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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 --THURSDAY, February 20, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
Mr. Barnwell, from the joint committee appointed to wait upon the President and Vice-President of the Confederate States and inform them of their election, reported that the committee had discharged the duty assigned them; and that the President had accepted the office and signified his purpose to unite with Congress in all measures that would promote the welfare of the country. The Vice-President had also accepted his office, with his grateful acknowledgments for
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the honor done him, rather than from any desire on his part to occupy the position.
Mr. Johnson submitted the following resolution (S. 1); which was agreed to:
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States in Congress assembled, That the Attorney-General be requested to return to the Clerk of the House of Representatives the papers that were on file in the office of the Clerk of the Provisional Congress, and all documents and other papers that were under the Clerk's control in the hands of the Public Printer and not otherwise disposed of by order of the Provisional Congress; and that all papers referring to executive sessions and executive business be returned to the Secretary of the Senate.
Mr. Brown presented a memorial of the legislature of the State of Mississippi in relation to the disparity now existing between the pay of the officers and privates of the Army of the Confederate States, and asking such legislation upon the subject as Congress may deem proper.
Ordered, That it lie on the table.
Mr. Sparrow submitted the following resolution; which was agreed to:
Resolved, That the Senate shall be divided into three classes, as required by section third, article first, of the Constitution, in the following manner: Four ballots marked "two years--four years," five marked "four years--six years," and four marked "two years--six years" shall be prepared under the direction of the President of the Senate, and deposited in a box; and, in the presence of the Senate, one of said ballots shall be drawn therefrom by one of the Senators from each State in behalf of his State; and the term of service of the Senators from each State shall correspond with the number of years designated by the ballot thus drawn; those drawing the ballots marked "two years--four years" to be designated as the first class; those drawing the ballots marked "four years--six years," as the second class; and those drawing the ballots marked "two years--six years," as the third class.
Resolved further, That immediately after said drawing the President of the Senate shall direct two ballots to be prepared and deposited in a box, with numbers thereon corresponding with the term of the Senators from their respective States called in alphabetical order, and one of the Senators from the State thus called shall draw out one of said ballots, and his term of service shall correspond with the number thus drawn, and the term of the other Senator shall correspond with the number on the ballot remaining.
On motion of Mr. Brown, it was
Ordered, That action under the resolution aforesaid be postponed until to-morrow.
The following bill was read the second time and, on motion of Mr. Sparrow, laid upon the table:
A bill (S. 1) to legalize the organization of certain companies of Tennessee volunteers since December 1, 1861.
A message was received from the House of Representatives, by their Clerk, as follows:
House of Representatives,
Congress of the Confederate States,
February 19, 1862.
Mr. President: I have been directed by the House of Representatives to inform the Senate that they have adopted the following resolution:
"Resolved, That a committee of three of this body be appointed by the Speaker to cooperate with a committee of the Senate to announce to the Hon. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, and to the Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, their election, respectively, to the Presidency and Vice-Presidency of the Confederate States for the next six years."
The following gentlemen were appointed in accordance with the foregoing resolution, to serve in conjunction with the Senate committee, to wit:
Messrs. Kenner of Louisiana, Miles of South Carolina, and Barksdale of Mississippi.
Also, that they have adopted the following resolution:
"Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress of the Confederate States, That they heartily approve of the resolution passed by the legislature of Virginia,
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expressing her determination to vindicate the integrity of her ancient boundaries, and pledge all the resources of the Confederacy to uphold her determination."
Also, that they have adopted the following resolution:
"That a committee of one member from each State be appointed, to cooperate with such committee as may be appointed on the part of the Senate, to participate in the arrangement of the ceremonies for the inauguration of the President and Vice-President of the Confederate States of America."
The committee appointed under the foregoing resolution are the following gentlemen, to wit:
Messrs. Lyons of Virginia, Lyon of Alabama, Batson of Arkansas, Hilton of Florida, Holt of Georgia, H. W. Bruce of Kentucky, Marshall of Louisiana, Cooke of Missouri, Singleton of Mississippi, McDowell of North Carolina, McQueen of South Carolina, Swan of Tennessee, and Wilcox of Texas.
Also, that the House has adopted a resolution,
"That a committee of five, of which the Speaker shall be chairman, be appointed in conjunction with such committee as may be appointed on the part of the Senate, to report joint rules for the government of the two Houses."
The following is the committee appointed on the part of the House, viz:
Messrs. Curry of Alabama, Jones of Tennessee, Perkins of Louisiana, Lewis of Georgia.
Mr. Clark, from the joint committee to wait upon the President and inform him of the organization of the two Houses of Congress, reported that the committee had discharged the duty assigned them.
On motion of Mr. Orr,
The Senate adjourned until to-morrow at 12 o'clock.
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