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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, November 30, 1864.
OPEN SESSION.
Mr. Baker (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 122) regulating the compensation of postmasters, special agents, and route agents;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.
On motion by Mr. Graham,
Ordered, That the Hon. William T. Dortch have leave of absence from the sessions of the Senate until Monday, the 12th day of December next.
Mr. Orr, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, who were instructed by a resolution of the Senate "to report the facts, so far as they can be obtained, relative to the lawless seizure and capture of the Confederate steamer Florida, in the Bay of Bahia, Brazil, and what action should be taken by the Government to redress the outrage," submitted a report (No. 5), accompanied by the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the seizure of the Confederate war steamer Florida by the United States steam sloop Wachusett, in the Bay of Bahia, on the seventh of October last, was a flagrant outrage upon the territorial sovereignty of Brazil, violative of the rights of this Government in neutral waters, in disregard of the law of nations, and, therefore, a wrong done to every civilized maritime power.
Resolved, That it was the duty of Brazil, under the law of nations, to protect the property of the Confederate States whilst within its territory against the hostile acts of every power; and having failed to give such protection, that that Government is bound to enforce the restitution in statu quo, of the steamer Florida by the authorities of the United States to the authorities of the Confederate States, in the Bay of Bahia, where it was unlawfully captured.
Resolved, That the President of the Confederate Slates be requested to have communicated to all our commissioners abroad a full statement of the illegal seizure and capture of the Florida, together with the opinions of this Government on the outrage; and that said commissioners he instructed to bring the same to the attention of the Governments of Europe in which they respectively reside.
On motion by Mr. Orr,
Ordered, That the resolutions and report be placed upon the Calendar and printed.
Mr. Orr, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, reported
A joint resolution (S. 18) authorizing the appointment of a commissioner to Brazil;
which was read the first and second times and ordered to be placed upon the Calendar.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 95) to amend the acts that make a further provision for the public defense, reported it with an amendment.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
Ordered, That the bill be transferred to the Secret Legislative Calendar.
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The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (S. 84) to construe and declare more explicitly the meaning of an act to increase the compensation of the heads of the several Executive Departments and the Assistant Secretary of War and the Treasury and of the Assistant Attorney-General and the Comptroller of the Treasury and other officers therein named, approved June 14, 1864; 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 and the title was amended.
Resolved, That it pass, and that the title thereof be "An act to regulate, for a limited period, the compensation of the officers, clerks, and employees of the civil departments of the Government in the city of Richmond."
Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (S. 92) to exempt the cargoes of vessels owned by the States of the Confederacy from existing restrictions upon exports and imports; and
On motion by Mr. Barnwell,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow.
A message from 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:
And they have passed a resolution providing for a joint committee of the two Houses respecting the exemption of State officers from military service; in which they request the concurrence of the Senate; and they have appointed, as the committee on their part, Messrs. Rives, Lyon, J. M. Smith, Marshall, Boyce, Kenner, Gilmer, Clark, Batson, Keeble, Sexton, Hilton, and Orr.
A message from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Mr. President: The President of the Confederate States, on the 28th instant, approved and signed the following acts:
Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (S. 121) declaring the mode of ascertaining the value of the tithe deliverable to the Government under existing laws; and having been amended on the motion of Mr. Semmes, by inserting after "That," line 1, the words "according to the true construction of existing laws," 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 and the title was amended.
Resolved, That it pass, and that the title thereof be "An act declaring
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the mode of ascertaining the value of the tithe deliverable to the Government under the true construction of existing laws."
Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.
The bills (H. R. 190, H. R. 214) received this day from the House of Representatives for concurrence were severally read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution of the House of Representatives, providing for a joint committee of the two Houses respecting the exemption of State officers from military service; and
On motion by Mr. Graham,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow.
On motion by Mr. Burnett,
Ordered, That L. H. Fitzhugh, Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate, have leave of absence until Monday next.
The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Richmond, Va., November 26, 1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
In response to your resolution of the 9th instant, I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of War, which conveys the information requested relative to the number of persons exempted or detailed for certain specified purposes, so far as the records of the Department enable him to furnish it.
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., November 29, 1864.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit for your consideration a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, covering estimates for additional appropriations required by the Navy Department.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The message was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
On motion by Mr. Hill,
The Senate resolved into execution session.
The doors having been opened,
On motion by Mr. Maxwell,
The Senate adjourned.
SECRET SESSION.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (S. 95) to amend the acts that make a further provision for the public defense.
On the question to agree to the following reported amendment, viz: Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
That the President be authorized to receive into the military service such companies, battalions, and regiments composed of persons who are not citizens of the Confederate States, or who have not been subjected to military service by the act of Congress entitled "An act to organize forces to serve during the war," as may have been raised under authority heretofore granted by the Secretary of War.
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On motion by Mr. Orr, to amend the amendment by inserting at the end of the first section the words "including the battalion organized by Captain J. H. Brooks,"
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 amendment was concurred in.
Ordered, That the bill be engrossed and read a third time.
The said bill was read the third time and the title was amended.
Resolved, That it pass, and that the title thereof be "An act to amend the act to organize forces to serve during the war."
Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the message of the President of the 24th instant, relative to the enlistment into our Army of prisoners of war who have taken the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States.
On motion by Mr. Burnett,
The Senate resolved into open legislative session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The following messages were received from the President of the Confederate States, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Confederate States of America, Executive Department,
Richmond, November 26, 1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate George Y. Scott, of Mississippi, to be aid-de-camp, with rank of first lieutenant in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
No. 17.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 23, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of George Y. Scott, of Mississippi, to be aid-de-camp, with the rank of first lieutenant, for duty with Brig. Gen. Wirt Adams, Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana (an original vacancy), to date from June 15, 1864.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.
Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 29, 1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate R. H. Renshaw, of Maryland, to be assistant quartermaster, with rank of captain in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
No. 26.]War Department, Confederate, States of America,
Richmond, November 28, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of R. H. Renshaw, of Maryland, to be assistant quartermaster, with the rank of captain in the Provisional Army
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of the Confederate States of America, for duty with medical purveyor's and reserve ambulance trains, Army of Northern Virginia, to rank November 5, 1864.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.
Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 29, 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. 24.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 28, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the following nominations for promotion 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.
Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 29, 1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate Robert Berry, of Kentucky, to be assistant commissary, with rank of captain in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
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No. 28.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 28, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of Robert Berry, of Kentucky, to be assistant commissary, with rank of captain in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, for duty with Second Kentucky Cavalry Regiment, to rank from November 23, 1864.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.
Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 29, 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. 25.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 28, 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.
Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 29, 1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate Capt. John A. Bowie, of South Carolina, to be promoted to major, Commissary Department, in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
No. 27.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 28, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of Capt. John A. Bowie, of South Carolina, to be promoted major, Commissary Department, in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, for duty with Gist's brigade, Army of Tennessee, vice Major Dearing, transferred to French's division, to rank from November 4, 1864.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.
Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 30, 1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate St. Clair Dearing, to be second lieutenant, Corps of Cavalry, in the Army of the Confederate States of America.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
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No. 29.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 28, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of St. Clair Dearing, of Georgia, to be second lieutenant, Corps of Cavalry, in the Army of the Confederate States, to rank from November 16, 1864.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.
Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 30, 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. 23.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 28, 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.
Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 30, 1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate Col. D. M. Du Bose, of Georgia, to be brigadier-general, with temporary rank (under act approved May 31, 1864).
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
No. 30.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 30, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of Col. D. M. Du Bose, of Georgia, to be brigadier-general, with temporary rank (under act approved May 31, 1864), in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, report to Gen. R. E. Lee for assignment to duty, to rank from November 16, 1864.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.
Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 29, 1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate J. U. Ansley, of Georgia, to be military storekeeper, with pay and allowance of captain of
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infantry in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America (under act approved June 4, 1864).
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
No. 20.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 23, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of J. U. Ansley, of Georgia, to be a military storekeeper, with pay and allowance of captain of infantry (under act approved June 4, 1864) in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America (an original vacancy), to date from November 10, 1864.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.
Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 26, 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. 18.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 23, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the following nominations for promotion 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.
Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 26, 1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate R. B. Boylston, of South Carolina, to be member military court, with rank of colonel of cavalry in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
No. 19.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 23, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of R. B. Boylston, of South Carolina, to be member of military court, with rank of colonel of cavalry (for duty
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with court, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida) in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, vice Col. James Simons, declined, to date from November 11, 1864.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
To His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President, etc.
The messages were read.
Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The following message was received from the President of the Confederate States of America, by Mr. B. N. Harrison, his Secretary:
Executive Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 26, 1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate States:
Agreeably to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, I nominate (Brig. Gen. A. R. Wright, of Georgia, to be major-general, with temporary rank (under act approved May 31, 1864), in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
No. 21.]War Department, Confederate States of America,
Richmond, November 26, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to recommend the nomination of Brig. Gen. A. R. Wright, of Georgia, to be major-general, with temporary rank (under act approved May 31, 1864), 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 A. R. Wright, to be major-general; and it was
Resolved, That the Senate advise and consent to the appointment of A. R. Wright, of Georgia, to be a major-general, with temporary rank (under act approved May 31, 1864), agreeably to the nomination of the President.
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
The Senate resolved into secret legislative session.
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