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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 --MONDAY, April 20, 1863.
OPEN SESSION.
Mr. Mitchel presented a design for a flag for the Confederate States; which was referred to the Committee on Flag and Seal.
Mr. Johnson of Georgia presented a resolution of the general assembly of the State of Georgia in relation to increasing the monthly pay of privates and noncommissioned officers in the armies of the Confederate States; which was read and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
On motion by Mr. Johnson of Georgia,
Ordered, That it be printed.
Mr. Wigfall presented the memorial of Thomas Rooke, subcollector of the war tax for district No. 57 in the State of Texas, praying to be released from the payment of a certain sum of money lost by him; which was referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported
A bill (S. 127) to amend an act entitled "An act to provide a staff and clerical force for any general who may be assigned by the President to duty at the seat of government," approved March 25, 1862; which was read the first and second times and ordered to be placed upon the Calendar.
Mr. Hill, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 34) concerning fees of district attorneys, reported it with an amendment.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (H. R. 34) last mentioned; and the reported amendment having been agreed to the bill was reported to the Senate and the amendment was concurred in.
Ordered, That the amendment be engrossed and the bill read a third time.
The said bill as amended was read the third time.
Resolved, That it pass with an amendment.
Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives in the amendment.
Mr. Hill, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom were referred the following bills:
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the said bills; and no amendment being made, they were reported to the Senate.
Ordered, That they pass to a third reading.
The said bills were severally read the third time.
Resolved, That they pass.
Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.
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On motion by Mr. Hill,
Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the bill (H. R. 47) to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for the safe custody, printing, publication, and distribution of the laws, and to provide for the appointment of an additional clerk in the Department of Justice," approved August 5, 1861, and that it be referred to the Committee on Printing.
Mr. Hill, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (S. 125) to ratify and confirm the acquisition by the Government of certain property, reported it without amendment.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (S. 125) last mentioned; and
On motion by Mr. Hill,
Resolved, That it be postponed indefinitely.
Mr. Hill, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the joint resolution (H. R. 8) relating to martial law, reported it with an amendment.
On motion by Mr. Hill,
Ordered, That the resolution be printed.
Mr. Caperton, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (S. 124) fixing the salary of the judge of the district court of the eastern district of Virginia, reported it with an amendment.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (S. 124) last mentioned; and the reported amendment having been agreed to, the bill was reported to the Senate and the amendment was concurred in.
On the question,
Shall the bill be engrossed and read a third time?
It was determined in the negative.
So the bill was rejected.
Mr. Caperton, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (S. 116) to authorize the Secretary of War to purchase or lease real estate, reported it without amendment.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (S. 116) last mentioned; and having been amended on the motion of Mr. Davis, it 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.
Mr. Brown (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 128) to authorize the appointment of a chief constructor in the Navy, and to fix the pay;
which was read the first and second times and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment being proposed, it 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.
On motion by Mr. Brown, and by unanimous consent,
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Ordered, That the President pro tempore appoint two additional members on the Committee on Naval Affairs.
And Mr. Maxwell and Mr. Dortch were appointed.
Mr. Maxwell, from the Committee on Patents, to whom was referred the bill (S. 121) to fix the salary of the Commissioner of Patents, reported it without amendment.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (S. 121) last mentioned; and no amendment being proposed, it was reported to the Senate.
On the question,
Shall the bill be engrossed and read a third time?
It was determined in the negative.
So the bill was rejected.
Mr. Davis, from the Committee on Claims, to whom were referred the following bills:
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the said bills; and no amendment being made, they were reported to the Senate.
Ordered, That they pass to a third reading.
The said bills were severally read the third time.
Resolved, That they pass.
Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.
Mr. Phelan, from the Committee on Printing, to whom was referred the amendments of the House of Representatives to the bill (S. 75) to provide for having the laws relating to military and naval affairs digested and published, reported them with the recommendation that the Senate do not concur therein.
The Senate proceeded to consider the amendments of the House of Representatives to the said bill; and
Resolved, That they disagree thereto.
Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (S. 112) to facilitate transportation for the Government; and
After debate,
On motion by Mr. Caperton,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to and made the special order for to-morrow at 12 o'clock.
On motion by Mr. Peyton,
Ordered, That the bill (H. R. 31) to provide for the relief of officers and soldiers who have been irregularly introduced into the military service of the Confederate States be printed.
A message from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N Harrison, his Secretary:
Mr. President: The President of the Confederate States, on the 14th instant, approved and signed an act (S. 97) to exempt contractors for carrying the mails of the Confederate States and the drivers of post coaches and hacks from military service.
On the 16th instant the President approved and signed the following acts and joint resolution:
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Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.
The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Richmond, Va., April 18, 1863.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
I herewith transmit for your information a communication from the Secretary of War, in response to your resolution of the 2d instant, and stating that no orders have been issued for the arrest and confinement of soldiers in Richmond whose furloughs have not expired.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The message was read.
On motion by Mr. Orr,
Ordered, That it lie upon the table.
The following messages were received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Richmond, Va., April 18, 1863.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of War, covering an estimate of the amount required to liquidate claims to be paid for river defense service.
I recommend an appropriation of the amount for the purpose specified.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Richmond, Va., April 18, 1863.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of War, covering an estimate of the amount required for the use of the Surgeon-General before the close of the current fiscal year.
I recommend an appropriation of the amount for the purpose specified.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Richmond, Va., April 20, 1863.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit for your information a communication from the Secretary of War, covering copies of the official reports of several engagements with the enemy.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The messages were severally read.
Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (S. 69) for the confiscation of the leasehold interest and shares of stock owned by the American Telegraph Company and other alien enemies in the lines of telegraph in the Confederate States.
On motion by Mr. Caperton, that the bill be postponed indefinitely,
After debate,
Mr. Haynes demanded the question; which was seconded, and
The question being put,
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On motion by Mr. Orr,
The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present,
Those who voted in the affirmative are,
Messrs. Barnwell, Caperton, Davis, Hill, Hunter, Johnson of Georgia, Phelan, Semmes, and Sparrow.
Those who voted in the negative are,
Messrs. Brown, Clark, Clay, Dortch, Haynes, Henry, Mitchel, Oldham, Orr, and Peyton.
On motion by Mr. Haynes, to amend the bill by inserting at the end of the seventh section the following proviso:
Provided further, That nothing contained in this act shall be so construed as to prejudice or impair the titles, rights, and interests of any citizen of the Confederate States, or of any alien friend,
It was determined in the affirmative.
On motion by Mr. Clay,
The Senate resolved into secret legislative session.
The doors having been opened,
The following message was received from the House of Representatives, by Mr. McDonald:
Mr. President: The President of the Confederate States has notified the House of Representatives that on the 13th instant he approved and signed an act (H. R. 7) to prohibit the punishment of soldiers by whipping.
On the 16th instant he approved and signed the following acts:
And on the 17th instant he approved and signed an act (H. R. 33) to provide for the execution of deeds by marshals in certain cases.
On motion by Mr. Oldham,
The Senate adjourned.
SECRET SESSION.
A message from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Mr. President: On the 16th instant the President of the Confederate States approved and signed an act (S. 52) to fix the rank of officers in the military and naval service of the Confederate States holding commissions under the Provisional Government when reappointed to offices of the same grade under the Permanent Government.
Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.
A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. McDonald:
Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed the joint resolution of the Senate (S. 2) relative to the plan of retaliation proposed in the President's message, with an amendment; in which they request the concurrence of the Senate.
The Senate proceeded to consider the amendment of the House of Representatives to the joint resolution (S. 2) last mentioned; and
On motion by Mr. Semmes,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow, and that it be printed in confidence for the use of the Senate.
On motion by Mr. Semmes,
The Senate resolved into executive session.
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EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Richmond, April 18, 1863.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
I herewith transmit for your information, in executive session, a communication from the Secretary of State, in response to your resolution of the 13th instant, and setting forth generally the reasons upon which I have deemed it expedient to send a commissioner to Russia.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The message was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
On motion by Mr. Semmes,
The Senate resolved into secret legislative session.
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