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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journal of the Confederate Congress --SEVENTH DAY--WEDNESDAY, November 27, 1861.
OPEN SESSION.
Congress met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Hoge.
Mr. Brockenbrough announced the presence of Mr. A. R. Bottler, a Delegate-elect from the State of Virginia, who came forward, presented his credentials, and was duly qualified.
Congress then resolved itself into secret session.
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SECRET SESSION.
Congress being in secret session, resumed the consideration of the unfinished business of yesterday, which was the consideration of the motion of Mr. Harris to reconsider the vote by which the resolution offered by Mr. Brooke was rejected.
Mr. Sparrow, at the instance of the State of Louisiana, demanded that the yeas and nays of the whole body be recorded thereon; which are as follows, to wit:
The following States voted in the affirmative:
Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia.
Those voting in the negative are,
Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
So the motion to reconsider did not prevail.
Mr. Hale, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the message of the President and the accompanying documents relative to the admission of Missouri, reported and recommended the passage of
A bill to admit the State of Missouri into the Confederacy, as a member of the Confederate States of America;
which was read first and second times, engrossed, read a third time.
The question being upon the passage of the bill, Mr. Johnson, at the instance of the State of Arkansas, demanded that the yeas and nays of the whole body be recorded thereon; which are as follows, to wit:
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All the States voting in the affirmative, so the bill was passed.
A message was received from the President, by the hands of his Private Secretary, Mr. Josselyn.
Mr. Memminger moved to amend the preamble of the bill; which is as follows, to wit:
The general assembly of the State of Missouri, for and on behalf of the people thereof, having passed an act dissolving all political connection between the Government of the United States of America and the people and government of the State of Missouri, and another act adopting and ratifying the Constitution for the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America, and accepting the provisions of the act of Congress of the Confederate States entitled "An act to aid the State of Missouri in repelling invasion by the United States, and to authorize the admission of said State as a member of the Confederate States of America, and for other purposes," approved on the twentieth day of August, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, both of which acts so passed by the general assembly of the State of Missouri were approved by the governor thereof on the thirty-first day of October, eighteen hundred and sixty-one: Therefore,
By preceding the same with the following words, to wit:
Whereas it is the will of the people of the State of Missouri to dissolve the connection of that State with the United States; and whereas in pursuance of that will.
Mr. Hill moved to amend the amendment by adding at the end of the preamble the following words, to wit:
And this Congress having satisfactory evidence that the action of the general assembly reflects the will of the people of said State, and who are prevented from any other expression of such will by an armed invasion of the State.
Mr. Johnson of Arkansas called the question, which was upon agreeing to the amendment offered by Mr. Memminger; and the call being seconded, the vote was taken, and the amendment was not agreed to.
The question then being upon agreeing to the amendment offered by Mr. Hill, the vote was taken, and the amendment was agreed to.
The question then recurring upon agreeing to the preamble as amended, Mr. Walker, at the instance of the State of Alabama, demanded that the yeas and nays of the whole body be recorded thereon; which are as follows, to wit:
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Those States which voted in the affirmative are,
Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.
Those in the negative are,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
The States of Alabama and Virginia being divided.
So the preamble as amended was not agreed to.
A message was received from the President, by the hands of his Private Secretary, Mr. Josselyn.
Mr. Hale, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred a resolution of inquiry as to the expediency of allowing captains of companies to draw the pay of deceased soldiers, reported
A bill for the relief of the heirs and distributees of deceased soldiers; which was read first and second times and placed on the Calendar.
The Chair presented a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, recommending the balance of the funds on hand in his Department under the appropriation act of May, 1861, be transferred for the pay of officers on and off duty; which was read and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Also, a communication from the Doorkeeper of Congress relative to rooms for committees; which was read and referred to the Committee on Public Buildings.
Mr. Curry moved that the Chair appoint an additional member to that committee; which was agreed to.
Mr. Boteler was announced by the Chair as the appointee in obedience to the motion.
The Chair presented a communication from the President; which was read, as follows:
Richmond, Va., November 27, 1861.
Hon. Howell Cobb,
President of the Congress.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the resolution requesting me to communicate to Congress the reports of all battles not heretofore communicated to Congress or published in full to the country; and to reply that copies of all such reports trove been prepared to accompany the report of the Secretary of War, to which it was supposed proper to append them as documents.
I nope very soon to be able to transmit the report of the Secretary of War with all the documents which usually and properly attend it, those specially called for included.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Also, a communication from the President, transmitting to Congress communication from the Attorney-General, with the report of the Superintendent of Public Printing, containing estimates for appropriations; which were read and referred to the Committee on Public Printing.
Mr. T. R. R. Cobb introduced
A resolution instructing the Committee on the Judiciary to inquire into the expediency of amending the sequestration act;
which was read and agreed to.
Also, a resolution instructing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the expediency of the law authorizing a second junior
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lieutenant and fifth sergeant to infantry companies; which was read and agreed to.
Also, a resolution instructing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the expediency of so amending the laws as to allow payment for cavalry horses killed or lost by accident in the service; which was read and agreed to.
Also, a resolution instructing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the expediency of allowing commutation for rations not drawn by companies upon notice given to the Commissary Department; which was read and agreed to.
Mr. McRae presented a memorial of certain citizens of Alabama; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, without being read.
Mr. Miles presented a memorial of certain citizens of Charleston, S.C.; which was referred to the Committee on Finance, without being read.
Mr. Boyce presented the petition of Edw. J. Arthur; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, without being read.
Mr. Chilton introduced
A resolution instructing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the practicability of providing a way for sick soldiers to obtain their discharges, pay, and transportation without their personal attendance; which was read and agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Rhett,
Congress then adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow morning.
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