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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 --TUESDAY, March 11, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
Mr. Clay (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 18) declaring the officer who shall act as President in case of vacancies in the offices both of President and Vice-President;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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Mr. Clay submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire what compensation is due from the Confederate Government to Dr. John B. Read, of Alabama, for his projectile from cannon, known as the Read shell.
Mr. Clay presented documents in relation to the subject; which were referred to the committee.
A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Dixon, their Clerk:
Mr. President: The House of Representatives have adopted a joint resolution recommending the planters of the Confederate States to refrain from the cultivation of cotton and tobacco, and devote all their energies to raising provisions.
They have also passed a bill to be entitled "An act to increase the clerical force of the War Department."
Also a bill to be entitled "An act to establish certain post routes therein named."
On motion by Mr. Barnwell,
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the bill (S. 16) relative to the estimates of the several heads of Departments, as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment being made, it was reported to the Senate.
Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time.
The said bill was read the third time.
Resolved, That it pass, and that the title thereof be as aforesaid.
Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.
Mr. Semmes, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported
A bill (S. 19) to organize the Supreme Court of the Confederate States;
which was read the first and second times and ordered to be placed on the Calendar and printed.
Mr. Oldham, from the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, to whom was referred the bill (S. 13) relating to prepayment of postage, reported it without amendment.
The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 13) last mentioned, as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment being made, it was reported to the Senate.
Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time.
The said bill was read the third time.
Resolved, That it pass, and that the title thereof be as aforesaid.
Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.
Mr. Johnson, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 3) to provide for the organization of the Arkansas and Red River Superintendency of Indian Affairs, to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indians therein, and to preserve peace on the frontiers, reported the same with amendments.
The following reported amendment was agreed to:
In the third line of the first section, strike out the words "South of Kansas."
On motion by Mr. Oldham, to amend the bill by striking out, in the first section, the following words, viz:
and the Superintendent thereof shall reside at Fort Smith, or Van Buren, in the State of Arkansas; shall give bond to the Confederate States, with sufficient sureties,
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in the sum of fifty thousand dollars, conditioned like those of the agents hereinafter prescribed, and shall receive a salary of two thousand five hundred dollars per annum, and be allowed a clerk, at an annual compensation of one thousand dollars,
It was determined in the negative.
On the question of agreeing to the following reported amendment, viz:
In the first section, sixth line, after the word "Arkansas," add the words "until otherwise ordered by the President,"
It was determined in the affirmative.
On motion by Mr. Davis, to amend the bill by striking out, in the second line of the third section, the words "who shall hold their office during four years good behavior, and,"
On motion by Mr. Sparrow.
The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present,
Those who voted in the affirmative are,
Messrs. Barnwell, Burnett, Clay, Davis, Dortch, Haynes, Henry, Hill, Hunter, Johnson, Mitchel, Phelan, Preston, Sparrow, Semmes, and Wigfall.
Those who voted in the negative are,
Messrs. Clark, Orr, and Oldham.
On motion by Mr. Hunter, to amend the bill by inserting at the end of the seventeenth section the following proviso, viz:
Provided, That nothing in this act shall be so construed as to allow disbursing officers to make payment in any other funds than specie or Treasury notes,
It was determined in the affirmative.
On motion by Mr. Hunter, to amend the bill by inserting at the end of the eighteenth section the following previso, viz:
Provided, That no money shall be expended for this purpose which has not been previously appropriated by law,
It was determined in the affirmative.
On motion by Mr. Hunter,
Ordered, That the further consideration of the bill be postponed.
A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Lamar:
Mr. President: The House of Representatives have adopted a resolution of thanks to Captain Buchanan and the officers and men under his command.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the resolution (H. R. --) last mentioned; which was read the first and second times and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment being made, it was reported to the Senate.
Ordered, That it pass to a third reading.
The said resolution was read the third time.
Resolved unanimously, That it pass, and that the title thereof be as aforesaid.
Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives thereof.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the bill (H. R. --) to increase the clerical force of the War Department; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
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A message from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. Robert Josselyn, his Secretary:
Mr. President: The President has this day approved and signed a resolution (S. 4) pledging the Government to maintain the territorial integrity of the Confederacy.
Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives thereof.
On motion by Mr. Hunter,
The Senate resolved into executive session.
The doors being opened,
The President Laid before the Senate the following message from the President of the Confederate States:
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States:
I herewith transmit a letter of the Secretary of the Navy, of this date, covering the official report of the naval engagement between the James River squadron and the enemy's fleet in Hampton Roads, on the 8th instant.
The officers and men of our Navy engaged in this brilliant affair deserve well of their country, and are commended to the consideration of the Congress.
The disparity of the forces engaged did not justify the anticipation of so great a victory; and it is doubly gratifying that it has been won upon an element where we were supposed to be least able to compete with our enemy.
Special attention is called to the perfidious conduct of the enemy in hoisting, on the frigate Congress, a white flag, and renewing fire from that vessel under the impunity thus obtained.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
March 11, 1862.
The message was read.
On motion by Mr. Hunter,
Ordered, That 50 copies of the message and accompanying documents be printed for the use of the Senate.
On motion by Mr. Johnson,
The Senate adjourned until to-morrow morning at 12 o'clock.
SECRET SESSION.
A message from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. Robert Josselyn, his Secretary:
Executive Department,
Richmond, March 8, 1862.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
I transmit herewith a report and accompanying papers, from the Secretary of State ad interim, in answer to a resolution of the Senate of the 3d instant.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Department of State,
Richmond, March 8, 1862.
The Secretary of State ad interim, to whom was referred a resolution of the Senate of the Confederate States of the 3d instant, requesting the President to communicate to that body "in secret session, if not incompatible with the public interests, the instructions to and correspondence with all the commissioners of this Government now in Europe," has the honor to lay before the President a copy of the papers mentioned in the subjoined list.
Respectfully submitted.
WM. M. BROWSE,
Secretary of State ad interim.
To the President.
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On motion by Mr. Hunter,
Ordered, That all further consideration of the foregoing communications and accompanying documents be had in executive session.
On motion.
The Senate resolved into executive session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Senate, in executive session, resumed the consideration of the message of the President of the Confederate States, transmitting copies of the instructions to and correspondence with all the commissioners of this Government now in Europe, in response to a resolution of the Senate of the 3d instant.
On motion,
Ordered, That the message and accompanying documents be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
A message from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. Robert Josselyn, his Secretary:
Richmond, March, 11, 1862.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
I nominate the officers on the accompanying list to the rank affixed to their names, respectively, agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Confederate States of America, War Department,
Richmond, March 11, 1862.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the following nominations for appointment in the provisional Army of the Confederate States of America:
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. P. BENJAMIN,
Secretary of War.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.
The message was read.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
Ordered, That the foregoing nominations be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Hill, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the nomination of B. M. Estes, as district attorney of the western district of Tennessee, and W. W. Gates, marshal of the same; of Jesse B. Clements, as marshal of the middle district of Tennessee, and William H. Crouch, as marshal of the eastern district of
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Tennessee, 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. Hunter,
The Senate resolved into open legislative session.
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