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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, February 13, 1865.
OPEN SESSION.
A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Dalton:
Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed a bill (H. R. 368) for the relief of James Sykes, agent of James W. Sykes; in which they request the concurrence of the Senate.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed an enrolled bill and an enrolled joint resolution, I am directed to bring them to the Senate for the signature of their President.
Mr. Walker presented a series of resolutions passed at a meeting of the officers and men of Law's brigade in relation to the condition of the country and the prosecution of the war; which were ordered to lie upon the table and be printed.
Mr. Caperton presented a series of resolutions passed at a meeting of the officers and men of Parker's battery of Virginia Artillery in relation to the terms of peace proposed by the United States Government and to the prosecution of the war; which were ordered to lie upon the table and be printed.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, who were instructed by a resolution of the Senate to inquire into the subject, reported
A bill (S. 192) to amend the act entitled "An act to organize forces to serve the during the war," approved February 17, 1864;
which was read and passed to a second reading.
Ordered, That it be printed.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 190) to provide for raising 200,000 negro troops, reported it with an amendment.
Ordered, That the amendment be printed.
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Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported
A joint resolution (S. 29) extending the provisions of the joint resolution to allow sick and wounded officers of the Army transportation to their homes, and hospital accommodations, approved June 10, 1864; 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 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 bill (H. R. 368) for the relief of James Sykes, agent of James W. Sykes, was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Claims.
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (S. 173) to receive volunteer troops for the war; and
On motion by Mr. Henry,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow.
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (S. 181) to provide supplies for the Army, and to prescribe the mode of making impressments; and having been amended on the motion of Mr. Walker, 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.
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the, bill (S. 184) to exempt from military service skilled artisans and mechanics; and
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until Thursday next.
On motion by Mr. Caperton,
The Senate resolved into secret legislative session.
The doors having been opened,
Mr. Caperton, from the committee, reported that they had examined and found truly enrolled a bill and joint resolution of the following titles:
The President pro tempore having signed the enrolled bill and enrolled joint resolution last reported to have been examined, they were delivered to the Secretary of the Senate and by him forthwith presented to the President of the Confederate States for his approval.
On motion by Mr. Orr,
The Senate adjourned.
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SECRET SESSION.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the resolution submitted by Mr. Wigfall on the 11th instant, declaring that the retirement of the Hon. Judah P. Benjamin from the State Department will be subservient of the public interests.
The resolution having been modified by Mr. Wigfall so as to read as follows, to wit:
Whereas the Honorable J. P. Benjamin was appointed to the office of Secretary of State, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and
Whereas that body is now satisfied that the appointment has proved unfortunate, and is one which would not now be advised or consented to, and that the said J. P. Benjamin is not a wise and prudent Secretary of State, and has not the confidence of the country: Therefore,
Resolved, That the President be advised of this opinion of the Senate, and most respectfully requested to take such action in the premises as he may deem proper.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow, that the resolution be transferred to the Open Legislative Calendar,
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. Brown, Garland, Oldham, Orr, Sparrow, and Wigfall.
Those who voted in the negative are,
Messrs. Baker, Burnett, Caperton, Dortch, Graham, Haynes, Henry, Hunter, Johnson of Georgia, Johnson of Missouri, Maxwell, Semmes, Vest, Walker, and Watson.
On motion by Mr. Orr,
Ordered, That the resolution be transferred to the Calendar of Executive Business.
On motion by Mr. Watson,
The Senate resolved into executive session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the resolution submitted by Mr. Wigfall on the 11th, instant, in secret legislative session, declaring that the retirement of the Hon. Judah P. Benjamin from the State Department will be subservient of the public interests, modified so as to read as follows, to wit:
Whereas the Honorable, J. P. Benjamin was appointed to the office of Secretary of State, by, and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and
Whereas that body is now satisfied that the appointment has proved unfortunate, and is one which would not now be advised or consented to, and that the said J. P. Benjamin is not a wise and prudent Secretary of State, and has not the confidence of the country: Therefore,
Resolved, That the President be advised of this opinion of the Senate, and most respectfully requested to take such action in the premises as he may deem proper.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow, to amend the preamble to the resolution by inserting after "country," line 11, the words "except the State of Louisiana,"
It was determined in the negative.
On the question,
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Will the Senate agree to the resolution?
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. Burnett, Caperton, Haynes, Johnson of Missouri, Oldham, Orr. Simms. Vest, Walker, Watson, and Wigfall.
Those who voted in the negative are,
Messrs. Baker, Brown, Dortch, Garland, Graham, Henry, Hunter, Johnson of Georgia, Maxwell, Semmes, and Sparrow.
So the resolution was not agreed to.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom were referred (on the 16th December, 1864) the nominations of J. W. Robertson, Robert H. Lucas, John Postell, and H. A. Pattison, to be captains; William Tennant, T. A. Evans, C. G. de L'Isle, John M. Searles, and G. O. Elms, to be first lieutenants, and H. M. Scales, W. H. Johnson, William Hume, Jas. D. Harris, Jos. B. Bond, S. W. Hill, F. S. Robertson, and N. B. Whitfield, to be second lieutenants of Corps of Engineers, reported, with the recommendation that all of said nominations be confirmed.
The Senate proceeded to consider said report; and in concurrence therewith, it was
Resolved, That the Senate do advise and consent to their appointment, agreeably to the nomination of the President.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom were referred (on the 9th ultimo) the nominations of J. C. S. Blackburn and H. H. Johnston, to be captains; and Bennett H. Young, to be first lieutenant; and (on the 23d ultimo) the nominations of J. R. B. Burtwell, to be colonel; John F. Doan, to be lieutenant-colonel, and Melville W. Sale, to be major of cavalry, reported, with the recommendation that all of said nominations be confirmed.
The Senate proceeded to consider said report; and in concurrence therewith, it was
Resolved, That the Senate do advise and consent to their appointment, agreeably to the nomination of the President.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom were referred (on the 7th instant) the nomination of John B. Sale, to be colonel in the Adjutant-General's Department; and (on the 8th instant) the nominations of William McComb, to be brigadier-general; W. H. Forney, to be colonel; W. H. Fitz Gerald, F. W. Cox, William T. Smith, B. H. Gee, John S. Prather, and James A. Broome, to be lieutenant-colonels; H. A. Edmundson, L. W. Johnson, W. K. Perrin, and W. H. Fickling, to be majors; George W. Day, to be lieutenant-colonel, and F. C. Clewell, to be adjutant of cavalry, reported, with the recommendation that all of said nominations be confirmed.
The Senate proceeded to consider said report; and in concurrence therewith, it was
Resolved, That the Senate do advise and consent to their appointment, agreeably to the nomination of the President.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom were referred (on the 10th instant) the nominations of R. Lowry, to be brigadier-general; B. W. Smith and H. C. Ellis, to be assistant commissaries, with the rank of captain; William W. Berry, to be chaplain;
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William R. McCullough and William H. Mosby, to be adjutants, with the rank of first lieutenant; T. Bullitt Alexander, to be second lieutenant of cavalry, in the Army of the Confederate States; and A. E. Walters, to be second lieutenant of infantry (for distinguished valor and skill), reported, with the recommendation that all of said nominations be confirmed.
The Senate proceeded to consider said report; and in concurrence therewith, it was
Resolved, That the Senate do advise and consent to their appointment, agreeably to the nomination of the President.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
The Senate resolved into open legislative session.
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