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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, February 19, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
Prayer by Rev. Bishop Early, of the Methodist Church.
The Hon. Clement C. Clay, from the State of Alabama, appeared, and having qualified by taking the oath prescribed by law, took his seat in the Senate.
The Hon. T. J. Semmes, from the State of Louisiana, appeared, and having qualified by taking the oath prescribed by law, took his seat in the Senate.
Mr. Orr submitted the following resolution; which was agreed to:
Resolved, That the Secretary be allowed to appoint an assistant secretary, a journal clerk, and a recording clerk.
Mr. Hill submitted the following resolution; which was agreed to:
Resolved, That the President be authorized to appoint a suitable page for the Senate.
The President appointed William H. Talman as page, under the resolution aforesaid.
Mr. Brown presented the credentials of the Hon. James Phelan, from the State of Mississippi, who appeared, and having qualified by taking the oath prescribed by law, took his seat in the Senate.
Mr. Brown presented his own credentials as a member of the Senate from the State of Mississippi.
Mr. Orr submitted the following resolution; which was agreed to:
Resolved, That a committee of three Senators be appointed by the President pro tempore to draft and report standing rules and orders for conducting business in the Senate of the Confederate States, and that they act as a joint committee with such committee appointed by the House of Representatives to report joint rules and orders for conducting business between the two Houses.
Whereupon,
The President appointed Mr. Orr, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Clay as the committee under the resolution.
Mr. Barnwell submitted the following resolution; which was agreed to:
Resolved, That the Doorkeeper have leave to appoint an assistant.
On motion of Mr. Clark, the Senate proceeded to the election of a sergeant-at-arms.
Mr. Clark nominated Lafayette H. Fitzhugh, of Kentucky, and there being no other nomination, he was duly elected, and qualified by taking the oath of office.
Mr. Henry (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 1) to legalize the organization of certain companies of Tennessee volunteers since December 1, 1861;
which, on his motion, was read the first time and ordered to be read the second time.
A message from the House of Representatives, by their Clerk:
Mr. President: I have been directed by the House of Representatives to inform the Senate that the House has been organized by the election of the Hon. Thomas S. Bocock, of Virginia, as Speaker, and R. E. Dixon, of Georgia, as Clerk.
Also, that they have adopted a resolution inviting the Senate to meet the House in the Hall of the House of Representatives to-day, at 1 o'clock, to count the votes for President and Vice-President of the Confederate States.
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On motion of Mr. Brown, the resolution was concurred in.
On motion of Mr. Orr, it was
Ordered, That a message be sent to the House of Representatives, informing that body that the Senate will join the House, at 1 o'clock, in the Hall of the House, to count the votes for President and Vice-President.
Mr. Orr submitted the following resolution; which was agreed to:
Resolved, That the Senate will move in procession, at 1 o'clock p. m., to the Hall of the House of Representatives, preceded by the President pro tempore of the Senate, attended by the Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms, and that the Senate return to their Chamber after the votes for President and Vice-President shall have been counted.
A message was received from the House of Representatives, by their Clerk:
Mr. President: I am instructed by the House of Representatives to inform the Senate that they have passed a resolution appointing two tellers upon the part of the House, to be associated with such as may be appointed by the Senate, to superintend the counting of the votes for President and Vice-President.
Also, to inform the Senate that the House will be ready, at 1 o'clock to-day, to receive them in this Chamber, for the purpose of executing the law requiring Congress to count the votes for President and Vice-President to-day.
And that the House have passed a resolution providing for the appointment of a committee of three, to act in conjunction with such committee as may be appointed on the part of the Senate, to wait upon the President of the Confederate States of America and inform him that Congress is organized and ready to receive any communication he may be pleased to make.
And that in pursuance of the first resolution, the Speaker has appointed Messrs. Barksdale of Mississippi and Miles of South Carolina.
Mr. Orr submitted the following resolution; which was agreed to:
Resolved, That two tellers be appointed by the President pro tempore, on the part of the Senate, to superintend the counting of the votes for President and Vice-President, and that the House be informed thereof.
Under the resolution, the President pro tempore appointed Mr. Orr and Mr. Sparrow as tellers on the part of the Senate.
Mr. Johnson presented the credentials of the Hon. William E. Simms, Senator from the State of Kentucky; which were read.
The hour of 1 o'clock having arrived, the Senate repaired to the Hall of the House of Representatives, in the order prescribed by the resolution in relation to counting the votes for President and Vice-President of the Confederate States of America, and there, in joint session, proceeded to execute the joint order of the two Houses.
The following is the result of ballots cast by the electoral colleges of the respective States:
Total number of States, 11; total number of votes cast for President, 109; of which Jeff. Davis received 109; total number of votes cast for Vice-President, 109; of which A. H. Stephens received 109; to wit, as follows:
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Whereupon,
The President pro tempore of the Senate declared Jefferson Davis duly elected President of the Confederate States and A. H. Stephens duly elected Vice-President of the Confederate States, for the term of six years respectively, commencing on the 22d day of February, A. D. 1862.
The Senate having returned to their Chamber,
Mr. Clark submitted the following resolution; which was agreed to:
Resolved, That the Senate concur in the resolution of the House of Representatives, appointing a committee to wait upon the President and inform him of the organization of the two Houses of Congress, and that the President of the Senate appoint a committee of two on the part of the Senate to act in conjunction with the committee of the House.
The President appointed Mr. Clark and Mr. Barnwell as the committee on the part of the Senate.
On motion, it was
Ordered, That the Secretary communicate the same to the House of Representatives.
On motion of Mr. Barnwell, it was
Ordered, That a committee of two, to act in conjunction with a similar committee on the part of the House, be appointed to wait upon the President and Vice-President of the Confederate States and inform them of their election.
The President appointed Mr. Barnwell and Mr. Davis as the committee on the part of the Senate.
On motion of Mr. Sparrow, it was
Ordered, That the Secretary communicate the same to the House of Representatives.
On motion of Mr. Barnwell,
The Senate adjourned until to-morrow at 12 o'clock.
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