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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 4, 1863.
OPEN SESSION.
The Hon. R. L. Y. Peyton, from the State of Missouri, attended.
Mr. Simms (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 29) to take private property for public use, by paying to the owner or owners a just compensation for the same;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Wigfall (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 30) to regulate impressments by officers of the Army;
which was road the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of a resolution of the State of Georgia, asking an investigation of the complaints against the quartermasters, commissaries, surgeons, agents, and other officials connected with the War Department of the Confederate States, in regard to the performance of their various duties.
The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Richmond, Va., February 4, 1863.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of War, submitting estimates for the Indian service to June 30, 1863.
I recommend an appropriation of the amount and for the purpose indicated.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The message was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
The following message was received from the President, of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Richmond, Va., February 4, 1863.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
I herewith transmit for your information a communication from the Secretary of War, covering a report of the Quartermaster-General in response to your resolution relative to commutation, etc., of officers serving in cities.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The message was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (S. 3) to organize the Supreme Court of the Confederate States.
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On the question to agree to the amendment proposed by Mr. Clay, viz:
Add the following independent section:
After debate,
On motion by Mr. Barnwell,
The Senate resolved into executive session.
The doors having been opened,
On motion by Mr. Barnwell.
The Senate adjourned.
SECRET SESSION
Mr. Phelan submitted the following resolution for consideration:
Resolved, That the Doorkeeper shall not bring to any Senator during the session of the Senate any card or other paper from any person beyond the bar of the Senate.
The Senate proceeded to consider the said resolution; and
The resolution was not agreed to.
Mr. Semmes submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the President pro tempore to inquire into the recent violation of the dignity of the Senate, and report what course the Senate should adopt in reference thereto.
The President pro tempore appointed Mr. Barnwell, Mr. Henry, Mr. Wigfall, Mr. Sparrow, and Mr. Brown as the committee.
On motion by Mr. Brown that he be excused from serving On said committee,
It was determined in the negative.
On motion by Mr. Barnwell,
Ordered, That the committee have leave to sit during the session of the Senate.
Mr. Barnwell, from the committee appointed to inquire into the recent violation of the dignity of the Senate, and to report what course the Senate should adopt in reference thereto, reported the following resolutions and recommended their adoption:
Resolved, That the Senate deem it due to their own honor and dignity to express their deep disapprobation and censure of the very disgraceful scene which occurred on the floor of the Senate to-day between the Senator from Georgia, B. H. Hill, and the Senator from Alabama, W. L Yancey.
Resolved, That, in the opinion of the Senate, no circumstances can justify a Senator in either deliberately using language personally insulting to a Senator or striking a Senator on the floor of the Senate.
Resolved, That the scene above spoken of having occurred in secret session, the Senate enjoins upon every member not in any way, by word or act, to disclose the same to the public.
The Senate proceeded to consider the said resolutions; and
On motion by Mr. Johnson of Arkansas, to amend the first resolution by striking therefrom the words "very disgraceful,"
It was determined in the negative.
On motion by Mr. Phelan, to amend the first resolution by striking out all after "Resolved" and inserting:
That the Senate hereby expresses its most emphatic disapprobation and censure of the high offense offered to its dignity and decorum by the personal altercation which this day transpired upon the floor of the Senate between the Honorable W. L. Yancey, of Alabama, and the Honorable B. H. Hill, of Georgia,
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It was determined in the negative.
On motion by, Mr. Phelan, to amend the first resolution by striking out the words "very disgraceful" and inserting after the word "scene" the words "so disgracing to the Senate," and by striking out the words "the floor of the Senate" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "its floor,"
It was determined in the negative.
On motion by Mr. Haynes, to amend the first resolution by striking out the words "very disgraceful" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "the scene so very disgraceful to the Senate,"
It was determined in the negative.
No other amendment being proposed, the question was put on the adoption of the resolutions; and
The resolutions were agreed to.
Mr. Johnson of Arkansas submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That the Senators from Alabama and Georgia be required by the Senate to pledge to the Senate that they will not further prosecute the personal difficulty under consideration; and if it is refused, that the Senate will determine what other step, if any, may be taken.
On motion by Mr. Davis,
Ordered, That the vote on agreeing to the resolutions expressing the disapprobation and censure of the Senate of the very disgraceful scene which occurred on the floor of the Senate to-day between the Senator front Georgia, B. H. Hill, and the Senator from Alabama, W. L. Yancey, be reconsidered.
The said resolutions being again under consideration,
After debate,
On motion by Mr. Barnwell,
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:
Richmond, Va., February 4, 1863.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
I hereby nominate the persons named upon the annexed list to the offices designated, agreeably to the recommendation of the Postmaster-General.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Post-Office Department,
Richmond, February 3, 1863.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the following-named persons for appointment as postmasters by your excellency, with the advice and consent of the Senate:
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Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN H. REAGAN,
Postmaster-General.
The President.
The message was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.
On motion by Mr. Phelan.
The Senate resolved into secret legislative session.
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