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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 --THURSDAY, May 2, 1861.
OPEN SESSION.
Congress met pursuant to adjournment.
Prayer being offered, Mr. Morton announced the presence of his colleague, Mr. George T. Ward, who had been appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Anderson.
The Chair administered the oath to Mr. Ward, and he took his seat.
Mr. Morton moved that the Chair fill the vacancies in the standing committees occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Anderson.
The motion prevailed, and the Chair appointed Mr. Ward in the place and stead of Mr. Anderson on the Committees on Military Affairs and Public Lands.
Mr. Wright introduced
A bill further to provide for the public defense;
which was, on motion of Mr. Morton, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Bartow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported the following resolutions:
A resolution of thanks to Brigadier-General G. T. Beauregard and the army under his command for their conduct in the affair of Fort Sumter.
Be it resolved unanimously by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the thanks of the people of the Confederate States are due, and through this Congress are hereby tendered, to Brigadier-General G. T. Beauregard and his officers and to the gallant troops of the State of South Carolina for the skill, fortitude, and courage by which they reduced and caused the surrender of Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, on the twelfth and thirteenth days of April, eighteen hundred and sixty-one. And the commendation of Congress is also hereby declared of the generosity manifested by their conduct toward a brave and vanquished foe.
Be it further resolved, That a copy of this resolution be communicated by the President to General Beauregard and through him to the army then under his command.
The resolutions were agreed to.
Mr. Morton presented a memorial from citizens of Florida relative to the defenseless condition of Tampa Bay Harbor; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Bartow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported
A bill to provide for the appointment of chaplains in the Army; which was read a first and second time, engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Shorter moved to amend the standing rules by the adoption of the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That all propositions affecting our foreign relations or looking to the public defense be submitted to the Congress while in secret session.
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The same was adopted.
Congress went into secret session; and after remaining some time therein, adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.
SECRET SESSION.
Congress having gone into secret session, proceeded to the consideration of the special order, viz:
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."
The preamble having been reported, Mr. Withers moved a substitute therefor.
On motion of Mr. Conrad, the further consideration of the bill was postponed until to-morrow, and it was ordered that the substitute for the preamble offered by Mr. Withers, together with any other amendments which may be handed in, be printed.
The first regular order on the Calendar being
A bill to be entitled "An act relative to telegraph lines in the Confederate States."
Congress took up the same by sections.
The second section being as follows:
On motion of Mr. Perkins, the first blank was filled with the words "three thousand" and the other by the words "one thousand."
The fourth section being as follows:
Mr. Nisbet moved to amend the same by inserting after the words "telegraphic lines," where they occur, the words "now in hand or hereafter to be received."
Mr. Howell Cobb moved to postpone the further consideration of the bill until to-morrow.
The motion prevailed.
On motion of Mr. Brooke,
Congress adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.
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