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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, September 2, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
The following bills communicated from the House of Representatives for concurrence were severally read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs:
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Mr. Hill presented a petition of sundry physicians, privates in the Confederate Army, asking additional pay when detailed for service in their profession; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
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 authorizing certain military officers to enlist into the military service of the Confederate States, for a term not exceeding ninety days, persons not liable to perform military duty under the laws of the Confederate States, and not, at the time, in the actual military service of any State.
Mr. Semmes, from the Committee on Finance, reported
A bill (S. 70) to provide for the coinage of copper tokens;which was read the first and second times and ordered to be placed on the Calendar.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the following subjects:
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported
A bill (S. 71) to amend an act entitled "An act to provide further for the public defense," approved 16th April, 1862;
which was read the first and second times, and
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
Ordered, That it be postponed to, and made the order of the day for, Thursday, at half past 12 o'clock, and that it be printed.
Mr. Brown, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported
A joint resolution (S. 14) tendering the thanks of Congress to Commander Eben. Farrand, Confederate States Navy, and the officers and men under his command, for their gallant and meritorious conduct at Drewry's Bluff, May 15, 1862;
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 be engrossed and read a third time.
The said resolution 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.
The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States:
I have the gratification of presenting to Congress two dispatches from Gen. Robert E. Lee, commanding the Army of Northern Virginia, communicating the results of the operations north of the Rappahannock. From these dispatches it will be seen that God has again extended His shield over our patriotic Army, and has blessed the cause of the Confederacy with a second signal victory on the field already memorable by the gallant achievement of our troops.
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Too much praise can not be bestowed upon the skill and daring of the commanding general who conceived, or the valor and hardihood of the troops who executed, the brilliant movement whose result is now communicated. After having driven from their intrenchments an enemy superior in numbers, and relieved from siege the city of Richmond, as heretofore communicated, our toil-worn troops advanced to meet another invading army, reenforced not only by the defeated army of General McClellan, but by the fresh corps of Generals Burnside and Hunter. After forced marches, with inadequate transportation, and across streams swollen to unusual height, by repeated combats they turned the position of the enemy, and forming a junction of their columns in the face of greatly superior forces, they fought the decisive battle of the 30th, the crowning triumph of their toil and valor.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Richmond, September 2, 1862.
The message was read.
On motion by Mr. Barnwell,
Ordered, That it lie on the table and be printed.
A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Lamar:
Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed a joint resolution (H. R. 12) of thanks to Capt. Raphael Semmes, officers and crew of the steamer Sumter; in which they ask the concurrence of the Senate.
On motion by Mr. Simms, that a message be sent to the House of Representatives requesting the return to the Senate of the bill (S. 56) providing for substitutes in certain cases, and detailing privates for police duty,
After debate,
It was determined in the negative.
So the motion was disagreed to.
The joint resolution (H. R. 12) this day communicated from the House of Representatives for concurrence was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (S. 54) to amend an act entitled "An act to organize bands of partisan rangers," approved 21st April, 1862.
The question being on agreeing to the amendment proposed to the bill by Mr. Davis, viz:
To strike out, in the first section, all after the enacting clause, as follows:
That hereafter no authority shall be granted to raise or organize bands of partisan rangers within the limits of any military district, except where the companies or regiments composing the military force of said district are filled to the maximum number,
On motion by Mr. Semmes, as modified by Mr. Henry, to amend the section proposed to be stricken out by adding thereto the following proviso:
Provided, That the first section of this act shall not apply to any State or part thereof within this Confederacy, within the lines of the enemy, or where the conscript law can not be executed,
It was determined in the affirmative.
The question then recurring on agreeing to the amendment proposed by Mr. Davis, was put; and
It was determined in the negative.
So the amendment was rejected.
Mr. Orr moved to amend the bill by striking out the second section thereof;
Pending which,
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On motion by Mr. Clark, to amend the second section by adding thereto the following proviso:
Provided, That the Secretary of War shall only be authorized to brigade them and place them on the same footing as troops of the line, upon the application of the commissioned officers commanding said bands of partisan rangers,
It was determined in the negative.
The question then recurring on agreeing to the amendment proposed by Mr. Orr, was put; and
It was determined in the affirmative.
On motion by Mr. Orr, to amend the bill by adding the following independent section:
It was determined in the negative.
On motion by Mr. Semmes, to amend the bill by adding the following independent section:
It was determined in the affirmative.
No further amendments being made, the bill was reported to the Senate and the amendments were concurred in.
Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time.
The said bill was read the third time by unanimous consent.
On the question,
Shall the bill now pass?
On motion by Mr. Burnett,
The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present,
Those who voted in the affirmative are,
Messrs. Barnwell, Brown, Clay, Henry, Hill, Preston, Semmes, Sparrow, and Wigfall.
Those who voted in the negative are,
Messrs. Baker, Burnett, Clark, Davis, Dortch, Maxwell, Mitchel, Oldham, Orr, Phelan, Simms, and Yancey.
So the bill was rejected.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
The Senate resolved into executive session.
The doors having been opened,
On motion by Mr. Semmes,
The Senate adjourned until to-morrow morning at 12 o'clock.
SECRET SESSION.
A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Lamar:
Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed, in secret session, a bill (H. R. 3) to authorize an issue of Confederate States bonds, to meet a contract made by the Secretary of the Navy, for six ironclad vessels of war, and steam engines and boilers; in which they ask the concurrence of the Senate.
On motion by Mr. Simms, that the vote on the passing of the bill (S. 64) to increase the provisions for detecting counterfeit notes be reconsidered,
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On motion by Mr. Simms,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow.
The bill (H. R. 3) communicated this day from the House of Representatives for concurrence was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Finance.
The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Richmond, Va., September 1, 1862.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, containing the information sought by your resolution of the 26th ultimo, asking for a statement of the number of commissioned officers of every grade now in the naval service of the Confederate States; also the number of those appointed from civil life, and those who were heretofore in the naval service of the United States; also the number of such officers now on leave of absence or furlough; and the number now actually engaged in the naval service of the Confederate States.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The message was read.
Ordered, That it lie on the table.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
The Senate resolved into open legislative session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Mr. Oldham, from the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, to whom were referred (on the 28th ultimo) the nominations of John O. Steger, to be postmaster at Richmond, Va., and George Tucker, to be postmaster at Shreveport, La., reported, with the recommendation that said nominations be confirmed.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of said report; and in concurrence therewith, it was
Resolved, That the Senate advise and consent to their appointment, agreeably to the nomination of the President.
On motion by Mr. Oldham,
The Senate resumed the consideration of the nomination of Henry M. Jeter, as postmaster at Columbus, Ga.
After debate,
On the question,
Will the Senate advise and consent to the appointment of Henry M. Jeter?
It was determined in the affirmative.
So it was
Resolved, That the Senate advise and consent to the appointment, agreeably to the nomination of the President.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the nomination of Thomas Crawford, as postmaster at Athens, Ga.
On motion by Mr. Oldham,
Ordered, That the said nomination be postponed.
The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Richmond, Va., September 2, 1862.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
I have the honor to request you to return to me the nominations for appointment in the Army of the Confederate States, submitted on the 25th ultimo.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
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The message was read; and
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
Resolved, That said nominations be returned to the President.
On motion by Mr. Dortch,
The Senate resumed the consideration of the nomination of Branson G. Graham, as postmaster at Greensboro, N. C.
On the question,
Will the Senate advise and consent to the appointment of Branson G. Graham?
It was determined in the affirmative.
So it was
Resolved, That the Senate advise and consent to the appointment, agreeably to the nomination of the President.
On motion by Mr. Simms,
The Senate resolved into secret legislative session.
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