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 [Sknatk Bill jNo. 151.] 
 
 SENATE, December H), 1863.— Read first and eecond times, 
 referred to the Committee on Finance, and ordered to be printed. 
 December 11, 1863. — One handred additional copies ordered to be 
 printed. 
 
 [Mr. Phflan. by leave j 
 
 A BILL 
 
 To be entitled An Act authorizing the issue of certain bonds of th« 
 Confederate ^^'tates, and making the coupons attached to the same a 
 legal tender in the payment of debta. 
 
 1 Section 1 . The Congress of the Confederate States of America 
 
 2 do enact, Thtit the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby required 
 S to issue, as isoon as practicable, five hundred millions of coupon 
 
 4 bonds of the Confederate States, in sums of not less than five 
 
 5 hundred dollars, pay:ible in twenty years, and bearing an 
 
 6 interest of six per cent, per annum, payable semi-annually. 
 
 I Seg. 2. Be it further enacted, That depositories, for the sale of 
 
 3 said bonds, shall be established at all the principal cities and 
 
 3 towns in the different States, and the same shall bo sold at tho 
 
 4 highest price — not less than their par value — for tho treasury 
 
 5 notes of the Confederate States, under rules and regulations to 
 
 6 be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. 
 
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 1 Skc. :i. lie it Jurtlm enacted. That the coupons, attached to 
 
 2 said bondp. whou due. slinll be a legal tender, in payment, iu 
 
 3 wlnde or in pnvt, of ;ill debts, obligations, contracts or judgments, 
 
 4 payable in dollar^?, «»v oilirr ile°cription of money; and a refusal 
 
 5 on the |tnrt of the owuej- of any such indebtedness, or his or her 
 
 6 authorized agent, to accept said coupons, in payment, in whole 
 
 7 or in part, of bis or her said claim, shall amount to a discharge, 
 
 8 in whole or in part, of any such claim, as the case may be; and 
 
 9 such tender and refusal may be pleaded in bar of a recovery for 
 
 10 the amount so tendered and refused; or furnish cause for a 
 
 11 perpetual injunction in any proceeding to enforce said claim in 
 
 12 any court of the respective States, or of the Confederate States. 
 
 1 Sec;. 4. Be it further enacted, That the fact, that said coupons 
 
 2 aif a Vgal tender in payment of debts, and that a refusal to 
 
 3 accept the t;ame, amouuis to a discharge of the indebtedness, in 
 
 4 payment of which, they were tendered, shall be distinctly stated 
 
 5 on the face of said coupons. 
 
 1 Slc. o. Be it further enacted. That said coupons shall be 
 
 2 receivable in payment of dl public dues, except the export dues 
 
 3 on cotton, and the same may be funded in bonds of the Confede- 
 
 4 rate States, payable in twenty years, bearing an interest of six 
 
 5 per cent, per annum, payable semi-annually. 
 
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