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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, May 23, 1864.
OPEN SESSION.
On motion by Mr. Hill,
Ordered, That the Hon. Herschel V. Johnson have leave of absence from the sessions of the Senate during the remainder of the present session.
Mr. Sparrow presented the memorial of J. S. Thrasher, praying the passage of an act allowing the proper officers of the Government to sell to reporters for the press supplies of food and forage; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Sparrow submitted the following resolution for consideration:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill for the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus after the expiration of the present law, and of providing by said bill that the said suspension shall continue until the close of the next session of Congress.
The Senate proceeded to consider the said resolution; and
On motion by Mr. Graham,
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Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow.
Mr. Semmes (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 43) to regulate the pay of a general assigned to duty at the seat of government under the provisions of the act approved March 25, 1862;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Orr presented the memorial of John P. King and others, praying the passage of an act placing railroad interests on an equal footing with other leading interests of the country; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. Oldham, from the Committee on Commerce, to whom was recommitted the bill (S. 30) to amend an act to impose regulations upon the foreign commerce of the Confederate States to provide for the public defense, approved February 6, 1864, 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.
A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Dalton:
Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed a joint resolution (H. R. 7) to prevent restrictions upon the right of members of Congress to visit sick and wounded officers and soldiers in hospitals; in which they request the concurrence of the Senate.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed sundry enrolled bills and enrolled joint resolutions, I am directed to bring them to the Senate for the signature of their President.
Mr. Maxwell, from the Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 37) to amend an act entitled "An act to impose regulations upon the foreign commerce of the Confederate States to provide for the public defense," approved February 6, 1864, and for other purposes, reported it with an amendment.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the said bill.
On the question to agree to the following reported amendment, viz: After the word "exportation," in the twenty-fourth line, insert the following proviso:
Provided, That this exception in favor of such parties shall only apply to cases where the joint interest with the State existed at the date of the passage of the acts aforesaid.
On motion by Mr. Maxwell, to amend the amendment by inserting after "interest" the words "or the charter,"
It was determined in the affirmative.
The amendment as amended was then agreed to.
On motion by Mr. Oldham, to amend the bill by striking therefrom the words
and by no regulations imposed as aforesaid, shall the other parties in said companies be restricted to the use of less than one-half of the whole of the capacity or cargo of such ship, vessel, or steamer, in importation or exportation: Provided, That this
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exception in favor of such parties shall only apply to cases where the joint interest or the charter with the State existed at the date of the passage of the acts aforesaid. any clause or provision of either of the acts aforesaid to the contrary notwithstanding,
It was determined in the affirmative.
On motion by Mr. Semmes, to amend the bill by striking therefrom the words "and also of the act to prohibit the importation of luxuries, or of articles not necessaries or of common use, approved February sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four,"
It was determined in the negative.
On motion by Mr. Walker, to amend the bill by adding thereto the following proviso:
Provided, That nothing herein contained shall authorize the importation of articles the importation of which is prohibited by the act to prohibit the importation of luxuries, or of articles not necessaries or of common use, approved February sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, unless the same be for the use or on account of the States,
It was determined in the affirmative.
No further amendment being made, the bill was reported to the Senate and the amendments were concurred in.
On the question,
Shall the bill be engrossed and read a third time?
On motion by Mr. Semmes,
The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present,
Those who voted in the affirmative are,
Messrs. Baker, Burnett, Caperton, Dortch, Graham, Henry, Maxwell, Mitchel, Oldham, Orr, Simms, Walker, and Watson.
Those who voted in the negative are,
Messrs. Barnwell, Brown, Hill, Hunter, Jemison, Johnson of Missouri, Semmes, Sparrow, and Wigfall.
So it was
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 President pro tempore laid before the Senate a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, recommending certain changes in the impressment laws; which was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Finance.
The joint resolution (H. R. 7) to prevent restrictions upon the right of members of Congress to visit sick and wounded officers and soldiers in hospitals was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Dortch, from the committee, reported that they had examined and found truly enrolled bills and joint resolutions of the following titles:
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The President pro tempore having signed the enrolled bills and enrolled joint resolutions 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.
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (S. 15) to authorize the payment of the actual and necessary expenses of naval officers while traveling under orders; and
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow.
Mr. Semmes presented the memorial of Mylo N. Byington, praying the passage of an act to refund certain moneys taken from him by the military authorities in the State of Louisiana; which was referred to the Committee on Claims.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
The Senate resolved into secret legislative session.
The doors having been opened,
On motion by Mr. Semmes,
The Senate adjourned.
SECRET SESSION.
Mr. Simms submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Whereas the Constitution makes it the duty of Congress to provide means for the support of the Government and the maintenance of its public credit; and
Whereas the present depreciated value of Treasury notes not only operates to the prejudice and injury of the public credit of the Government and an increase of its public debt, but thereby impairs its ability to maintain efficiently its armies in the field by forcing it to issue in payment of supplies for the use of the Army twenty dollars in Treasury notes, to be hereafter paid in gold, for which it receives but one dollar in gold or its equivalent in supplies, according to the present standard of value of such notes; and
Whereas the inevitable effect of this condition of our finances is to force the Government to expend twenty millions of dollars when one million would suffice, thereby making our public debt exceed the amount necessary for the prosecution of the war twenty times, or, in other words, making it two thousand millions, when, trader a wiser policy, it should only be one hundred millions of dollars; and
Whereas our commerce is excluded from the markets of the World, and the resources arising therefrom can not be made available as a means of public credit, or as a means whereby supplies may be obtained at rates more reasonable, we are therefore compelled to rely upon our public credit as the only means left us whereby the wants of the Treasury may be supplied and its large outstanding liabilities met; and
Whereas we know by experience that the public faith of a people in the integrity of their Government and its willingness to pay can not and will not sustain, at par value, or at a rate approximating par value, its public credit or its issues of promise
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to pay Treasury notes; it becomes, therefore, the high duty of Congress to gravely consider the propriety of so using and applying the internal resources of the country as to make them not only available in the present exigency, but as a means whereby the public credit may be restored; provided this can be done without injury or prejudice to the property rights of the citizen. To the end thereby that these grave questions may be properly considered and determined, be it
Resolved, That the Committee on Finance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of conferring upon the Government of the Confederate States the exclusive right and power to sell and dispose of all cotton, tobacco, and naval stores now in the Confederate States, or which may be made or produced during the present war, and that the right and power thus conferred shall be in the nature of a monopoly, to continue for the period of five years if necessary.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
The Senate resolved into executive session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Mr. Brown, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom were referred (on the 20th instant) the nominations of James E. Armour, to be paymaster, and Marsden Bellamy, Basil M. Heriot, and Norton Kent Adams, to be assistant paymasters, in the Regular Navy, 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 of the President.
Mr. Hill, from the Committee on the Judiciary, who were instructed by a resolution of the Senate to inquire into the subject, submitted the following resolutions:
Resolved, That nominations made during the session of the Senate, and not continued or postponed for further consideration by order of the Senate to an ensuing session, lapse and expire at the end of the session at which the nominations were made.
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Resolved, That in case of nominations made during its session the Senate has the constitutional right by order entered on its Journal to postpone or continue such nominations for further consideration to its ensuing session and at such session to confirm or reject the same.
The Senate proceeded to consider said resolutions; and
On the question to agree thereto,
Mr. Johnson of Missouri demanded a division of the question; and On the question to agree to the first resolution,
On motion by Mr. Oldham,
The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present,
Those who voted in the affirmative are,
Messrs. Baker, Barnwell, Caperton, Graham, Henry, Hill, Hunter, Jemison, jr., Johnson of Missouri, Maxwell, Mitchel, Oldham, Orr, Semmes, Sparrow, Walker, and Watson.
On the question to agree to the second resolution,
On motion by Mr. Oldham,
The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present,
Those who voted in the affirmative are,
Messrs. Baker, Barnwell, Caperton, Graham, Henry, Hill, Jemison, jr., Maxwell, Orr, Semmes, Sparrow, Walker, and Watson.
Those who voted in the negative are,
Messrs. Hunter, Johnson of Missouri, Mitchel, and Oldham.
So the resolutions were agreed to.
Mr. Sparrow submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That all nominations which have heretofore been made to the Senate, and which have not been finally disposed of by the Senate, but which have been postponed or continued, be taken from the files and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the nomination of F. M. Green, to be colonel, 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 Senate resumed the consideration of the nomination of P. N. Lynch, to be special commissioner of the Confederate States to the States of the Church; and
After debate,
On motion by Mr. Semmes,
The Senate resolved into open legislative session.
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