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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 11, 1863.
OPEN SESSION.
Mr. Clay (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 78) to prevent the absence of officers and soldiers without leave;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
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Mr. Hill, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (S. 71) to repeal the naturalization laws, reported it with an amendment.
On motion by Mr. Hill,
Ordered, That the bill and amendment be printed.
Mr. Mitchel, from the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, reported
A bill (S. 79) for the benefit of certain claimants for postal services; which was read the first and second times and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment being proposed, the bill was reported to the Senate.
Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time.
The said bill 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.
Mr. Davis, from the Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill (S. 54) for the relief of Mrs. Laura Harper, wife of Col. R. W. Harper, commanding First Regiment of Arkansas Cavalry, reported it without amendment.
Mr. Clay 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 abolishing the office of regimental commissary.
Mr. Simms submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That the President be requested, if not prejudicial to the public interest, to communicate to the Senate a copy of the official report of the battle of Baton Rouge, made by Major-General John C. Breckinridge.
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (S. 6) to grant to the principal officer of each of the Executive Departments a seat upon the floor of Congress.
On motion by Mr. Haynes, to amend the bill by striking out, in the fourth and fifth lines, the words "with the privilege of discussing any measures appertaining to his Department,"
On motion by Mr. Haynes,
The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present,
Those who voted in the affirmative are,
Messrs. Brown, Caperton, Clark, Davis, Dortch, Haynes, Henry, Johnson of Arkansas, Mitchel, Oldham, Peyton, Simms, Sparrow, and Yancey.
Those who voted in the negative are,
Messrs. Barnwell, Burnett, Clay, Hill, Hunter, Maxwell, Orr, Phelan, Semmes, and Wigfall.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
Ordered, That the bill be postponed indefinitely.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (S. 57) relative to the bonds of quartermasters and commissaries of the Confederate States.
On motion by Mr. Davis, to amend the bill by striking out, in the twenty-fifth line, the words "render it obligatory upon" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "be prima facie evidence of delivery by,"
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It was determined in the negative.
On motion by Mr. Orr, to amend the bill by adding thereto the following independent section:
On motion by Mr. Oldham, to amend the amendment proposed by Mr. Orr by inserting after the word "dollars" the words
but a recovery for that amount shall not discharge the bond, but the parties thereto shall be bound for all sums for which the principal may be liable,
It was determined in the negative.
On the question to agree to the amendment proposed by Mr. Orr,
It was determined in the affirmative.
No further amendment being proposed, the bill was reported to the Senate and the amendment was concurred in.
Ordered, That the bill be engrossed and read a third time.
The said bill 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:
Richmond, Va., March 11, 1863.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit, for your information, a communication from the Secretary of War covering several reports of engagements with the enemy.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The message was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Wigfall, from the special committee appointed to inquire into the rights and duties of reporters admitted to seats upon the floor of the Senate, and to inquire whether there had been any breach of those duties in certain comments made by a reporter in the columns of a newspaper published in this city on one of the members of this body, submitted a report (No. 6), accompanied by the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the privilege of the floor of the Senate is hereby withdrawn from the present reporter of the Richmond Enquirer.
Resolved further, That the presiding officer of the Senate is hereby empowered and enjoined to administer this privilege, granting it to such number of papers only as shall to him seem proper and convenient, and withdrawing it from any and all such reporters or papers as in his judgment the public interest or the peace and dignity of the Senate may require; and for such withdrawal he shall not be required to assign reasons.
The Senate proceeded to consider the said resolutions; and
On motion by Mr. Brown, that they lie upon the table,
Mr. Orr demanded a division of the question; and
On the question to lay on the table the resolution withdrawing the privilege of the floor of the Senate from the present reporter of the Richmond Enquirer,
After debate,
On motion by Mr. Davis,
The Senate resolved into secret legislative session.
The doors having been opened,
On motion by Mr. Haynes,
The Senate adjourned.
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SECRET SESSION.
Mr. Hill, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (S. 53) to deprive negroes and mulattoes taken in arms against the Confederate States of the rights and immunities of prisoners of war, and to sell them into perpetual slavery where no person claims right of property in them, reported it with an amendment.
On motion by Mr. Hill,
Ordered, That the bill and amendment be printed in confidence for the use of the Senate.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
The Senate resolved into executive session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by his Secretary, Mr. B. N. Harrison:
Richmond, Va., March 10, 1863.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
I have the honor to request that upon the list sent to the Senate on the 6th instant, the name of J. C. Tappan, nominated by mistake to be brigade quartermaster, may be changed to James M. Elliston, to be brigade quartermaster, with the rank of major, to report for duty to Brig. Gen. J. C. Tappan.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The message was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
On motion by Mr. Barnwell,
The Senate resolved into open legislative session.
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