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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, June 8, 1864.
OPEN SESSION.
A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Dalton:
Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed a joint resolution (H. R. 13) to allow sick and wounded officers of the Army transportation to their homes, and hospital accommodations; in which they request the concurrence of the Senate.
And they have concurred in the report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the bill (S. 34) to provide for the compensation of noncommissioned officers, soldiers, sailors, and marines on detailed service.
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. 34) to provide for the compensation of noncommissioned officers, soldiers, sailors, and marines on detailed service, reported
That they have met the managers on the part of the House of Representatives, and, after full and free conference, have agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective Houses as follows:
That the Senate recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the House of Representatives, and agree to the said amendment with the following amendments, viz:
After "service," section 1, line 2, insert the words "or from the Navy or Marine Corps."
Strike out sections 2, 3, 4, and 5, and insert in lieu thereof the following:
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may be assigned, in proportion to the value of such extra labor or uncommon skill or industry, whether it be in performing an unusual amount of work within the usual hours of labor, or work performed beyond the usual hours, or extraordinary skill and superior workmanship displayed in the execution of such duties, the value of said extra labor or uncommon skill or industry to be determined by the officer or superintendent under whose immediate direction said detached or detailed service may be performed, subject to the approval of the Secretary of War or Navy. The additional compensation provided in this section shall be the same for both the War and Navy Departments, under certain rules to be prescribed by the President.
And that the House of Representatives recede from their amendment to the title of the bill.
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.
Mr. Watson (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 72) to amend an act entitled "An act to organize military courts to attend the Army of the Confederate States in the field, and to define the powers of said courts," approved October 9, 1862; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Graham presented resolutions of the general assembly of the State of North Carolina, concerning certain acts of the late Congress of the Confederate States and in reference to the right of North Carolina in the importation of goods; which were read.
Ordered, That they lie upon the table and be printed.
The Senate resumed the reconsideration of the joint resolution (S. 7) in regard to the exemption of editors and employees of newspapers, returned by the President of the Confederate States with his objections; and
On the question,
Shall the resolution pass, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding?
The vote having been taken by yeas and nays, as required by the Constitution,
Those who voted in the affirmative are,
Messrs. Baker, Burnett, Haynes, Henry, Maxwell, Mitchel, Oldham, Orr, Semmes, Sparrow, and Wigfall.
Those who voted in the negative are,
Messrs. Barnwell, Brown, Graham, Hunter, Jemison, Johnson of Georgia, Johnson of Arkansas, Johnson of Missouri, Walker, and Watson.
So it was
Resolved, That the resolution do not pass, two-thirds of the Senate not agreeing thereto.
Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.
The Senate resumed the reconsideration of the bill (S. 24) entitled "An act to authorize the appointment of additional officers of artillery
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for ordnance duties," returned by the President of the Confederate States with his objections; and
On the question,
Shall the bill pass, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding?
The vote having been taken by yeas and nays, as required by the Constitution,
Mr. Wigfall voted in the affirmative.
Those who voted in the negative are,
Messrs. Baker, Barnwell, Brown, Burnett, Graham, Haynes, Henry, Hill, Hunter, Jemison, Johnson of Georgia, Johnson of Arkansas, Johnson of Missouri, Maxwell, Mitchel, Oldham, Orr, Semmes, Simms, Sparrow, Walker, and Watson.
So it was
Resolved, That the bill do not pass, two-thirds of the Senate not agreeing thereto.
Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.
Mr. Barnwell, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 123) making appropriations for the support of the Government of the Confederate States of America from July 1 to December 31, 1864, and to supply a deficiency, 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.
The following bill and joint resolution were severally read the first and second times and referred to the, Committee on Military Affairs:
The following bills were, severally read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Finance:
The Senate proceeded to consider the amendment of the House of Representatives to the bill (S. 59) to authorize the owners of the registered eight per cent ten-year convertible bonds issued under the
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provisions of the act approved May 16, 1861, to exchange the same for coupon bonds; and
Resolved, That they concur therein.
Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.
Mr. Oldham, from the Committee on Commerce. to whom was referred the bill (S. 60) to amend an act entitled "An act to prohibit the importation of luxuries, or of articles not necessaries or of common use," approved February 6, 1864, reported it without amendment.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs. submitted the following resolution for consideration:
Resolved, That the reports of officers of military operations, which have been communicated to the Senate by the President at the present session, be placed upon the files of the Senate; and that the Secretary be directed nor to furnish copies of said reports to anyone without the leave of the Senate.
The Senate proceeded to consider the said resolution; and
On motion by Mr. Orr, to amend the resolution by striking out the words "placed upon the files of the Senate; and that the Secretary be directed not to furnish copies of said reports to anyone without the leave of the Senate" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "laid upon the table and printed for the use of the Senate,"
It was determined in the negative.
The resolution was then agreed to.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the message of the President transmitting copies of the charges and specifications and of the accompanying papers in the case of Maj. H. C. Guerin.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 70) to amend an act entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to organize military courts to attend the Army of the Confederate States in the field, and to define the powers of said courts,'" approved February 13, 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.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the joint resolution (H. R. 11) of thanks to Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor and the officers and men of his command, reported it without amendment.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the said resolution; and no amendment being proposed, it was reported to the Senate.
Ordered, That it pass to a third reading.
The said resolution was read the third time.
Resolved, That it pass.
Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.
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On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the report of the Superintendent of the Bureau of Conscription, accompanying the report of the Secretary of War.
Mr. Burnett, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported
A bill (S. 73) to amend the acts of April 1, 1862, September 23, 1862, and February 17, 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 bill was read the third time.
On the question,
Shall the bill now pass?
It was determined in the negative.
So it was
Resolved, That this bill do not pass.
Mr. Jemison submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That during the remainder of the present session the daily hour of meeting of the Senate be eleven o'clock antemeridian.
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (H. R. 107) to amend the tax laws.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow, to amend the bill by striking out the words "of the same or similar property in the neighborhood, where assessed in the year eighteen hundred and sixty," section 2, lines 3, 4, and 5, and inserting in lieu thereof the words "thereof on the seventeenth day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-four,"
It was determined in the negative.
On the question to agree to the following reported amendment, viz: Strike out of the third section of the bill the following words:
Upon the amount of all gold and silver coin, gold dust, gold and silver bullion, unless purchased since the first day of January, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and then upon the actual cost to the present holder, ten per cent, except where the same is already included in the tax on shares or interests imposed by the first section of this act, and in such case ten per cent less the amount of tax so imposed. And upon the value of all moneys held abroad or bills of exchange drawn therefor, and promissory notes, rights and credits payable in foreign countries, five per cent, according to the value thereof at the place where the tax thereon is payable at the time of assessment, except where the same is included in the tax on shares or interests imposed by the first section of this act, and then five per cent less the amount of tax so imposed, payable in Confederate Treasury notes or four per cent bonds or certificates authorized by the act of February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, to reduce the currency and authorize a new issue of notes and bonds,
and insert in lieu thereof:
Upon all gold and silver coin estimated at par, and upon all gold dust and gold and silver bullion, estimated at its value in specie, unless purchased since the first day of January, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and then estimated at the actual value in Confederate Treasury notes, ten per cent, except where the same has already been included in the tax on shares or interests, under the provisions of the first section of this act, and in that case, on the amount thus included, estimated at its specie value, there shall be levied a tax of five per cent: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to tax specie required by the provisions of its charter, to be held and kept on hand by any bank, and upon all moneys held abroad, or bills of exchange drawn therefor, and all promissory notes, rights, credits, and securities, payable in foreign countries, five per cent upon the value thereof in Confederate
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Treasury notes on the seventeenth day of February, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-four, at the place where the tax thereon is payable, except that where the same is included in the tax on shares or interest, imposed by the first section of this act, then and in that case there shall be deducted from the tax assessed thereon, according to the value of eighteen hundred and sixty-four, as aforesaid, a sum equivalent to five per cent on the specie value of said moneys held abroad, or bills of exchange drawn therefor, and promissory notes, rights, credits, and securities payable in foreign countries: Provided, That all the taxes imposed under the provisions of this act shall be payable in Confederate Treasury notes, as prescribed by law, or four per cent bonds or certificates therefor, authorized by the act of February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, to reduce the currency and to authorize a new issue of notes and bonds,
On motion by Mr. Jemison, to amend the amendment by inserting after "or," line 7, the word "other," and by inserting after "or," line 19, the word "other,"
It was determined in the affirmative.
The amendment as amended was then agreed to.
On the question to agree to the following reported amendment, viz: insert at the end of the third section of the bill the following:
On motion by Mr. Jemison, to amend the amendment by inserting after "or," line 1, the word "other,"
It was determined in the affirmative.
On motion by Mr. Semmes, to amend the amendment by inserting at the end thereof the following words:
to be paid by the company, and no other tax shall be imposed under this act on any property of such company represented by the valuation of such shares or other interests as directed in the second section of this act, except the tax imposed in the first paragraph of this section,
It was determined in the affirmative.
The amendment as amended was then agreed to.
On the question to agree to the following reported amendment, viz: Insert the following independent section:
"That the first section of the act to levy taxes for the common defense and to carry on the Government of the Confederate States, approved twenty-fourth April, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, is suspended for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-four.
On motion by Mr. Semmes, to amend the amendment by inserting after "property," line 11, the words "real, personal, and mixed, of every description,"
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It was determined in the affirmative.
On motion by Mr. Semmes, to amend the amendment by inserting after "law," line 19, the words "in the assessment of income derived from any source,"
It was determined in the affirmative.
The amendment as amended was then agreed to.
The residue of the amendments reported from the Committee on Finance having been agreed to.
On motion by Mr. Haynes,
Ordered, That the further consideration of the bill be postponed until 8 o'clock p. m.
Mr. Burnett (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 74) to increase the salary of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (S. 49) to authorize the manufacture of spirituous liquors for the use of the Army and hospitals.
The amendments reported from the Committee on Military Affairs having been agreed to,
On motion by Mr. Barnwell, further to amend the bill by striking out the words "any law or usage to the contrary notwithstanding," section 1, lines 8 and 9,
It was determined in the affirmative.
On motion by Mr. Watson, to amend the bill by inserting the following independent section:
On motion by Mr. Orr, to amend the proposed amendment by striking out the words
and all alcoholic or spirituous liquors manufactured under such contracts, which are not of the quality and description provided for by such contracts, shall be forfeited to the Government,
It was determined in the affirmative.
The amendment as amended was then agreed to.
No further amendment being proposed, 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.
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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. Johnson of Arkansas submitted the following motion for consideration:
Ordered, That the vote on passing the bill (S. 49) to authorize the manufacture of spirituous liquors for the use of the Army and hospitals be reconsidered.
On motion by Mr. Baker,
Ordered, That the Hon. Augustus E. Maxwell have leave of absence front the sessions of the Senate during the remainder of the present session.
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole. the consideration of the bill (H. R. 107) to amend the tax laws.
On motion by Mr. Oldham, to amend the bill by striking out of the first section the words
On the value of all shares or interests held in any bank, banking company or association, canal, navigation importing and exporting, insurance, manufacturing, telegraph, express, railroad, dry dock companies and all other joint stock companies of every kind, whether incorporated or not, five per cent. which tax shall be assessed against and paid by the company in each case. And when the shares or interests in any such company are taxed, no other tax shall be imposed under this act upon any property of such company represented by the valuation of such shares or interests, as directed in the second section of this act, except the tax imposed by the first paragraph of the third section of this act,
and inserting in lieu thereof the words
On the value of all the assets of any railroad or canal company, or of any incorporated banking company or association, except upon deposits in bank, five per cent; which tax shall be assessed against and paid by the company in each case; but Confederate bonds and interest-bearing Treasury notes shall he taxed as herein provided,
On motion by Mr. Orr, to amend the proposed amendment by adding thereto the following proviso:
Provided, That the said tax shall not exceed the dividends of any railroad, canal, or banking company for the year ending the first of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-four,
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, Graham, Hunter, Jemison, Johnson of Georgia, Johnson of Arkansas, Orr, Semmes, and Watson.
Those who voted in the negative are,
Messrs. Brown, Burnett, Haynes, Henry, Mitchel, Oldham, Sparrow, and Wigfall.
On the question to agree to the amendment proposed by Mr. Oldham, as amended,
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. Brown, Burnett, Haynes, Johnson of Arkansas, Mitchel, Oldham, Sparrow, Watson, and Wigfall.
Those who voted in the negative are,
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Messrs. Baker, Barnwell, Graham, Henry, Hunter, Jemison, Johnson of Georgia, Orr, and Semmes.
Mr. Oldham moved to reconsider the last-mentioned vote.
Pending which,
On motion by Mr. Oldham,
Ordered, That there be a call of the Senate.
The roll having been called,
Before the absentees were announced,
On motion by Mr. Brown,
Ordered, That all further proceedings under the call be dispensed with.
The question then recurred on the motion of Mr. Oldham to reconsider the vote on disagreeing to the amendment proposed by Mr. Oldham, as amended on the motion of Mr. Orr,
And the question being put,
It was determined in the negative.
On motion by Mr. Haynes, to amend the bill by inserting at the end of the second section the following proviso:
Provided further, That all persons subject to taxation under the laws of the Confederate States who are citizens of any one of said States, and whose homes and property occupied, owned, and possessed by them at the commencement of the war, are now within the enemy's lines and not subject to their control or use, shall be exempted from the payment of all taxes imposed by said laws to the first day of May, eighteen hundred and sixty-four; except a tax of five per cent shall be assessed and levied upon all property, real, personal, and mixed, owned and held by said persons on the seventeenth of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, and now under their control within the lines of the Confederate States; which property shall be assessed and taxed at the price paid for the same by the owner thereof,
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, Brown, Burnett, Haynes, Henry, Johnson of Georgia, Johnson of Arkansas, Johnson of Missouri, Mitchel, Oldham, Simms, and Wigfall.
Those who voted in the negative are,
Messrs. Barnwell, Graham, Hill, Hunter, Jemison, Orr, Semmes, Walker, and Watson.
On motion by Mr. Simms, to amend the bill by inserting the following independent section:
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now regulating the collection of the tax in kind: And provided further, That no citizen of the said State of Kentucky who shall, within the periods herein prescribed, make due return of his taxable property and pay the tax assessed upon the same as herein provided, be in any manner liable as a delinquent under any law of the Confederate States,
It was determined in the affirmative.
On motion by Mr. Semmes,
The Senate adjourned.
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