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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 --FORTY-FIFTH DAY--THURSDAY, October 9, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Reed.
Mr. Ayer, from the Special Committee on the War Tax, reported
A bill supplemental to an act to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to pay district collectors in certain cases;
which was read the first and second times, and the question being on the postponement of the same and placing it upon the Calendar, the same was decided in the negative, and the bill was taken up.
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And the first section of the same having been read, which authorizes the Secretary of War to pay the sum of $400 to the several district collectors of the war tax in those States which have assumed the payment of said tax,
Mr. Jones moved to amend the same by striking out the words "four hundred" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "two hundred."
Mr. Kenner demanded the question; which was ordered, and the amendment was lost.
Mr. Dupré moved to amend by striking out the words "four hundred" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "five hundred," and thereupon called the question.
The question was ordered, and the amendment was lost.
Mr. Trippe called for the question; which was ordered, and the bill was engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the President; which is as follows, to wit:
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States:
I herewith transmit a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury in relation to the fiscal affairs of our Government, and invite for its statements your special attention.
The propriety of providing for the payment of every loan or use of Government credit by an adequate tax is too obvious to require argument.
Though the day of payment may be postponed, as to some extent in the conduct of great wars it must, still there must be such assurance of future payment as to maintain the credit of the Government, or there will be a consequent, depreciation of its currency and a proportionate increase of the burthen which the people must have hereafter to bear.
I trust it will be possible for the wisdom of Congress in some manner to secure the result sought for in the propositions submitted by the Secretary of the Treasury.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Executive Office,
Richmond, October 8, 1862.
On motion, the message and accompanying documents were referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed.
The Chair also presented a communication from the President; which is as follows, to wit:
Confederate States of America, Executive Office,
Richmond, October 8, 1862.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States of America:
The near approach of the day fixed for your adjournment induces me to renew certain recommendations made at the commencement of the session, and for which legislation has not yet provided The subject of the efficiency of the Army is one of paramount importance, and the letter of the Secretary of War herewith submitted has been elicited by correspondence with the generals of our armies in the field, whose practical experience of the evils resulting from the defects in our present system entitles their opinion to great weight.
An army without discipline and instruction can not be relied on for purposes of defense, still less for operations in an enemy's country. It is in vain to add men and munitions unless we can at the same time give to the aggregated mass the character and capacity of soldiers. The discipline and instruction required for its efficiency can not be imparted without competent officers. No power now exists by law for securing such officers to fill vacancies when elections and promotions fail to accomplish the object.
Extreme cases ought not to furnish a rule, yet same provision should be made to meet evils, even exceptional, in a matter so vitally affecting the safety of your troops. Tender consideration for worthless and incompetent officers is but another name for cruelty toward the brave men who fall sacrifices to these defects of their leaders. It is not difficult to devise a proper mode of obviating this evil. The law authorizes the refusal to promote officers who are found incompetent to fill vacancies and the
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promotion of their juniors in their stead; but instances occur in which no officer remaining in a regiment is fit to be promoted to the grade of colonel, and no officer remaining in a company is competent to command it as captain. Legislation providing for the selection, in such cases, of competent officers from other regiments of the same State affords a ready remedy for this evil, as well as for the case when officers elected are found unfit for the positions to which they may be chosen. This selection can be made in such manner as may seem to Congress most advisable; but this or some other remedy is indispensable for filling numerous vacancies now existing.
While this deficiency of competent officers exists in some cases, there is a large excess in others. Numerous regiments and companies have been so reduced by the casualties of war, by sickness and other causes, as to be comparatively useless under the present organization. There are companies in the Army in which the number of officers exceeds that of privates present for duty, and regiments in which the number of such privates does not exceed that which is required for a single effective company. The cost of supporting the Army, already a very heavy burden on the resources of the country, is thus increased to an extravagant extent. But this is of secondary importance compared with the inefficiency which results from this condition of things. Some legislation which shall provide for the consolidation of companies and regiments when thus reduced in numbers, and where conscripts can not be obtained from a State in sufficient numbers for filling the ranks, is of pressing necessity; and a deep sense of duty impels me to repeat that no consideration for the officers who may be unfortunately deprived of commands ought or can safely be permitted to obstruct this salutary reform.
It may be proper to remark that the necessity for this consolidation and the consequent discharging of tried and meritorious officers will obviously be increased by all legislative action permitting new organizations to be formed of men who by the provisions of the conscript law were directed to be incorporated into existing companies and regiments.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Confederate States of America, War Department,
Richmond, Va., October 4, 1862.
His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President Confederate States of America:
Sir: I deem it my duty to call your attention, before the adjournment of Congress, to the want of power in the Executive to make appointments where neither election nor promotion secures competent officers to fill vacancies, and to consolidate companies and regiments reduced by casualties of service below the numbers necessary for efficiency. The absence of this power is a defect in the organization of our service so great that it must ultimately cause disaster, if not ruin.
The present condition of the Army of Northern Virginia imperatively requires its exercise, and the experience of the commanding general of that army has been unable to devise any expedient by which he may avoid the alternative of violating law or of exposing his army to ruin.
The senior general of our armies, whose opinion is entitled to great respect, from his familiar acquaintance with the military organizations of this continent during the last forty-five years, fully concurs with the Department as to the indispensable necessity of the proposed power.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. W. RANDOLPH,
Secretary of War.
On motion, the message was laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, reported as follows, to wit:
The Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the application of Elias C. Boudinot to a seat on the floor of Congress as a Delegate from the Cherokee Nation, have duly considered the same and report that after a full examination of said Boudinot's credentials they are of opinion that he has been duly elected Delegate from the Cherokee Nation in conformity with the treaty between the Confederate States of America and the Cherokee Nation, and is therefore entitled to his seat as Delegate aforesaid; they therefore report the following resolution.
They further report a bill to fix the pay and mileage of Delegates from the several Indian nations in treaty alliance with thin Government.
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The question being on agreeing to the resolution of the committee; which is as follows, to wit:
Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That Elias C. Boudinot is entitled to a seat in the Hall of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the Confederate States of America as Delegate from the Cherokee Nation of Indians for the following purposes only: To propose and introduce measures for the benefit of said nation, and to be heard in regard thereto, and on other questions in which the said nation is particularly interested.
The same was agreed to, and Mr. Boudinot, being present, came forward, was duly qualified, and took his seat.
The House then took up the bill reported by Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, to be entitled
An act to fix the pay and mileage of the Delegates from the several Indian nations authorized to have Delegates under their respective treaties;
which was read the first and second times, and the rules being suspended, was engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Kenner, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported
A bill to provide a tax to support the credit of the Government; which was read the first and second times, ordered to be printed, and made the special order for 12 o'clock to-morrow and from day to day until concluded.
Mr. Kenner, from the same committee, reported
A bill to reduce the rate of interest on the funded debt of the Confederate States;
which was read the first and second times, and the rules being suspended, the bill was taken up, and the first section of the same being read as follows, to wit:
The Congress of the Confederate States do enact, That the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to reduce the rate of interest on all bonds and certificates of stock to be issued after the first day of December next, to a rate per annum not exceeding six per cent, payable semiannually, and all Treasury notes issued after the said first day of December shall be fundable only in the said bonds or stock issued at such reduced rate: Provided, however, That this reduction shall not include any bonds or stock which are required to meet any contracts made before the date aforesaid, or any Treasury notes which shall then have been issued,
Mr. Garnett moved to amend the same by striking out all down to the proviso and insert in lieu thereof the following, to wit:
Mr. Russell moved to amend the same by striking out the word "six" and inserting in lieu thereof the word "seven."
Mr. Jones called the question; which was ordered, and the amendment of Mr. Russell was lost.
Mr. Foote called for the previous question.
The call was not sustained.
Mr. Kenner called the question; which was ordered, and the amendment of Mr. Garnett was agreed to.
Mr. Garnett moved to amend by striking out the proviso to the first section, and thereupon called the question; which was ordered, and the amendment was agreed to.
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The second section being under consideration: which is as follows, to wit:
The said Secretary shall have authority by public notice duly advertised to require the holders of Treasury notes to come in and fund the same in eight, per cent bonds or stock within four months after the date of such notice: and all notes which shall not be presented for funding within the said time shall thereafter be entitled to be refunded only in the bonds or stock which shall thereafter be issued under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, bearing interest at the rate of six per cent per annum, payable semiannually,
Mr. Garnett moved to amend the same by striking out the word "said" and inserting after the word "Secretary" the words "of the Treasury;" which was agreed to.
Mr. Gray moved to strike out the word "four" and insert in lieu the word "six."
Mr. Chambers moved that the second section be stricken out.
Mr. Menees demanded the previous question.
The demand was not sustained.
After discussion,
Mr. McRae demanded the previous question; which was ordered, and the amendment of Mr. Gray was agreed to.
The question being on the amendment of Mr. Chambers,
Mr. Gray called for the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Ashe, Baldwin, Bell, Bonham, Boyce, Bridgers, Chambers, Clark, Elliott, Foote, Foster, Goode, Gray, Harris, Hartridge, Hilton, Holcombe, Johnston, Jones, Kenan of Georgia, McDowell, McQueen, Menees, Perkins, Ralls, Russell, Sexton, Wilcox, Wright of Texas, and Mr. Speaker.
Nays: Atkins, Barksdale, Batson, Boteler, Chilton, Clapp, Clopton, Collier, Dargan, Dupré, Farrow, Freeman, Gardenhire, Garland, Garnett, Gartrell, Graham, Heiskell, Herbert, Holt, Kenner, Lander, Lyons, McRae, Miles, Pugh, Royston, Smith of North Carolina, Swan, Trippe, and Wright of Tennessee.
So the amendment was lost.
The bill was then engrossed as amended and read a third time.
Mr. McRae called for the question; which was ordered, and the bill was passed.
Mr. Kenner, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported
A bill making appropriations for the support of the Government for the month of January, 1863, and for certain deficiencies and other purposes therein mentioned;
which was read the first and second times, ordered to be printed, and made the special order for 12 o'clock to-morrow and from day to day until concluded.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash, as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have, on reconsideration, refused to pass the bill of the Senate (S. 73) entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act for the establishment and organization of a general staff for the Army of the Confederate States of America,' approved twenty-sixth February, eighteen hundred and sixty-one," returned to the Senate by the President of the Confederate States, with his objections thereto, two-thirds of the members of the Senate not voting in favor thereof.
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Mr. Lyons presented sundry petitions, praying compensation for losses sustained, etc.; which were referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
On motion of Mr. Currin, the House took up for consideration
A bill making an appropriation for the payment of certain interest due to the branch of the Bank of Tennessee at Memphis;
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Dupré, by consent, offered a resolution; which is as follows, to wit:
Resolved, That the President be requested to inform this House by what authority and in virtue of what law Wheat's battalion of Louisiana (which was mustered into service for the war) was disbanded and the officers thereof put out of commission;
which was agreed to.
Mr. Jones moved that the rules be suspended to enable him to introduce the following resolutions, to wit:
Resolved, That it is the duty of Congress to pass a bill at its present session to raise revenue by taxation.
Resolved (the Senate concurring), That the resolution fixing twelve o'clock meridian on Monday, October thirteenth, for the adjournment of the present session of Congress is hereby rescinded.
Mr. Jones called for the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Ashe, Baldwin, Barksdale, Bonham, Boyce, Bridgers, Currin, Elliott, Farrow, Foote, Goode, Graham, Gray, Harris, Hartridge, Hilton, Holcombe, Holt, Jones, Kenner, Lyons, McRae, Menees, Miles, Perkins, Russell, Sexton, and Swan.
Nays: Atkins, Batson, Bell, Boteler, Chambers, Chilton Clapp, Clark, Clopton, Collier, Dargan, Dupré, Foster, Freeman, Gardenhire, Garland, Garnett, Gartrell, Graham, Heiskell, Herbert, Johnston, Kenan of Georgia, Kenan of North Carolina, Lander, McDowell, McQueen, Pugh, Ralls, Royston, Smith of Alabama, Smith of North Carolina, Trippe, Wilcox, Wright of Texas, and Wright of Tennessee.
So the rules were not suspended.
Leave was granted Mr. Curry, on account of sickness in his family.
The House then proceeded to the consideration of the special order, which was a bill authorizing the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.
Mr. Gartrell withdrew his demand for the previous question.
Mr. Hartridge demanded the previous question.
The demand was not sustained.
Mr. Jones called for the question; which was ordered, and was upon the amendment of Mr. Foote.
Mr. Foote demand the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Ashe, Baldwin, Clark, Clopton, Farrow, Foote, Foster, Garnett, Graham, Hartridge, Herbert, Perkins, Smith of North Carolina, and Wright of Tennessee.
Nays: Atkins, Barksdale, Batson, Bonham, Boteler, Bridgers, Chambers, Chilton, Clapp, Collier, Currin, Dargan, De Jarnette, Dupré, Freeman, Gardenhire, Garland, Gartrell, Goode, Gray, Hanly, Harris, Heiskell, Hilton, Holcombe, Holt, Johnston, Jones, Kenan of
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Georgia, Kenan of North Carolina, Lander, Lyons, McDowell, McQueen, McRae, Miles, Pugh, Ralls, Royston, Russell, Sexton, Smith of Alabama, Swan, Trippe, and Wright of Texas.
So the amendment was lost.
Mr. Jones demanded the question; which was ordered, and the amendment to the amendment offered by Mr. Lyons was lost.
Mr. Hartridge moved to amend the amendment by striking out all of the same and inserting in lieu thereof the following, to wit:
The Congress of the Confederate States do enact, That in all cases where an y person or persons, charged on oath with treason misprision of treason, or other crime or misdemeanor against the Confederate States and endangering the safety thereof, shall be arrested or imprisoned by virtue of any warrant or authority from the President of the Confederate States, or from any person acting under the direction or authority of the President of the Confederate States, the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall be, and the same is hereby, suspended from and after the passage of this act until after the expiration of thirty days from the commencement of the next session of this Congress
Upon which Mr. Hanly called for the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered,
Yeas: Ashe, Atkins, Baldwin, Barksdale, Batson, Boyce, Bridgers, Chambers, Chilton, Clark, Clopton, Currin, Dargan, Farrow, Foote, Foster, Garnett, Graham, Gray, Hanly, Hartridge, Herbert, Johnston, Jones, Kenner, McQueen, Miles, Perkins, Pugh, Sexton, Smith of North Carolina, Trippe, Welsh, Wilcox, Wright of Texas, and Wright of Tennessee.
Nays: Ayer, Bell, Bonham, Boteler, Clapp, Collier, De Jarnette, Dupré, Freeman, Gardenhire, Garland, Gartrell, Goode, Harris, Heiskell, Hilton, Holcombe, Holt, Kenan of Georgia, Kenan of North Carolina, Lander, Lyons, McDowell, McRae, Ralls, Royston, Russell, Smith of Alabama, and Swan.
So the amendment to the amendment was agreed to.
The question being on agreeing to the amendment as amended,
Mr. Hanly called for the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Ashe, Atkins, Ayer, Baldwin, Boyce, Bridgers, Chambers, Chilton, Clapp, Clark, Clopton, Dupré, Farrow, Foote, Foster, Garland, Garnett, Goode, Graham, Hanly, Hartridge, Herbert, Jones, McDowell, Menees, Perkins, Sexton, Smith of North Carolina, Welsh, and Wright of Tennessee.
Nays: Barksdale, Batson, Bell, Bonham, Boteler, Collier, Currin, Dargan, De Jarnette, Elliott, Freeman, Gardenhire, Gartrell, Gray, Harris, Heiskell, Hilton, Holcombe, Holt, Johnston, Kenan of Georgia, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Lander, Lyons, McQueen, McRae, Miles, Pugh, Ralls, Royston, Russell, Smith of Alabama, Swan, Trippe, Wilcox, and Wright of Texas.
So the amendment as amended was not agreed to.
The bill was then engrossed and read a third time.
Mr. Gardenhire called for the question; which was ordered, and was upon the passage of the bill.
Mr. Foote called for the yeas and nays;
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Which were ordered,
Yeas: Barksdale, Batson, Bonham, Boteler, Bridgers, Collier, Currin, Dargan, De Jarnette, Elliott, Freeman, Gardenhire, Gartrell, Goode, Gray, Harris, Heiskell, Hilton, Holcombe, Holt, Johnston, Jones, Kenan of Georgia, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Lander, McQueen, McRae, Menees, Miles, Pugh, Ralls, Royston, Russell, Swan, Trippe, Wilcox, and Wright of Texas.
Nays: Ashe, Atkins, Aver, Baldwin, Bell, Chambers, Chilton, Clapp, Clark, Clopton, Dupré, Farrow, Foote, Foster, Garland, Garnett, Graham, Hanly, Hartridge, Herbert, Lyons, McDowell, Perkins, Sexton, Smith of Alabama, Smith of North Carolina, Welsh, Wright of Tennessee, and Mr. Speaker.
So the bill was passed.
Mr. Foote moved that when the House terminate its session to-day it will take a recess until 8 o'clock p. m.
Mr. Smith of North Carolina moved to amend by striking out "8 o'clock" and inserting "7.30;" which was agreed to, and the motion as amended was agreed to.
A message was received from the President, through the hands of his Private Secretary, Mr. Harrison, informing the House that he had approved and signed
An act for the relief of John Hunter, collector of customs and agent of the marine hospital at the port of Natchez, Miss.;
Also, an act to authorize the establishment of camps of instruction and the appointment of officers to command the same;
Also, an act to repeal the law authorizing commutation for soldiers' clothing, and to require clothing to be furnished by the Secretary of War in kind; and
Also, an act to encourage the manufacture of clothing and shoes for the Army.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of the following title, viz:
In which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
On motion of Mr. Jones, the House resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session; when the House took a recess until 7.30 o'clock p. m.; and having again met took up the special order, which was
A bill to purge the Army of ignorant and incompetent officers.
The bill having been read as follows, to wit:
Whereas the efficiency of our Army and the health and comfort of our soldiers in the field depend upon the skill, competence, and attention to duty of the officers in the service; and
Whereas it is well known that many of the officers of the Army are ignorant of their duties, inefficient in their discharge, and utterly careless of the health and comfort of their men: Therefore,
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That whenever, in the judgment of the general commanding a department, the good of the service and the efficiency of his command require it, he is authorized, and it is hereby made his duty, to appoint an examining board, to be composed of officers of a rank at least as high as that of the officers whose qualifications it is proposed to inquire into, which
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board shall immediately proceed to examine into the cases of such officers as may he brought to their attention, for the purpose of determining their qualifications for the discharge of the duties properly appertaining to their several positions.
Mr. Miles moved to amend the same by adding as an additional section the following, to wit:
Be it further enacted, That when any officer of a company, battalion, squadron, or regiment, shall have been dropped or honorably retired in accordance with the provisions of this act, then the officer next in rank shall be promoted to the vacancy if competent, and if not competent, then the next officer in rank shall be promoted; and so on until all the commissioned officers of the company, battalion, squadron, or regiment shall have been gone through with; and if there be no officer of the company, battalion, squadron, or regiment competent to fill the vacancy, then the President shall, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, fill the same by appointment: Provided, That the officer appointed shall be from the same State as that to which the company, battalion, squadron, or regiment belongs: And provided further, That nothing herein contained shall be construed as limiting the power heretofore conferred upon the President by existing laws to fill any vacancy by the promotion of officers or the appointment of privates "distinguished in the service by the exhibition of extraordinary valor and skill."
Mr. Baldwin moved to amend the second section by striking out the words "or careless and inattentive in their discharge."
Mr. Garnett called the question, and the amendment was lost.
Mr. Sexton moved to amend the same by inserting after the word "or" the word "habitually."
Mr. Garnett called the question; which was ordered, and the amendment was lost.
Mr. Gartrell moved to amend the same by adding thereto the following:
Provided, That such officer shall be entitled to be heard, and call witnesses in his defense.
Mr. Collier called the question; which was ordered, and Mr. Baldwin demanded the yeas and nays,
The yeas and nays were ordered,
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Yeas: Ashe, Ayer, Baldwin, Batson, Bell, Bonham, Boyce, Chilton, Clapp, Clark, Clopton, Elliott, Farrow, Foote, Foster, Garland, Gartrell, Goode, Graham, Hanly, Hartridge, Heiskell, Hilton, Holcombe, Holt, Kenan of North Carolina, McDowell, McQueen, Perkins, Ralls, Royston, Sexton, Smith of North Carolina, Trippe, Welsh, and Mr. Speaker.
Nays: Barksdale, Boteler, Bridgers, Chambers, Collier, Currin, De Jarnette, Dupré, Freeman, Gardenhire, Garnett, Gray, Harris, Johnston, Kenan of Georgia, Kenner, Lander, Miles, Pugh, Russell, Tibbs, and Wilcox.
So the amendment was agreed to.
Mr. Harris moved that the bill be laid upon the table.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Trippe moved to amend the third section by adding thereto the following, to wit:
Provided, That no officer who may be dropped or retired by the President under the provisions of this act shall be liable to enrollment under the act approved April sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, entitled "An act further to provide for the public defense," or under any act passed the present session, unless said board so recommend, and the President approve such recommendation.
Mr. Clark moved to amend the amendment by striking out all of the same and inserting in lieu thereof the words
And the officers so honorably discharged under the provisions of this bill shall be exempt from further military service in the Provisional Army, except upon their voluntary enlistment.
The amendment to the amendment was lost.
Mr. Miles called for the question; which was ordered, and the amendment was lost.
Mr. Miles moved to amend the fourth section by inserting before the word "monthly," in the seventh line, the word "semi."
The amendment was lost.
Mr. Harris moved to amend by inserting after the word "form" the words
a copy whereof shall be retained by the reporting officer, subject to the inspection of all officers interested therein,
and called for the question; which was ordered, and the amendment was agreed to.
Mr. Royston moved to amend by adding at the end of the bill the following, to wit:
Printed blank forms of which said reports shall be procured by the Secretary of War for the use of the officers whose duty it is made to make such reports.
The amendment was agreed to.
The question then being on agreeing to the amendment of Mr. Miles to add an additional section to the bill,
Mr. Holt moved to amend the same by adding thereto the following, to wit:
Such competency to be ascertained as provided in the first and second sections of this bill.
Mr. Clapp called the question; which was ordered, and the amendment to the amendment was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Holt, the vote agreeing to the amendment to the amendment was reconsidered, and Mr. Holt moved to amend the same by striking out the word "bill" and inserting in lieu thereof the word
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"act;" which was agreed to, and the amendment to the amendment as amended was agreed to.
Mr. Smith of North Carolina moved to amend the amendment by adding thereto the words
And provided further, That vacancies arising under the operation of this act in regiments or battalions which were organized under the laws of a State for the war or a period not yet expired shall be filled as in case of death or resignation;
which was agreed to.
Mr. Gartrell demanded the previous question.
Pending which.
On motion of Mr. Wilcox,
The House adjourned until 11 o'clock to-morrow.
SECRET SESSION.
The House being in secret session, the Chair presented a communication from the President; which is as follows, to wit:
Richmond, Va., October 2, 1862.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit for your information a communication from the Secretary of War, submitting a report of the Commissary-General, to which I invite your attention.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
On motion, the message and accompanying documents were referred to the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments and Military Transportation.
Mr. Kenner, from the Committee of Ways and Means, to whom was referred Senate bill (119) to be entitled
An act to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to borrow money from the several States,
reported the same back and recommended the passage of the same.
On motion of Mr. Perkins, the further consideration of the bill was postponed until the next secret session.
Mr. Clopton, from the Committee on Naval Affairs. to whom was referred
A resolution of the House in relation to the defense of the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers,
reported and recommended the passage of a bill to provide for the defense of the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers.
The bill was read first and second times.
And on motion of Mr. Jones,
The House resolved itself into open session.
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