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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 --WEDNESDAY, March 19, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
Mr. Semmes submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be directed to inquire into the expediency of paying, during the continuance of the present war, the pensions allowed by the laws of the United States to the widows of deceased officers and soldiers of the Army whose husbands, at the time of their decease, were citizens of any one of the States comprising this Confederacy, said widows now being citizens of the Confederate States; and report by bill or otherwise.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to consider the bill (S. 8) to repeal an act entitled "An act to provide revenue from commodities imported from foreign countries," and other laws imposing duties on imports.
On motion by Mr. Oldham,
Ordered, That the further consideration of the bill be postponed to and that it be made the special order for Tuesday, the 25th instant.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to consider the bill (S. 18) declaring the officer who shall act as President in case of vacancies in the offices both of President and Vice-President.
On motion by Mr. Hunter,
Ordered, That the further consideration of the bill be postponed.
Mr. Burnett submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That the bill (S. 1) to legalize the organization of certain companies in Tennessee be recommitted to the Committee on Military Affairs, and that said committee
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be instructed to inquire, into, the propriety of reporting a general law that will recognize officers, and their rank, companies and regiments which may have been mustered into the service or organized by order of commanding officers without having the minimum number of men now required by law for companies, battalions, and regiments.
On motion by Mr. Burnett,
The Senate resolved into secret legislative session.
The doors being opened,
A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Lamar:
Mr. President: The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed an enrolled bill (H. R. --) to establish certain post routes therein named, I am directed to bring it to the Senate for the signature of their President.
The House of Representatives have passed a bill (H. R. --) to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to pay district collectors in certain cases.
The House of Representatives insist on their amendments to the bill of the Senate (S. 11) to regulate the compensation of members of Congress.
The Senate proceeded to consider the amendments of the House of Representatives to the bill (S. 11) last mentioned, insisted on by that House; and
On motion by Mr. Burnett,
Resolved, That they insist on their disagreement to the said amendments, and ask a conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses.
On motion by Mr. Burnett,
Ordered, That the committee of conference on the part of the Senate be appointed by the President pro tempore; and
Mr. Burnett, Mr. Barnwell, and Mr. Wigfall were appointed accordingly.
Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.
On motion by Mr. Burnett,
The Senate adjourned until to-morrow morning at 12 o'clock.
SECRET SESSION.
The President laid before the Senate a communication from the Attorney-General in relation to the return to the Senate, from the Department of Justice, of certain executive documents and papers of the late Provisional Congress; which was read, and
On motion by Mr. Johnson,
Ordered, That it lie upon the table.
The President laid before the Senate a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury in response to a resolution of the Senate, requesting information from him in relation to depositories of funds at Memphis, New Orleans, and other cities or ports of the Confederate States; which was read, and
On motion by Mr. Semmes,
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. Sparrow submitted the following resolution for consideration:
Resolved, That in the opinion of the Senate Rule No. 38 requires that the yeas and nays on nominations should be furnished the President as well as the result of the action of the Senate.
On motion by Mr. Johnson, to amend the resolution by inserting after the word "should" the word "not,"
It was decided in the negative.
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On the question,
Will the Senate agree to the resolution?
On motion by Mr. Phelan,
Ordered, That it lie upon the table.
Mr. Sparrow submitted the following resolution for consideration:
Resolved, That Senators have leave to communicate freely and fully, in confidence, with the President of the Confederate States, concerning business in executive session.
On motion by Mr. Johnson, to amend the resolution by substituting therefor the following, viz:
That Rule No. 38 and all kindred questions authorizing, defining, or limiting the rights or wishes of individual Senators to communicate to and with the President in regard to matters in executive session be referred to the Committee on Rules for consideration and report,
It was determined in the affirmative.
The question on agreeing to the resolution as amended then recurring,
It was determined in the affirmative.
So the resolution as amended was agreed to.
On motion by Mr. Davis, that the Secretary be directed to communicate to the President the result of the action of the Senate upon the nominations of yesterday without the yeas and nays,
On motion by Mr. Orr, to amend the motion by striking out the word "without" and inserting in lieu thereof the word "with,"
It was determined in the affirmative.
On the question of agreeing to the motion as amended,
On motion by Mr. Wigfall,
Ordered, That it lie upon the table.
Mr. Phelan submitted the following amendment to the thirty-eighth rule of the Senate; which was laid over, under the operation of Rule 48:
Insert after the word "Senate," where it first occurs, the following words: "but he shall not be furnished with the names of the Senators voting by yeas and nays upon nominations to office made by the President, but only the general result, in numbers, as declared by the Chair."
On motion of Mr. Sparrow,
The Senate resolved into executive session.
The Senate being again resolved into secret legislative session,
The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Executive Department, March 19, 1862.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a report of the Secretary of War, supplementary to a report heretofore submitted by him, and referred to in that document.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The message was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
On motion by Mr. Semmes,
The Senate resolved into open legislative session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
I nominate M. L. Smith, of --; John Selden Roane, of Arkansas, and S. R. Gist, of South Carolina to be brigadier-generals, agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
March 19, 1862.
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Confederate States of America, War Department,
Richmond, March 19, 1862.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the following nominations for appointment in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, to take rank from date of confirmation:
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. P. BENJAMIN,
Secretary of War.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.
The message was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred (on the 10th and 14th instant) the nominations of Thomas R. Dunn and John H. Munford, as second lieutenants in the First Virginia Battalion, and William Palfrey, John T. Purves, and J. P. Butler, as second lieutenants in the First Louisiana Regiment of Artillery, reported, with the recommendation that all of said nominations lie upon the table.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of said report; and in concurrence therewith,
Ordered, That the nominations last mentioned lie upon the table.
Mr. Wigfall, from the Committee on Territories, to whom was referred (on the 13th instant) the following nominations for the Territory of Arizona, viz: For governor, John R. Baylor; secretary, Robert Josselyn; chief justice, Alexander M. Jackson; associate justice, Columbus Upson; attorney, Russel Howard; marshal, Samuel J. Jones, reported, with the recommendation that all of said nominations be confirmed.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of said report; and in concurrence therewith,
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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