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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-SEVENTH DAY--TUESDAY, August 20, 1861.
OPEN SESSION.
Congress met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Slack.
Congress then resolved itself into secret session.
SECRET SESSION.
Congress being in secret session,
Mr. Barnwell, from the Committee on Finance, by unanimous consent, introduced
A bill to be entitled "An act making appropriations to carry into effect an act to authorize the issue of Treasury notes, and to provide a war tax for their redemption;"
which was read first and second times, placed on the Calendar, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Barnwell, from the same committee, reported
A bill to audit the claims of the respective States against the Confederate Government;
which was read first and second times, placed on the Calendar, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Barnwell, from the same committee, reported
A bill entitled "An act to impose additional duties on foreign imports in certain cases;"
which was read first and second times, placed on the Calendar, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Barnwell, from the same committee, reported and recommended the passage of
A bill to be entitled "An act providing for the disposition of unclaimed goods deposited in warehouse, as prescribed by existing laws;"
which was read first and second times, engrossed, read third time, and passed.
Mr. Barnwell, from the same committee, to whom was referred the memorial of Jeptha Foulkes, reported the same back, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and that the memorial lie on the table; which was agreed to.
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Mr. Barnwell, from same committee, moved to make the special order for Friday next the appropriation bills reported from the Committee on Finance.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. Wright presented a memorial from certain citizens of Georgia; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, without being read.
Mr. Oldham presented a memorial of Charles C. Clute, telegraphic superintendent; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, without being read.
Mr. T. R. R. Cobb presented the memorial of W. H. Hardee; which was referred to the Committee on Patents, without being read.
Mr. T. R. R. Cobb offered
A resolution relative to the equipment of volunteer cavalry companies;
which was read first and second times.
Mr. Craige moved to refer the same to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The motion was not agreed to.
Mr. Kenner moved to amend the same by inserting the words "whose services are accepted for the war."
The amendment was agreed to, and the resolution as amended was engrossed, read third time, and passed.
The President having returned the tax bill with his approval and signature,
Mr. Kenner moved the taking up and consideration of his motion to publish the vote on the passage of the same as unanimous.
The motion prevailed.
The motion to publish was taken up and agreed to.
Mr. Davis of North Carolina offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:
Resolved, That the Naval Committee inquire whether any, and what, provision should be made for the case of officers in the Coast Survey service of the United States who have resigned on account of the secession of their States.
Mr. Barry was, on motion, by unanimous consent, allowed to record his vote in favor of the passage of the bill to authorize the issue of Treasury notes, and to provide a war tax for their redemption.
Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported
A bill to provide for local defense and special service,
and recommended its passage.
The bill was read first and second times, engrossed, read third time, and passed.
Mr. Miles, from the same committee, reported and recommended the passage of
A bill to authorize the employment of cooks and nurses, other than enlisted men or volunteers, for the military service;
which was read first and second times, engrossed, read third time, and passed.
Mr. Miles, from the same [committee], reported and recommended the passage of
A bill to authorize payment to be made for certain horses purchased for the Army by Col. A. W. McDonald;
which was read first and second times, engrossed, read third time, and passed.
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Mr. Miles, from the same committee, asked the passage of a bill already reported and on the Calendar, entitled
A bill making appropriation for the service of physicians to be employed in connection with the medical staff of the Army.
The bill was taken up, engrossed, read third time, and passed.
Mr. Miles, from the same committee, called for the consideration of a Calendar bill entitled
A bill asking appropriations for the public defense.
The bill was taken up, engrossed, read third time, and passed.
Mr. Miles, from the same committee, called for the consideration of a Calendar bill entitled
A bill to increase the Corps of Artillery.
The bill was taken up, and the third section being under consideration, Mr. Miles, from the Military Committee, moved to amend by striking out the words "two thousand" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "twenty-five hundred."
The amendment was agreed to, and the bill as amended was engrossed, read third time, and passed.
Mr. Johnson of Arkansas, by unanimous consent, introduced the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:
Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of Congress to prepare and cause to be printed and laid on the table of each member, each day of the session, a copy of the calendar business for the day.
Mr. Sparrow, by unanimous consent, offered the following resolution; which was read and placed on the Calendar, to wit:
Resolved, That a committee composed of one from each State, to be selected by the Delegates therefrom, the appointed to examine into the administration of the Commissary, Quartermaster's, and Medical Departments, and what changes, if any, are necessary in the laws and regulations relating to those departments, and that said committee have leave to sit during the recess of Congress.
Mr. Johnson of Arkansas, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred
A resolution authorizing the Secretary of War to furnish supplies to certain troops,
reported the same back, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and that resolution lie on the table; which was agreed to.
Mr. Chilton, from the Committee on Postal Affairs, reported
A bill to establish certain post routes therein named;
which was read first and second times and ordered to be placed on the Calendar and to lie on the table.
The Chair presented a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, making estimates of an appropriation to carry into effect section 2 of an act to define with more certainty the meaning of an act entitled "An act to fix the duties on articles therein named;" which was read and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. Chilton, from the Committee on Postal Affairs, to whom was referred
A bill to provide for the transmission of letters by soldiers in the Army without prepayment of postage, and a resolution of inquiry as to suffering such letters to go free,
reported same back, that in the opinion of the committee no further legislation was necessary, asked to be discharged from their further consideration, and that the bill and resolution lie on the table; which was agreed to.
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Mr. Chilton, from the same committee, to whom was referred resolutions of inquiry respecting restrictions to be placed upon communications sent beyond the Confederate States, reported same back, and that the majority of said committee deemed no legislation necessary.
And also, in behalf of the minority of the committee,
A bill to prevent improper communication by letter or otherwise with the enemy of the Confederate States;
which [was] read first, and second [times] and placed on Calendar.
Mr. Chilton, from same committee, reported back, with recommendation that it pass,
A bill to require the receipt by the Postmaster-General of the Confederate States of Treasury notes in sums of five dollars and upward in payment of postage stamps or stamped envelopes;
which was placed on the Calendar.
Mr. Seddon introduced the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire and report forthwith what efficient legislation may be adopted to secure to our armies adequate supplies of wholesome bread and likewise of vegetables.
Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, by unanimous consent, called for the consideration of a bill on the Calendar making appropriations for military hospitals.
The bill was taken up, engrossed, read third time, and passed.
Mr. Keitt, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, called for the consideration of a bill on the Calendar "to empower the President to appoint additional commissioners to foreign nations," and moved the postponement for the present of the special order; and the vote having been taken thereon by States, resulted as follows, to wit:
Yea: Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, 6.
Nay: Alabama, Georgia, and Texas, 3.
Divided: Louisiana and South Carolina, 2.
So the motion was agreed to; and Congress proceeded to the consideration of the bill.
Mr. Atkins moved to amend by offering as a substitute for the bill the following, to wit:
That the President be requested to withdraw the present commission[ers] of the Confederate States to the great powers in Europe and that he is hereby authorized to appoint a full minister plenipotentiary to each of the Governments of Great Britain, France, Spain, Russia, and the German States.
The amendment was not agreed to, and the bill was engrossed, read third time, and passed.
Mr. T. R. R. Cobb, from the Judiciary Committee, reported back
A bill supplementary to an act entitle "An act to put in operation the Government under the permanent Constitution of the Confederate States,"
and recommended its passage.
Mr. Conrad moved to postpone its consideration and to place it on the Calendar.
The motion was not agreed to, and the bill was engrossed, read third time, and passed.
Mr. T. R. R. Cobb, from same committee, reported back two bills to amend the Constitution of the Confederate States, and that in the
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opinion of the committee should not be passed, asked to be discharged, and that the bills lie on table; which was agreed to.
The hour of 12 m. having arrived, Congress resumed the consideration of the unfinished business of yesterday; which was the consideration of the amendment of Mr. T. R. R. Cobb to the amendment of Mr. Walker to the first section of
A bill to provide for the confiscation and forfeiture of the estates, property, etc., of alien enemies.
Pending which,
Mr. McRae, from the Committee on Engrossment, reported as correctly engrossed and enrolled
An act to empower the President of the Confederate States to appoint additional commissioners to foreign nations.
On motion of Mr. Waul,
Congress adjourned until 11 o'clock to-morrow morning.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Congress being in executive session,
Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the communication of the President transmitting the nominations of Hugh McLeod, of Texas, to be major, and Charles Stringfellow, of Virginia, to be assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of captain, in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States, reported the same back and recommended that Congress advise and consent thereto.
The report was agreed to, and Congress advised and consented to the nominations.
Congress resumed legislative session.
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