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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 --TWENTY-SIXTH DAY--MONDAY, August 19, 1861.
OPEN SESSION.
Congress met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Pettigrew.
Mr. Harris presented a communication from the State of Mississippi, upon the subject of finance; which was referred to the Committee on Finance, without being read; also
A communication from the legislature of Mississippi, upon the subject of unpaid agents and contractors for mail service, etc.; which was referred to the Committee on Postal Affairs, without being read.
Congress then resolved itself into secret session.
SECRET SESSION.
Congress being in secret session,
The Chair presented the following Communication from the President; which was read and, together with accompanying documents, was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, to wit:
Executive Department,
Richmond, August 17, 1861.
Sir: In reply to the resolution of Congress of the 15th instant, calling upon me to furnish that body with the official reports of the various battles fought by our armies since its last adjournment, I have the honor herewith to submit the report of the Secretary of War covering your resolution.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
To the Hon. Howell, Cobb,
President of the Congress.
Mr. Shorter, from the Committee on Engrossment, reported as correctly engrossed and enrolled
An act to authorize the issue of Treasury notes, and to provide a war tax for their redemption.
Mr. Chilton presented
A bill to be entitled "An act to establish a bureau in connection with the Treasury Department to be called the Bureau of Produce Loan, and to provide for so disposing of the cotton crop of the Confederate States as shall best conduce to the public defense during the war;"
which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. Morton offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:
Resolved, That the Committee on Postal Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a mail route from Monticello, Florida, to Station 17 in the State of Georgia, on the Savannah, Albany and Gulf Railroad.
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Mr. Crawford presented the memorial of citizens of Georgia; which was referred to the Committee on Postal Affairs, without being read.
Mr. Foreman presented the petition of Thomas M. Newell, late captain in United States Navy; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, without being read.
Mr. Brooke presented
A bill to be entitled "An act concerning the marine hospital of Natchez, Mississippi;"
which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Commercial Affairs.
Mr. Venable introduced
A bill to be entitled "An act to authorize the appointment of an additional assistant surgeon to each regiment in the Army of the Confederate States,"
and moved its passage.
The bill having been read first and second times,
Mr. Barnwell moved to refer it to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Keitt called the question; which was seconded; and the question being put, the motion to refer did not prevail.
Mr. Orr of Mississippi moved to amend the bill by adding thereto the following words, to wit: "at the discretion of the Secretary of War."
Mr. Johnson of Arkansas called the question; which was seconded; and the question being put, the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr. Campbell called the question; which was seconded, the question being upon the ordering the bill to be engrossed for a third reading; and the question being put, the bill was engrossed, read the third time, and passed.
The hour of 12 m. having arrived, Congress resumed the consideration of the unfinished business of Saturday; which was the consideration of
A bill to provide for the admission of Missouri, etc.
Mr. Macfarland moved to postpone the further consideration of the bill for the present, for the purpose of calling for resolutions, etc., from States and reports from the committees.
The motion did not prevail.
Section 2 being under consideration; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Johnson of Arkansas, from the Committee on Military Affairs, moved to amend by inserting after the word "empowered" the words "at his discretion."
And also at the end of the section the following, to wit:
and said troops may be received into service by companies, battalions, or regiments, with their officers elected by the troops, and the officers so elected shall be commissioned by the President; and when mustered into service said companies, battalions, or regiments may be attached to such brigades or divisions as the President may determine; and the President shall have power to appoint field officers for all battalions and regiments organized out of separate companies mustered into service, and to add to battalions a sufficient number of separate companies to complete their
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organization into regiments, and to appoint the additional field officers necessary for the complete organization of the regiments so formed; and all vacancies that may occur amongst the commissioned officers of troops mustered into service under this act shall be filled in the manner provided in the act entitled "An act for the establishment and organization of the Army of the Confederate States of America," approved sixth March, eighteen hundred and sixty-one.
The amendments were agreed to, and the section as amended reads as follows, to wit:
The third section being under consideration; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Johnson, from the Committee on Military Affairs, moved to amend by striking out the same and inserting in lieu thereof of the following, to wit:
The amendment was agreed to.
The preamble being under consideration; which is as follows, to wit:
The State of Missouri being now engaged in open and active hostilities against the United States, and Congress being satisfied that the properly constituted authorities thereof, in conformity with the will of the people, are contemplating measures to make said State in the future a member of this Confederacy, which measures may be consummated during the approaching recess of Congress: Now, therefore.
Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, moved to amend by striking out the same and inserting in lieu thereof the following, to wit:
Whereas the people of the State of Missouri have been prevented by the unconstitutional interference of the Government of the United States from expressing their
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will through their legally constituted authorities in regard to a union with the Confederate States of America, and are now engaged in repelling a lawless invasion of their territory by armed forces; and
Whereas it is the right and the duty of the Confederate States to aid the people and government of the said State in resisting such invasion, and in securing the means and the opportunity of expressing their will upon all questions affecting their rights and liberties: Now, therefore.
The amendment was agreed to, and the bill as amended was engrossed, read third time, and passed.
Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, moved to change the title of the bill by inserting the following words, to wit: "aid the State of Missouri in repelling invasion by the United States, and to."
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr. Smith called for the consideration of the next special order; which was a bill from the Judiciary Committee, entitled
An act for the forfeiture and confiscation of the estates, property, and effects of alien enemies.
Mr. Conrad moved to postpone the consideration of the same to tale up a resolution introduced by him.
The motion did not prevail.
Mr. Conrad moved to postpone its consideration until Thursday next.
The motion did not prevail.
The first section of the bill being under consideration; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Walker moved to amend the same by striking out, in the tenth line; the words "and for which he has suffered" and inserting the words "who may suffer" in lieu thereof, and by adding after the word "retaliatory," in the eleventh line, the words
or under any other act of the United States, or of any of the States thereof, authorizing the seizure, sequestration, or confiscation of the property of such citizens or residents of the Confederate States, or other persons aiding said Confederate States.
Mr. Thomas R. R. Cobb moved to amend the amendment by adding to the end thereof the following words, viz:
or by reason of the seizure or detention of any property belonging to citizens or corporations of the Confederate States, either before or after the passage of the act aforesaid, either by the Government of the United States or by any of its officers or by its authority.
A message was received from the President by the hands of his Private Secretary, Mr. Josselyn, informing Congress that the President has this day approved and signed
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An act to authorize the issue of Treasury notes, and to provide a war tax for their redemption.
Mr. Shorter, from the Committee on Engrossment, reported as correctly engrossed and enrolled
An act to authorize the appointment of an additional assistant surgeon to each regiment in the Army of the Confederate States of America; also
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.
Mr. Kenner introduced
A bill to impose additional duties on foreign imports in certain cases; which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. House introduced
A bill to admit certain articles free of duty during the war;
which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. Currin introduced
A bill for the construction of gunboats;
which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. Tyler presented the petition of John E. McWilliams; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Macfarland presented a memorial; which was referred to the Committee on Postal Affairs, without being read.
On motion of Mr. Miles,
Congress then adjourned until 11 o'clock to-morrow morning.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Congress being in executive session,
The Chair presented a communication from the President, nominating Jesse B. Clements to be marshal for the district of Tennessee and asking to withdraw the nomination of John Guthrie for that office, the Congress not having yet acted on the nomination; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The Chair also laid before Congress a communication from the President, nominating John A. Jones, of Georgia, and Hugh McLeod, of Texas, to be majors in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America; Charles Stringfellow, of Virginia, to be assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of captain, in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The Chair also presented a communication from the President, nominating George S. Shryock, of Kentucky, to be a lieutenant in the Navy of the Confederate States; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. Cobb, from the Committee on the Judicary, to whom was referred the nomination of Jesse B. Clements, reported the same back recommending that Congress consent to the withdrawal of the nomination of John Guthrie and advise and consent to the nomination of Jesse B. Clements to be marshal for the district of Tennessee.
The report was agreed to, [and] Congress advised and consented the nomination of Jesse B. Clements.
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Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported back the nomination of John A. Jones, of Georgia, to be major in the Provisional Army, and recommended that Congress advise and consent thereto.
The report was agreed to, and Congress advised and consented to the nomination.
Mr. Crawford, from the Committee on Commercial Affairs, to whom was referred the nomination of Tandy H. Trice, William C. Davis, and Joseph Ramsey, to be collectors, etc., reported the same back, with a recommendation that Congress advise and consent thereto.
The report was agreed to, and Congress advised and consented to the nominations.
Mr. Watkins moved to reconsider the vote by which the nomination of E. Canter Stockton was rejected.
Pending which,
Congress resumed legislative session.
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