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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 --SATURDAY, May 11, 1861.
OPEN SESSION.
Congress met pursuant to adjournment.
Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Montgomery.
Mr. McRae presented certain claims in favor of C. M. Godbold, late United States marshal; which were referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. Shorter, from the Committee on Accounts, presented an account against the Executive Department; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. Conrad presented a certain claim in favor of Nathan Stephens; which was referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. Gregg presented resolutions passed by the legislature of the State of Texas relative to the establishment of a court of admiralty jurisdiction for the State of Texas; which were referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
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Congress went into secret session; and after remaining some time therein, adjourned until 12 o'clock Monday next.
SECRET SESSION.
Congress having resolved itself in secret session,
The Chair presented a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury inclosing tabular statement showing the rates of duty on merchandise, etc., imported into the Confederate States; which were referred to the Committee on Finance.
The Chair also laid before Congress a report from the Secretary of the Treasury in relation to the finances of the Confederate States; which was also referred to the Committee on Finance.
The unfinished business was postponed for the time, and Mr. Smith offered the following resolution; which was agreed to, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire whether any legislation is necessary in respect to seizures made by this Government on the seas, and if so, to report by bill to effectuate the purpose.
Mr. Cobb offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Postal Affairs be instructed to inquire into the propriety of allowing all letters from our soldiers not in garrison to be carried in the mail free of postage;
which was adopted.
Mr. Rhett, from the Committee on Permanent Constitution, to which were referred the resolutions offered by Mr. Curry, suggesting amendments to the Constitution, reported adversely to the propositions therein contained, and that the resolutions be laid on the table.
The report was agreed to, and the resolutions were laid on the table.
Mr. Bartow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred a memorial from R. O. Davidson relative to "aerial locomotion by man," reported the same back, and also reported that it be laid on the table.
The report was agreed to.
Mr. Shorter, from the Committee on Engrossment, reported as correctly engrossed and enrolled
An act to amend an act entitled "An act to fix the pay of members of the Congress of the Confederate States of America," approved March 11, 1861; also
An act in relation to the Confederate loan.
Congress proceeded to the consideration of
A bill to amend an act entitled "An act further to provide for the organization of the Post-Office Department," approved March 9, 1861.
The last section thereof being as follows:
On motion of Mr. Chilton, the same was amended by filling the blank with the words "two hundred."
The bill as amended was then engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
A message was received from the President that he had approved and signed
An act to amend an act to provide for the public defense, approved March 6, 1861;
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An act authorizing an agent to be sent abroad to purchase vessels and arms; and making an appropriation therefor;
An act to authorize the purchase or construction of certain vessels of war; and
An act relative to telegraph lines of the Confederate States.
The Chair laid before Congress the following communication:
Montgomery, May 10, 1861.
Hon. Howell Cobb, President of Congress.
Dear Sir: I beg leave to tender to you and through you to the Congress over which you preside my resignation as a member of that body.
Permit me to say that my connection with this distinguished assembly of patriots will be cherished amongst the most treasured recollections of my life, and to express my warmest wishes for the success of the great work in which you are engaged.
I have the honor to be, yours, very sincerely,
ALEX M. CLAYTON.
Congress then proceeded to the consideration of
A bill to establish and organize a bureau in connection with the Department of the Treasury, to be known as the Office of the Auditor of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department.
The first clause of the first section being as follows:
That there shall be established in connection with the Department of the Treasury a bureau which shall be known as the Office of the Auditor of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department.
Mr. Crawford moved to amend by striking therefrom the words "the Auditor of" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "chief clerk for."
Pending which motion, on motion of Mr. Crawford, the bill was recommitted to the Committee on Postal Affairs.
A message was received from the President that he had approved and signed
An act to amend an act entitled "An act to fix the pay of members of the Congress of the Confederate States of America," approved March 11, 1861;
An act in relation to the Confederate loan; and
An act to make further provision for the public defense.
From which last-named act, on motion of Mr. Wright, the injunction of secrecy was removed.
Congress proceeded to the consideration of
A bill to amend an act to prescribe the rates of postage in the Confederate States of America, and for other purposes, approved February 23, 1861.
The bill was engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Congress then took up the unfinished business, viz: the resolution offered by Mr. Bartow in relation to moving the Government to the city of Richmond.
Mr. Rhett moved to postpone indefinitely the further consideration of the same; and thereon Mr. Perkins demanded the question.
The demand was seconded, and the motion was lost.
Mr. Miles, at the instance of the State of South Carolina, called for the yeas and nays of the entire body, and which are as follows:
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The question recurring on the motion of Mr. Curry to strike out the words "and the Government," Mr. Ochiltree demanded the question; which was seconded, and the motion was lost.
The yeas and nays were required thereon, at the instance of the State of Texas, and were taken and recorded as follows:
The motion was lost.
Mr. Conrad moved to amend the resolution by substituting therefor the following:
Resolved, That this body will adjourn on the day of the present month, to meet again on the first day of July next in Richmond, Virginia, or, in case suitable accommodations can not be obtained in Richmond at such other point as the President may hereafter designate.
Mr. Perkins moved to lay the same on the table.
Mr. Memminger thereon demanded the question.
The demand was sustained, and the motion prevailed.
Mr. Perkins moved to amend the resolution by substituting therefor the following:
Resolved, That Congress will adjourn on the twenty-third day of the present month, to meet again at Richmond on the twentieth day of July next, unless the public service, in the judgment of the President, may require an earlier meeting, and in that event, to meet again at such time and place as he may designate.
Mr. Withers moved to lay the original resolution and the substitute on the table.
Mr. Harris demanded the question; which was seconded, and the motion was lost.
The question recurred on the substitute offered by Mr. Perkins.
Mr. Keitt demanded the question; which was seconded, and on a vote by States, as follows, the motion prevailed:
Yea: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina, 5.
Nay: Georgia, Texas, and Virginia, 3.
Mr. Rhett demanded the question on the motion of agreeing to the resolution as amended.
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The demand was not seconded.
After further discussion, Mr. Harris demanded the question; which was seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
Mr. Shorter, at the instance of the State of Alabama, called for the yeas and nays of the entire body; which were taken and recorded as follows:
Mr. Shorter, from the Committee on Engrossment, reported as correctly engrossed and enrolled
An act to amend an act entitled "An act further to provide for the organization of the Post-Office Department," approved March 9, 1861.
On motion of Mr. Wigfall, the resolution just adopted relative to the adjournment of Congress and its reassembling at Richmond, etc., was referred to the Committee on Judiciary, with instructions to said committee to report a bill to carry into effect the intention of Congress therein expressed.
On motion of Mr. Waul,
Congress adjourned until 12 o'clock Monday next.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Congress having gone into executive session, the following communication was received from the President:
Montgomery, May 11, 1861.
I nominate Ben McCulloch, of Texas, as brigadier-general of volunteer forces in the service of the Confederate States of America.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
To the Congress.
The question being,
Will the Congress advise and consent to the nomination above communicated?
It was unanimously decided in the affirmative.
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