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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, May 18, 1864.

Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, 1861-1865 [Volume 4]
WEDNESDAY, May 18, 1864.

OPEN SESSION.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Dalton:

Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed joint resolutions of the following titles; in which they request the concurrence of the Senate:

• H. R. 4. Joint resolution of thanks to Maj. Gen. N. B. Forrest and the officers and men of his command for their campaign in Mississippi, west Tennessee, and Kentucky; and
• H. R. 5. Joint resolution authorizing the auditing of accounts of members for pay and mileage.

And they have passed a bill and joint resolution of the Senate of the following titles:

• S. 11. An act to extend the franking privilege; and

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• S. 3. Joint resolution of thanks to Missouri officers and soldiers in the Confederate service east of the Mississippi River.

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. 67) to continue in force and amend the provisions of an act approved January 30, 1864, increasing the compensation of certain officers and employees in the civil and legislative departments at Richmond.

And that on the 17th instant he approved and signed the following joint resolutions:

• H. R. 1. Joint resolution of thanks to the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-eighth regiments of North Carolina troops; and
• H. R. 2. Joint resolution of thanks to the Texas Brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia.

Mr. Barnwell submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be authorized to employ, until the close of the present session, such clerical force as will enable him to keep up the business of the Senate.

Mr. Johnson of Arkansas, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 7) to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for the payment of the interest on the removal and subsistence fund due the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina," so as to authorize the Secretary of War to pay the interest in cash or provisions, reported it without amendment.

The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the said bill; 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. Johnson of Arkansas,

Ordered, That the Committee on Indian Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of that portion of the report of the Secretary of War relating to Indian Affairs and the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

The joint resolutions received this day from the House of Representatives for concurrence were severally read the first and second times; and

Ordered, That the resolution numbered 4 be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the resolution numbered 5 to the Committee on Finance.

The Senate proceeded to consider the amendments of the House of Representatives to the bill (S. 5) to provide passports for Senators and Representatives in Congress when traveling in the Confederate States; and

Resolved, That they concur therein.

Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (S. 21) to amend an act entitled "An act to reduce the currency and to authorize a new issue of notes and bonds," approved 17th February, 1864.

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On motion by Mr. Hill, to amend the bill by striking out the second section, as follows:

• Sec. 2. Instead of the six per cent bonds authorized to be issued to the States under the twelfth section of the said act, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to issue to any State which may desire the same, one-half of such amount as the said State is entitled to claim in Treasury notes of the new issue, and the other half in said six per cent bonds, or, at the option of the State, in coupon bonds, payable in twenty years, with interest at the rate of four per cent per annum, payable half yearly; the said four per cent bonds not to be taxable either upon principal or interest; and this provision shall extend to any portion of the amount which such State may be entitled to claim,

It was determined in the negative.

On motion by Mr. Oldham, to amend the bill by inserting the following independent section:

• Sec. --. That in order to confine the amount of circulation within the limits aforesaid, the Secretary of the Treasury, in anticipation of the necessity of an issue of Treasury notes to meet the disbursements required by law to be made, is hereby authorized and required to give notice, by publication in at least three newspapers published in each State, to the holders of any particular outstanding issue of Treasury notes, or particular denomination of such issue, to present and file the same within forty days after date of said publication in each State, with the Treasurer or some depositary, to be funded in six per cent bonds, which shall be issued in the same manner and shall contain the same pledges and guarantees as the bonds authorized to be issued by the sixth section of the act to which this is an amendment; and all notes of such issue or denomination which shall not be presented and filed within the time specified in such notice shall cease to be current and shall not be receivable by the Government in payment of taxes or other public dues, but shall only be fundable in four per cent bonds, to be issued in accordance with the provisions of the first section of the act to which this is an amendment,

It was determined in the negative.

On motion by Mr. Oldham, to amend the bill by inserting the following independent section:

• Sec. --. That all Treasury notes which shall be issued after the passage of this act shall be fundable and receivable in payment of taxes only at their specie value at the time the same shall be presented for funding or payment, which condition shall be inserted in the face of the note. The specie value from time to time shall be ascertained under rules and regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury,

It was determined in the negative.

On motion by Mr. Walker. to reconsider the vote on agreeing to the following amendment, viz:

Insert at the end of the fifth section the following: "and for purposes of payment herein authorized shall be transferable by delivery,"

It was determined in the affirmative.

The Senate proceeded to consider the said amendment; and

On motion by Mr. Walker, to amend the same by striking out all after the word "and" and inserting:
transfer by delivery of said bonds and certificates shall be sufficient to enable the holder to use the same in payment of said Government dues,

It was determined in the affirmative.

The amendment as amended was then agreed to.

No further amendment being made, the bill was reported to the Senate and the amendments were 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.

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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. 31) to promote the efficiency of the cavalry of the Provisional Army, and to punish lawlessness and irregularities of any portions thereof; and having been amended on the motion of Mr. Orr, 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.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Dalton:

Mr. President: The House of Representatives have agreed to the amendments of the Senate to the resolution of the House providing for the appointment of a special committee of the two Houses on the subject of impressments.

And they have passed the resolution of the Senate fixing a day for the adjournment of the present session of Congress.

Mr. Johnson of Arkansas, from the Committee on indian Affairs. to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 2) to provide for the redemption of the old issue of Treasury notes held by certain Indian tribes, reported it without amendment.

The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the said bill; and no amendment being proposed, it was reported to the Senate.

Ordered, That it pass to a third reading.

The said bill was read the third time.

Resolved, That it pass.

Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.

Mr. Walker presented the memorial of Wellington Goddin, praying an increase of the rent paid by the Government for certain buildings owned by him and now in the occupancy of the Post-Office Department; which was referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. Johnson of Missouri (by leave) introduced

A bill (S. 33) to regulate the compensation and mileage of members of Congress for the present session;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Finance.

On motion by Mr. Semmes,

The Senate resolved into secret legislative session.

The doors having been opened,

The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:

Richmond, Va., May 18, 1864.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I herewith transmit for your consideration a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, submitting an estimate of an additional appropriation required for the support of the Government.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

The message was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:

Richmond, Va., May 18, 1864.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I herewith transmit for your consideration a communication from the Attorney-General, submitting estimates of additional appropriations required for the support of the Government.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

The message was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

On motion by Mr. Caperton,

The Senate adjourned.

SECRET SESSION.

Mr. Brown, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, who were instructed by a resolution of the Senate to inquire what number of war vessels have been constructed, or partially constructed, or put in commission on the James River for the defense of Richmond; where said vessels are; what is their condition and capacity for going into action, etc., presented sundry letters from the Secretary of the Navy and others in relation to the subject; which were read.

On motion by Mr. Sparrow,

The Senate resolved into executive session.

EXECUTIVE SESSION.

Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom were referred (on the 14th instant) the nominations of S. E. Baker, D. N. Moody, P. Brent, S. H. Walkup, W. L. Saunders, James S. Gholston, C. C. Sanders, C. R. Fontaine, James W. Moss, D. W. Jones, W. L. Eakin, S. K. McSpadden, William A. Stowe, C. W. McCreary, E. Capers, Thomas N. Adaire, M. Magevney, R. P, McKelvaine, T. J. Hardin, T. B. Lamar, J. C. Phillips, W. S, McLemore, W. L. J. Lowrance, J. B. Williams, Jos. Armstrong, M. B, Harris, A. A. Lowther, W. L. L. Bowen, E. Warfield, C. C. Blacknall, to be colonels; B. S. Proffitt, W. D. La F. Craig, A. M. Feltus, C. Sykes, G. A. C. Holt, J. N. Chandler, W. W. Wier, W. L. Keirn, A. A. Hill, A. C. McAlister, John Sims, J. Hamilton, J. P. Fitzgerald, W. P. Crawford, L. B. Pardue, R. G. Kelsey, J. P. Brown, B. E. Stiles, W. P. Shooter, W. L. Davidson, W. M. Arnold, W. H. Wylly, R. W. Phipps, W. S. Phillips, J. S. Jones, A. J. Cloud, J. W. Carter, B. F. Little, J. C. Francis, G. R. Kimbrough, L. Hodges, E. M. Morrison, F. E. P. Stafford, F. M. Ford, I. B. Feagin, J. S. Brooks, J, T. Jordan, William H. Ramsey, W. W. Randolph, to be lieutenant-colonels; E. C. Councill, T. J. Borden, J. J. May, H. D. E. Redwine, Wilson Faris, J. O. Banks, R. C. McCay, J. M. Crow, G. M. Crawford, A. J. Richardson, James Dickey, J. B. Kennedy, D. E. Scruggs, C. B. Johnston, T. M. Atkins, G. W. Flowers, J. H. Skelton, T. P. Alston, W. H. Fitz Gerald, John R. Kennard, W. H. Jones, S. J, C. Dunlop, A. W. Smith, D. F. Hill, W. M. Hadden, M. D. Bennett, W. T. Steele, L. A. J. Williams, N. McK. McNeill, J. S. Cone, M. Burke, E. Erson, W. D. Conyers, J. T. Huff, S. G. Jamison, T. H. Patterson, C. K. Massey, L. Ball, W. C. Oates, T. H. Bomar, C. H.

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Stewart, D. P. Heckman, to be majors, 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 advise and consent to their appointment, agreeably to the nomination or the President.

Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred (on the 17th instant) the nomination of William J. Cave, of Virginia, to be first lieutenant and aid-de-camp in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, reported, with the recommendation that said nomination be confirmed.

The Senate proceeded to consider said report; and in concurrence therewith, it was

Resolved, That the Senate advise and consent to his appointment, agreeably to the nomination of the President.

The following message was received front the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:

Confederate States of America, Executive Department,
Richmond, May 18, 1864.

To the Senate of the Confederate States:

Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of the Treasury, I hereby nominate the persons named upon the annexed list to the offices designated.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Treasury Department, Richmond, May 14, 1864.

His Excellency the President.

Sir: I recommend the nomination of the following persons, to be commissioner of taxes and State collectors, under the act for the assessment and collection of taxes, approved May l, 1863:

• Thompson Allan, commissioner of taxes.
• A. R. Greenwood, State collector for Arkansas.
• Abram Martin, State collector for Alabama.
• Robert H. Gamble, State collector for Florida.
• E. G. Cabiness, State collector for Georgia.
• G. F. Neill, State collector for Mississippi.
• W. K. Lane, State collector for North Carolina.
• Joseph Dan Pope, State collector for South Carolina.
• D. N. Kennedy, State collector for Tennessee.
• G. J. Durham, State collector for Texas.
• T. C. Green, State collector for Virginia.
• R. M. Lusher, State collector for Louisiana.

Very respectfully,C. G. MEMMINGER,
Secretary of Treasury.

The message was read.

Ordered, That it be 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:

Confederate States of America, Executive Department,
Richmond, May 18, 1864.

To the Senate of the Confederate States:

Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of the Treasury, I hereby nominate W. W. Crump, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Treasury Department, Richmond, May 14, 1864.

His Excellency the President.

Sir: I recommend the nomination of W. W. Crump, of the State of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.

Very respectfully,C. G. MEMMINGER,
Secretary of Treasury.

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The message was read.

Ordered, That it be 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., May 18, 1864.

To the Senate of the Confederate States:

Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of State, I hereby nominate P. N. Lynch, to be special commissioner of the Confederate States to the States of the Church.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Confederate States of America, Department of State,
Richmond, May 17, 1864.

Sir: The Right Rev. P. N. Lynch, of South Carolina, having been appointed on the 4th day of April last, during a recess of the Senate, special commissioner of the Confederate States to the States of the Church, under the act of Congress approved 20th August, 1861, I have now the honor to recommend his nomination to the Senate for confirmation as special commissioner aforesaid.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,J. P. BENJAMIN,
Secretary of State.

To the President.

The message was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the report of the Committee on the Judiciary on the conflicting claims of F. M. Green and W. B. Lowry for promotion in the Eleventh Regiment Mississippi Volunteers; and

The question being on agreeing to the motion submitted by Mr. Orr on yesterday, to recommit the report to the Committee on the Judiciary with instructions to embody in their report the general orders of the Adjutant and Inspector General regulating promotions under the act of the 15th April, 1862, in the decisions of the case by the Adjutant and Inspector General and Secretary of War, and the opinion of the Attorney-General in the case of Major Bass,

Mr. Orr (by leave) withdrew the said motion.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions submitted on yesterday by Mr. Hill, from the Committee on the Judiciary, in relation to the conflicting claims of F. M. Green and W. B. Lowry for promotion in the Eleventh Regiment Mississippi Volunteers.

After debate.

On motion by Mr. Johnson of Missouri.

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow.

On motion by Mr. Orr.

The Senate resolved into open legislative session.

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