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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 --TUESDAY, December 13, 1864.
OPEN SESSION.
Mr. Walker presented the memorial of professors in the Confederate States Naval School, praying an increase of rank and pay; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. Maxwell (by leave) introduced
A joint resolution (S. 20) relating to the manufacture of railroad iron and to new lines of railroad;
which was read the first and second times and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and
On motion by Mr. Orr,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow.
Mr. Semmes (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 137) to establish the flag of the Confederate States; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. Watson (by leave) introduced
A bill (S. 138) to provide for the more efficient execution of conscription, and for the arrest of deserters and absentees from the armies; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Orr presented the memorial of the adjutants of the regiments of Field's division, praying that they may be promoted to the rank of captains and placed in the line of promotion; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Orr, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom was referred the joint resolution (S. 16) defining the position of the Confederate States, and declaring the determination of the Congress and the people thereof to prosecute the war till their independence is acknowledged, reported it with an amendment.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the said resolution; and the reported amendment having been agreed to, the resolution was reported to the Senate and the amendment was concurred in.
Ordered, That the resolution be engrossed and read a third time.
The said resolution was read the third time.
On the question,
Shall the resolution now pass?
On motion by Mr. Brown,
The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present,
Those who voted in the affirmative are,
Messrs. Baker, Barnwell, Brown, Caperton, Garland, Graham, Henry, Hunter, Johnson of Georgia, Johnson of Missouri, Maxwell, Orr, Semmes, Sparrow, Walker, and Watson.
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So it was
Resolved, That this resolution pass, and that the title thereof be as aforesaid.
Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.
Mr. Brown, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 132) to regulate the supplies of clothing to midshipmen of the Navy, reported it without amendment.
Mr. Semmes, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 268) for the relief of Sarah A. Heiskell, wife of the Hon. Joseph B. Heiskell, a Representative from the State of Tennessee, 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. Caperton, from the committee, reported that they had examined and found truly enrolled
A bill (H. R. 190) concerning the emoluments and pay of the clerk of the district court of the Confederate States of America for the eastern district of Virginia.
The President pro tempore having signed the enrolled bill last reported to have been examined, it was delivered to the Secretary of the Senate and by him forthwith presented to the President of the Confederate States for his approval.
On motion by Mr. Graham, the vote by which the Senate refused to pass, as amended, the resolution submitted by Mr. Orr on the 8th instant, providing for an adjournment of the two Houses of Congress from Saturday, the 24th instant, to Tuesday, the 27th instant, was reconsidered.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the said resolution; and having been amended, it was agreed to as follows:
Resolved (the House of Representatives concurring), That the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on adjourning their respective Houses on Saturday, the twenty-fourth instant, do adjourn them to meet again on Monday, the second day of January next.
Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.
On motion, by Mr. Walker, the vote on passing the bill (S 129) to provide for the employment of free negroes and slaves to work upon fortifications and perform other labor connected with the defenses of the country was reconsidered.
On motion by Mr. Walker, the vote by which the bill was ordered to its engrossment and third reading was also reconsidered.
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the said bill.
On motion by Mr. Walker, to reconsider the vote on agreeing to the following amendment proposed to the bill by Mr. Graham, to wit: At the end of the fourth section insert the following proviso:
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Provided further, That all slaves impressed as hereinbefore provided shall be held at labor and service as aforesaid for a term not more than twelve months at any one time, except with the consent of the owner,
It was determined in the affirmative.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the said amendment; and
On the question to agree thereto,
It was determined in the negative.
On motion by Mr. Watson, to amend the bill by inserting at the end of the fourth section the following proviso, viz:
Provided further, That if the governor of any State shall certify to the Secretary of War or the commanding general of the Trans-Mississippi Department, that slaves can not be impressed in any locality, county, district, parish, or city in said State without great detriment to said locality, county, district, parish, or city, then the quota of such locality, county, district, parish, or city shall be impressed from other portions of such State,
It was determined in the affirmative.
The bill having been further amended on the motion of Mr. Sparrow, it 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.
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. 122) regulating the compensation of post-masters, special agents, and route agents; and
On motion by Mr. Baker,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow.
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (H. R. 214) to define and punish conspiracy against the Confederate States; and
On motion by Mr. Johnson of Georgia,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow.
The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to the consideration of the bill (S. 135) to provide for the remission of the penalty for nondelivery of tithes of bacon due in the year 1864; 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. Sparrow,
The Senate resolved into secret legislative session.
The doors having been opened,
On motion by Mr. Sparrow,
The Senate adjourned.
SECRET SESSION.
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 Confederate
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States of the 6th instant, relative to the rations furnished to prisoners of war.
On motion by Mr. Orr,
The Senate resolved into open legislative session.
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