions in relation to the discharge of noncommissioned officers and privates in certain cases; which were read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Jones of Tennessee moved that the House reconsider the vote by which the resolution offered by Mr. Clopton in reference to protecting the Government and people against counterfeit currency was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. 66 The motion prevailed. Mr. Jones moved to amend the same by striking out the words Ways and Means" and inserting in lieu thereof the word "Judiciary." The motion prevailed, and the resolution as amended was agreed to. Mr. Read offered A resolution that the office of sergeant-at-arms be created, and that this House proceed to the election of that officer on Monday, the 25th instant, at 12 o'clock m.; which was, on motion of Mr. Gartrell, laid on the table. Mr. Moore introduced joint resolutions of thanks to Major-General Breckinridge and his army; which were read the first and second times and, the rules being suspended, were taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed. Mr. Crockett offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to report to this House, at as early a day as practicable, from the most reliable statistics or other information accessible to them, the number of additional troops that will be raised in the Confederate States by so amending what is commonly known as the "conscript law" as to make it embrace all between the ages of thirty-five and forty-five years; which was read and agreed to. Mr. Machen offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be requested to inquire into the practical operations of the law of exemptions, as applicable to manufactures within the Confederacy, and that they report to this House whether or not abuses have not occurred under said law by the employment in manufactures of many able-bodied citizens liable to military duty to the exclusion of slave labor, when that kind of labor has been superabundant in the region where the manufactory was located; which was agreed to. Mr. Dupré introduced A bill to provide further compensation of collectors of the war tax in States which have assumed the payment thereof, and for other purposes; which was read the first and second times, referred to the Special Committee on the War Tax, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Dupré presented the memorial of Joseph A. McCoy, of Louisiana, in relation to bids for carrying the mails; which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, without being read. Mr. Villeré introduced A bill granting certain powers to generals; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Perkins offered |