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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 --SATURDAY, June 4, 1864.
OPEN SESSION.
A message front the House of Representatives, by Mr. Dalton:
Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed bills of the following titles; in which they request the concurrence of the Senate:
The House of Representatives have agreed to the amendments of the Senate to the following bills:
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Mr. Mitchel (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 67) to organize a corps of scouts and guards to facilitate communication with the Trans-Mississippi Department;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Johnson of Missouri (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 68) to provide for paying officers and soldiers the loss sustained by them on account of the depreciation of Confederate Treasury notes;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Dalton:
Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed the joint resolution of the Senate (S. 8) directing the settlement of the claim of Zedekiah McDaniel and Francis M. Ewing, for destroying the Federal gunboat Cairo by means of a torpedo, with an amendment; in which they request the concurrence of the Senate.
On motion by Mr. Jemison,
Ordered, That the memorial of John B. Read, of the State of Alabama, praying compensation for the use, by the Army and Navy of the Confederate States, of the "Read Shell," be taken from the files of the Senate and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. Jemison submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That the Senate will, during the remainder of the present session, take a recess daily, from the hour of half past three o'clock postmeridian to eight o'clock postmeridian.
Mr. Barnwell, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 98) to amend an act entitled "An act to reduce the currency and to authorize a new issue of notes and bonds," approved February 17, 1864, reported it with the recommendation that it ought not to pass.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the said bill; and
On motion by Mr. Johnson of Arkansas, that the bill lie upon the table,
It was determined in the negative.
No amendment being proposed, the bill was reported to the Senate.
Ordered, That it pass to a third reading.
The said bill was read the third time.
On the question,
Shall the bill now pass?
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. Baker, Brown, Haynes, Henry, Johnson of Missouri, Maxwell, Mitchel, Oldham, Simms, Walker, and Watson.
Those who voted in the negative are,
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Messrs. Barnwell, Graham, Hunter, Jemison, Johnson of Georgia, Johnson of Arkansas, Orr, Semmes, Sparrow, and Wigfall.
So it was
Resolved, That this bill pass.
Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the following subjects:
A message from the House et Representatives, by Mr. Dalton:
Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed bills and a joint resolution et the following titles; in which they request the concurrence of the Senate:
The House of Representatives have agreed to the report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on 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 they have passed bills of the Senate of the following titles:
The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed two enrolled Mils and an enrolled joint resolution, I am directed to bring them to the Senate for the signature of their President.
Mr. Sparrow, front the Committee on Military Affairs, who were instructed by a resolution of the Senate to inquire into the subject, reported
A bill (S. 69) to retire or drop field and company officers from the Army in certain cases;
which was read the first and second times and considered as in Committee of the Whole.
On motion by Mr. Walker, to amend the bill by striking out of the first section the words
and that hereafter no officer of the staff shall be assigned to command in the line, except in cases of emergency, until an appointment can be made,
It was determined in the negative.
No amendment being made, 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.
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The following bills were severally read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Finance:
The bill (H. R. 149) to amend an act entitled "An act to regulate the supplies of clothing to enlisted men of the Navy during the war," approved April 30, 1863, was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
The joint resolution (H. R. 12) to impose certain additional duties on the Quartermaster-General was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Maxwell, from the committee, reported that they had examined and found truly enrolled bills and a joint resolution of the following titles:
The President pro tempore having signed the enrolled bills and enrolled joint resolution last reported to have been examined, they were delivered to the Secretary of the Senate and by Into forthwith presented to the President of the Confederate States for his approval.
The Senate proceeded to consider the, amendment of the House of Representatives to the joint resolution (S. 8) directing the settlement of the claim of Zedekiah McDaniel and Francis M. Ewing, for destroying the Federal gunboat Cairo by means of a torpedo; and
Resolved, That they concur therein.
Ordered, That the Secretary of the Senate inform the House of Representatives thereof.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 90) to authorize the President to confer temporary rank and command upon officers of the Provisional Army who may be assigned for special service, reported it with the recommendation that it ought not to pass.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 12) to provide for the enrollment and conscription of certain noncommissioned officers and privates in the Trans-Mississippi Department, reported it with amendments.
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (H. R. 134) to amend an act entitled "An act to establish a niter and mining bureau," approved April 22, 1863; and having been amended on the motion of Mr. Burnett, it 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.
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Resolved, That it pass with an amendment.
Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives in the amendment.
On motion by Mr. Henry,
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:
Mr. President: The President of the Confederate States, on the 2d instant, approved and signed an act (S. 33) to regulate the compensation and mileage of members o[ Congress and increase the compensation of the officers of the Senate and House of Representatives.
The President yesterday approved and signed an act (S. 22) to secure the prompt printing of the laws of the Confederate States.
The President has to-day approved and signed the following acts:
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., June 4, 1864.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit for your consideration communications from the proper officers, submitting estimates of the amount required to be appropriated for the period ending December 31, 1864, under the act approved June 2, 1864.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
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., June 2, 1864.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit for your information a communication from the Secretary of War, covering copies of additional reports of military operations during the year 1863.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The message was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Richmond, Va., June 1, 1864.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit for your information a communication from the Secretary of War, covering copies of several additional reports of military operations, it is suggested that these reports should not he published or used otherwise than for the information of Members and Senators of the Confederate States Congress.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The message was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Johnson of Arkansas submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That the President pro tempore appoint a committee of three, who shall be empowered to inquire and, if practicable, to employ one or more competent stenographers,
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by contract, subject to the ratification of the Senate, whose duty it shall be to report the debates and proceedings of the Senate, and who shall become officers of the Senate, incurring the obligations and taking the oath proper in their case as officers of the body; and that said committee make their report to the Senate at its next session.
Mr. Orr, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Johnson of Arkansas were appointed the committee under the resolution.
The hour of half past 3 o'clock having arrived, the Senate took a recess until 8 o'clock p. m.
8 O'CLOCK P. M.
A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Dalton:
Mr. President: The President of the Confederate States has notified the House of Representatives that on the 3d instant he approved and signed an act (H. R. 52) to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for homing elections of Representatives in the Congress of the Confederate States in the State of Tennessee," approved May 1, 1863.
And that he has to-day approved and signed a joint resolution (H. R. 9) responsive to the resolutions of the general assembly of Virginia "asserting the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the State of Virginia over her ancient boundaries."
Mr. Semmes submitted the following resolution for consideration:
Resolved (the House of Representatives concurring), That the time fixed for the adjournment of the present session of Congress be extended to Saturday, the eleventh day of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, and that the President of the Senate rind the Speaker of the House of Representatives adjourn their respective Houses, sine die, at twelve o'clock meridian on that day.
The Senate proceeded to consider the said resolution; and
On motion by Mr. Orr, to amend the resolution by striking out "Saturday, the eleventh," and inserting "Thursday, the ninth," and by striking out "twelve o'clock meridian" and inserting "four o'clock postmeridian,"
It was determined in the negative.
On motion by Mr. Jemison, that the further consideration of the resolution be postponed until Monday next,
It was determined in the negative.
On motion by Mr. Jemison, to reconsider the vote on disagreeing to the following amendment proposed to the resolution by Mr. Orr, viz: Strike out "Saturday, the eleventh," and insert "Thursday, the ninth," and strike out "twelve o'clock meridian" and insert "four o'clock postmeridian,"
It was determined in the negative.
The resolution was then agreed to
On motion by Mr. Haynes, to reconsider the vote on agreeing to the resolution,
It was determined in the negative.
Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives n the resolution.
Mr. Sparrow, from the committee of conference on the part of the Senate on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the bill (S. 31) to promote the efficiency of the cavalry of the Provisional Army, and to punish lawlessness and irregularities o f any portions thereof, reported
That they have met the managers on the part of the House of Representatives, and, after due conference, recommend that the amendment of the House to the bill of the Senate be concurred in with the following amendments:
After the words "officer or," in the third line, insert the word "officers," and after the word "soldier," in the fourth line, insert the words "or soldiers," and after the word "him," in the fifth line, insert the words "or them."
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The Senate proceeded to consider the said report; and
Resolved, That they concur therein, and that the bill be amended accordingly.
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. 64) to provide for the establishment of a bureau of polytechnics for the examination, experiment, and application of war-like inventions; and no further amendment being made, 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.
On the question,
Shall the bill now pass?
After debate,
On motion by Mr. Johnson of Arkansas.
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until Monday next.
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (H. R. 135) to increase the compensation of the assistant clerks in the Senate and House of Representatives.
On motion by Mr. Burnett, that the further consideration of the bill be postponed indefinitely,
On motion by Mr. Johnson of Arkansas.
The yeas and mays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present,
Those who voted in the affirmative are,
Messrs. Burnett, Johnson of Arkansas, and Oldham.
Those who voted in the negative are,
Messrs. Barnwell, Brown, Graham, Haynes, Henry, Hill, Hunter, Johnson of Georgia, Johnson of Missouri, Maxwell, Mitchel, Orr, Semmes, Sparrow, Walker, Watson, and Wigfall.
On motion by Mr. Hill, to amend the bill by striking out "fifty per cent," lines 3 and 4, and inserting "thirty-three and one third per cent,"
It was determined in the affirmative.
On motion by Mr. Graham, to amend the bill by inserting the following independent section:
On motion by Mr. Simms, to amend the proposed amendment by striking out the words "the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate shall receive five hundred dollars, and," lines 1 and 2, and by striking out "five hundred dollars," line 4, and inserting in lieu thereof "one thousand dollars,"
It was determined in the affirmative.
On motion by Mr. Johnson of Georgia, to amend the proposed amendment by inserting after "Doorkeeper," line 3, and the "Assistant Doorkeeper," and by inserting after "dollars," line 4, "each,"
It was determined in the affirmative.
The amendment proposed by Mr. Graham, as amended, was then agreed to; and
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On motion by Mr. Jemison,
Ordered, That the bill be recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. Johnson of Arkansas (by leave) introduced
A joint resolution (S. 11) relating to the exchange of the daily newspapers of the Confederate States with those of England and France;
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.
On motion by Mr. Wigfall, that the vote on passing the bill (H. R. 98) to amend an act entitled "An act to reduce the currency and to authorize a new issue of notes and bonds," approved February 17, 1864, be reconsidered,
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. Barnwell, Burnett, Graham, Hill, Hunter, Jemison, Johnson of Georgia, Orr, Semmes, Sparrow, and Wigfall.
Those who voted in the negative are,
Messrs. Baker, Brown, Haynes, Henry, Johnson of Arkansas, Johnson of Missouri, Maxwell, Mitchel, Oldham, Simms, Walker, and Watson.
So the Senate refused to reconsider the vote on passing the said bill. The Senate proceeded, as hi Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (S. 36) to provide for the impressment of the railroad iron, equipments, and rolling stock of railroads when the same shall become necessary for the public defense, and to make further provisions for the efficient transportation of troops and military supplies; and
On motion by Mr. Graham, that the further consideration of the bill be postponed indefinitely,
On motion by Mr. Hill,
The Senate adjourned.
SECRET SESSION.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (S. 65) to aid in the construction of ironclad gunboats for the defense of Western and Southern rivers; and the reported amendment having been agreed to 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.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
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. S. Harrison, his Secretary:
Executive Department, Richmond, June 4, 1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, 1 nominate S. L. Oliver, of South Carolina, to be second lieutenant Company F, First South Carolina Regiment, in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, under act approved April 16, 1862, for distinguished valor and skill.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
War Department, Richmond, June 3, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of S. L. Oliver, of South Carolina, to be second lieutenant Company F, First South Carolina Regiment, in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, under act approved April 16, 1862, for distinguished valor and skill, to rank from May 6, 1864.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.
The message was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Executive Department, Richmond, June 4, 1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate the officers on the accompanying list to the rank affixed to their names, respectively.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
No. 36.]War Department, Richmond, June 3, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the following nominations for appointment in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America:
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.
The message was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Executive Department, Richmond, June 1, 1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate A. G. Lane, of Louisiana, to be a surgeon in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, to rank from July 19, 1861.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
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War Department, Richmond, June 1, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of A. G. Lane, of Louisiana, to be a surgeon in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, to rank from July 19, 1861.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.
The following message was received from the, President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Executive Department, Richmond, June 3, 1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate the officers on tho accompanying list to the rank affixed to their names, respectively.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
No. 31.]War Department, Richmond, June 3, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the following nominations for appointment in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America:
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.
The message was read.
The Senate proceeded to consider the nomination of John M. Martin, to be colonel of the Ninth Florida Regiment; and
Resolved, That the Senate advise and consent to his appointment, agreeably to the nomination of the President.
Ordered, That the residue be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
The Senate resolved into open legislative session.
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