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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 --WEDNESDAY, May 1, 1861.
OPEN SESSION.
Congress met pursuant to adjournment.
Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Davis.
The Chair presented to Congress a communication and resolutions from the Baptist convention of the State of Georgia; which were, on motion of Mr. Wright, ordered to be spread upon the Journal, and are as follows:
Athens, Ga., April 29, 1861.
Sir: I have the honor of transmitting to you the accompanying resolutions unanimously passed on Saturday last by the Baptist convention of the State of Georgia, with the request that you will present them to the Congress over which you preside.
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That God will direct and bless the councils of the Congress and the Confederate Government is the prayer of the Baptist convention of Georgia, and of none more sincerely than your obedient servant,
N. M. CRAWFORD,
Chairman of the Committee.
Howell Cobb, President of Congress.
At the meeting of the Baptist convention of the State of Georgia the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously passed:
Whereas the State of Georgia, in the legitimate exercise of her sovereignty, has withdrawn from the confederacy known as the United States of America, and for the better maintenance of her rights, honor, and independence has united with other States in a new confederacy under the title of the Confederate States of America; and
Whereas Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States, is attempting by force of arms to subjugate these States in violation of the fundamental principles of American liberty: Therefore,
Mr. Shorter offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That one hundred copies of the Provisional and permanent Constitutions and the acts and resolutions of Congress passed up to and inclusive of the sixteenth of March, and from which the injunction of secrecy has been removed, be printed for the use of the Congress during the present session, and that the Committee on Printing be instructed to inquire and report as to the expediency of having printed extra copies of the same.
The resolution was agreed to.
Mr. Ochiltree introduced
A bill to be entitled "An act to establish a port of entry at Sabine Pass, in the State of Texas, and to provide for the appointment of a collector for the same;"
which was, on motion of Mr. Ochiltree, referred to the Committee on Commercial Affairs.
Mr. Hemphill presented a communication from R. T. Brownrigg, secretary of the convention of Texas, together with resolutions adopted by the convention; which were, on motion of Mr. Hemphill, ordered to be entered at large on the Journal, and are as follows:
City of Austin, Tex., Friday, March 15, 1861.
Messrs. John Gregg, W. B. Ochiltree, T. N. Waul, and W. S. Oldham,
Members of Congress.
Gentlemen: By instruction of the people of Texas, I transmit you the inclosed resolutions, adopted this day in convention.
To-day the additional returns of the votes upon the ordinance of secession were transmitted with the following result (in round numbers): Total vote received, 54,000; majority for secession, 31,500 votes.
Truly, your friend,
R. T. BROWNRIGG,
Secretary of the Convention.
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Resolved, That this convention has heard with profound satisfaction of the election of Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, and Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, to the offices of President and Vice-President of the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America, and that in their well-known ability, experience, and patriotism the country possesses ample guarantees that the high and important functions confided to them will be so administered in these times of peril as will redound to the safety, security, and best interests of the people.
Resolved further, That a copy of the foregoing resolution be communicated to our members of Congress at Montgomery.
Adopted in convention, at the city of Austin, on the 15th day of March, 1861.
R. T. BROWNRIGG,
Secretary of the Convention.
Mr. Bartow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs have permission to print such portions of the report of the Secretary of War and as many copies thereof as they may deem necessary;
which was adopted.
Congress went into secret session; and after remaining some time therein, adjourned until to-morrow, 12 o'clock.
SECRET SESSION.
Congress having resolved itself in secret session,
Mr. Clayton offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That so much of the report of the Attorney-General as relates to the administration of justice be referred to the Judiciary Committee and that so much as relates to the matter of printing be referred to the Committee on Printing.
The resolution was agreed to.
Mr. Rhett, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, reported
A bill to be entitled "An act recognizing the existence of war between the United States and the Confederate States; and concerning letters of marque, prizes, and prize goods;"
which was read a first and second time; and, on motion of Mr. Withers, was ordered to be placed on the Calendar to be printed and made the special order of to-morrow at 12 o'clock m.
Mr. Chilton offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Commercial Affairs be instructed at its earliest convenience to report a bill to regulate the coasting trade of this Confederacy and the registration of ships and vessels which shall supersede and be in lieu of all the existing laws of the United States which have been adopted by this Confederacy upon the subject of the coasting trade, registration, enrollment, and licensing of ships and vessels;
which was agreed to.
Mr. Ochiltree offered the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the necessity for the erection of a fort at Sabine Pass, on the southeast corner of the coast of the State of Texas, for the protection and defense of the same, and that the said committee be requested to report at the earliest practicable day by bill or otherwise;
which was agreed to.
Mr. Brooke offered the following resolution; which was agreed to, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the appointment of an Assistant Secretary of War.
Mr. Boyce reported a bill to change the seat of government from the city of Montgomery, Ala., to the city of Richmond, Va.; which
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was read the first and second times and ordered to be placed on the Calendar.
Mr. Cobb offered the following resolution; which was agreed to:
Resolved, That one hundred copies of the rules adopted for the government of Congress, and one hundred copies of the committees as now organized, be printed for the use of Congress.
Mr. Perkins, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill relative to telegraph lines in the Confederate States; which was read the first and second times and ordered to be printed and placed on the Calendar.
On motion of Mr. Brooke,
Congress adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.
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