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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, March 8, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
Mr. Baker (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 13) relating to prepayment of postage;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.
Mr. Semmes (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 14) to repeal sections 45 and 46 of an act of the Provisional Congress, entitled "An act to establish the judicial courts of the Confederate States of America," approved March 16, 1861;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Haynes (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 15) to pay for horses lost in the military service of the Confederate States;
which was read the first and second times and referred, with the accompanying papers, to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Haynes submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill to increase the monthly pay of the volunteers who now are, or who shall hereafter be, engaged in the service of the Confederate States, as follows: To a sergeant-major of cavalry, twenty-five dollars; first sergeants, twenty-four dollars; sergeants, twenty-one dollars; corporals, farriers, and blacksmiths, seventeen dollars; musicians, seventeen dollars; and privates, sixteen dollars. Sergeants-major of artillery and infantry, twenty-five dollars; first sergeants twenty four dollars each; sergeants, twenty-one dollars; corporals and artificers, seventeen dollars; musicians, sixteen dollars; and privates, fifteen dollars each. The noncommissioned officers, artificers, musicians, and privates serving in light batteries to have the same pay as those of cavalry.
Mr. Sparrow and Mr. Hill presented resolutions passed by the legislatures of their respective States in relation to the subject of the foregoing resolution; which were referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
On motion by Mr. Oldham,
Ordered, That 100 copies of the report of the Postmaster-General be printed for the use of the Senate.
On motion by Mr. Hill,
The Senate resolved into secret legislative session.
The doors being opened,
Mr. Semmes submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be directed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for promotions in the Navy, or the conferring of brevet rank, based on distinguished services or gallant conduct in naval engagements during the present war, and to report by bill or otherwise.
Mr. Clay submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That the Committee on Accounts be instructed to inquire into the proper method of auditing the accounts of Senators and all officers of the Senate of certifying the same, and of issuing drafts on the Treasury for the payment therefore; and also the method of disbursing the contingent fund of the Senate, and that they report by bill or otherwise.
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Mr. Phelan submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing for the employment and payment of negro musicians in the Army of the Confederate States.
A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Dixon, their Clerk:
Mr. President: The House of Representatives yesterday passed a bill of the Senate (S. 7) to regulate the destruction of property under military necessity, and to provide for the indemnity thereof.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
The Senate adjourned until Monday morning at 12 o'clock.
SECRET SESSION.
Mr. Orr submitted
A resolution requesting the President to instruct Mr. John Slidell, commissioner from this Government to His Majesty Louis Napoleon, Emperor of the French, to propose to His Majesty terms for a treaty of amity and commerce between the two Governments;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
A message from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. Robert Josselyn, his Secretary:
To the Senate and House of Representative of the Confederate States:
I herewith transmit the report of the Superintendent of Public Printing, which should have accompanied the report of the Attorney-General, heretofore submitted.
The message was read.
On motion,
Ordered, That the report of the Superintendent of Public Printing be referred to the Committee on Printing.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the resolution submitted by Mr. Hill, on yesterday, providing for the admission of members of the House of Representatives to the secret sessions of the Senate;
When,
After debate,
Mr. Hill withdrew the resolution.
Mr. Hunter submitted the following joint resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the members of the two Houses may confer with each other, confidentially, upon measures which have been or are under consideration in secret, legislative session in their respective Houses.
Ordered, That the Secretary communicate the passage thereof to the House of Representatives.
Mr. Simms submitted the following resolution for consideration:
Whereas the present condition of our country demands the highest and most disinterested display of patriotism on the part of those now controlling her destiny; and confiding in the ability of the President, and believing and knowing that the act would be with one accord indorsed by the whole people, would inspire an enthusiasm in the public heart that would insure unity of action in our councils and success in our arms upon the battlefield and forever associate the name of our Chief Magistrate with those who have sacrificed all to a love of country: Be it therefore
Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That should the President feel authorized by his sense of public duty to assume command of the Army he would render to his country the highest service at this crisis in her history.
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On motion by Mr. Clay,
The Senate resolved into executive session.
The Senate having again resolved into secret session,
On motion by Mr. Semmes,
The Senate resolved into open legislative session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
A message from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. Robert Josselyn, his Secretary:
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
I herewith transmit to the Senate the following nominations as recommended by the Attorney-General, viz:
JEFF'N DAVIS.
Confederate States of America, Department of Justice,
Richmond, March 7, 1862.
Sir: I respectfully recommend that the following appointments to office be made in the State of Tennessee:
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
THS. BRAGG.
To the President.
On motion,
Ordered, That the foregoing nominations be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Brown, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the nomination of Joseph D. Blake, of North Carolina, as lieutenant; James W. Herty, of Georgia, as assistant surgeon; and Algernon S. Taylor, of Virginia, as quartermaster, reported, with the recommendation that all of said nominations be confirmed.
Whereupon, it was
Resolved, That the Senate advise and consent to their appointment, agreeably to the nomination of the President.
On motion by Mr. Semmes,
The Senate resolved into secret legislative session.
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