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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 --FRIDAY, March 8, 1861.
OPEN SESSION.
Congress met pursuant to adjournment.
Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Pellicer.
The Journal of yesterday was read and approved.
Mr. Wright presented a letter from Wesley Miller; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Clayton, from the Committee on Judiciary, reported a bill to be entitled
An act to establish a court of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction at Key West, in the State of Florida;
which was read a first and second time and ordered to be placed on the Calendar and to be printed.
Mr. Sparrow offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire and report the present condition of the custom-house in New Orleans, and what repairs, if any, are immediately necessary to preserve the same from damage, and also to report a bill providing accommodation for the Federal courts in said city, and for the preservation of the records thereof;
which was adopted.
Mr. Conrad presented a letter from Alexander Walker relative to providing for the safety of passengers on boats propelled by steam; which was referred to the Committee on Commercial Affairs.
The regular orders on the Public Calendar were postponed for the time and Congress went into secret session; and after remaining some time therein, adjourned till 10 o'clock to-morrow.
SECRET SESSION.
Congress having gone into secret session,
The Journal of yesterday was read and approved.
Mr. Anderson laid before Congress a resolution of the convention of Florida; which was ordered to be spread on the Journal, and is as follows:
Resolved, That we heartily and cheerfully indorse and confirm the action of our Delegates in the Southern Congress at Montgomery, Ala., as reported to us by one of said Delegates.
Passed in convention, February 27, 1861.
W. S. HARRIS,
Secretary of the Convention.
Mr. Barnwell, from the Committee on Finance, reported
A bill to create the clerical force of the Navy Department; which was read a first and second time and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
The bill was then read a third time and passed.
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Mr. Conrad, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported
A bill to be entitled "An act to provide for the organization of the Navy;" which was read a first and second time and ordered to be placed on the Calendar and to be printed.
Mr. Shorter, from the Committee on Engrossment, reported as correctly engrossed and enrolled
An act to create the clerical force of the Navy Department.
A message was received from the President that he had approved and signed
An act to create the clerical force of the Navy Department.
The Chair laid before the Congress the following communication, viz:
Montgomery, Ala., March 8, 1861.
Hon. Howell Cobb,
President of the Congress of the Confederate States of America.
Sir: I have been instructed by the State convention of Alabama to communicate, through you, to the body over which you preside, the inclosed resolution.
With the highest respect, I am your obedient servant,
JOHN COCHRAN.
The following is the resolution inclosed in said communication:
Resolved, That the members of the Congress of the Confederate States of America be invited to seats in the hall of this convention in secret and open session.
Attest:A. G. HORN, Secretary.
Mr. Chilton, from the Committee on Postal Affairs, reported
A bill to organize the Post-Office Department;
which was read a first and second time and, on motion of Mr. Barnwell, was referred to the Committee on Finance.
Congress proceeded to the consideration of a bill to be entitled
An act to authorize the issue of Treasury notes.
The sixth section being as follows:
Mr. Toombs moved to amend the same by inserting after the words "be offered in payment thereof" the words "except the export duty on certain;" which was agreed to, and the section as amended is as follows:
Mr. Memminger moved to amend the title of the bill so as to make it read as follows:
A bill to authorize the issue of Treasury notes, and to prescribe the punishment for forging the same, and for forging certificates of stock, bonds, or coupons;
which was agreed to.
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Mr. Bartow, from the Committee on Military Affairs: reported
A bill to be entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of 3,000 men for twelve months, to be called into service at Charleston, S.C., under the third and fourth sections of an act of Congress 'to raise provisional forces for the Confederate States of America, and for other purposes;'"
which was referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. Bartow also reported
A bill to be entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of the Regular Army of the Confederate States of America for twelve months, and for other purposes;"
which was also referred to the Committee on Finance.
Congress then took up for consideration
A bill to be entitled "An act to fix the compensation and mileage of members of Congress."
The bill being as follows:
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the pay of members of Congress shall be eight dollars per day during the session, and that each member shall be allowed ten cents per mile for coming to and ten cents per mile for returning from the place where Congress may assemble for each session, to be computed by the nearest mail route from his residence to the seat of government.
Mr. Hill moved to amend the same by striking out the words "eight dollars per day during the session;" which was lost.
Mr. Withers moved to amend by striking out the words "eight dollars" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "five dollars;" which was lost.
Mr. Waul moved to amend the same by striking out the words "ten cents per mile," where they occur, and inserting in lieu thereof the words "twenty cents per mile;" which was also lost, the States voting as follows:
Yea: Texas.
Nay: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina.
Louisiana divided.
Mr. Toombs moved to add an additional section to the bill, as follows:
Mr. Toombs, from the Committee on Finance, made the following report:
The Committee on Finance, to which was referred the "resolution to continue the mints at New Orleans and Dahlonega," have considered the same and instruct me to report the same back without amendment and to recommend its passage.
R. TOOMBS, Chairman.
Congress took up the resolution.
Mr. Curry moved to amend the same by adding thereto the following words: "Provided, That the mint at Dahlonega be abolished after twelve months;" which was lost.
The resolution was then ordered to be engrossed; which having been done, was read a third time and adopted, and secrecy ordered to be removed therefrom when approved by the President.
On motion of Mr. Bartow, it was ordered that the injunction of secrecy be removed from all acts passed by the Congress and approved by the President, relative to the organization of military forces for the Confederate States.
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On motion of Mr. Harrison, it was agreed that Congress take a recess from 3.30 o'clock p. m. to 7.30 o'clock p. m.
Mr. Shorter, from the Committee on Engrossment, reported as correctly engrossed and enrolled
A resolution to continue the mints at New Orleans and Dahlonega.
Mr. Barnwell offered a bill to provide for an assistant treasurer of the Confederate States of America in the city of New Orleans: which was read the first and second times.
The provisos as follows:
Provided, That it shall not be necessary that each surety shall bind himself for the whole amount of the bond, but the aggregate amount for which the sureties are severally bound shall be equal to the full sum of one hundred thousand dollars: Provided: That each surety shall be bound for at least twenty-five thousand dollars;
On motion of Mr. Barnwell, was amended by striking out the words "twenty-five" and inserting in lieu thereof the word "twenty."
The bill was engrossed as amended, read a third time, and passed.
The title of the bill was then amended, and is as follows:
A bill to provide for an assistant treasurer of the Confederate States of America, and an assistant treasurer of the mint in the city of New Orleans.
Mr. Bartow reported
A bill to admit certain materials for the construction of a telegraphic line from Savannah, in the State of Georgia, to Fort Pulaski free of duty;
which was read the first and second times.
On motion of Mr. McRae, the same was amended by adding the following additional section, to wit:
And be it further enacted, That the materials necessary to construct a telegraph line from Mobile to Fort Morgan may also be imported free of duty.
The bill was engrossed, read a third time and passed as amended, under the following title:
A bill to admit certain materials for the construction of a telegraphic line from Savannah, in the State of Georgia, to Fort Pulaski, and a telegraphic line from Mobile to Fort Morgan.
Congress then adjourned until 10 o'clock a. m. to-morrow.
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