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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 --EIGHT DAY--WEDNESDAY, February 26, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Ford.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, viz:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have concurred in the resolution of the House of Representatives for the appointment of a joint committee on printing, on buildings, and
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on flag and seal, to act with like committees on the part of the House of Representatives; and have appointed--
Mr. Garnett, by unanimous consent, offered
A resolution that 500 copies of the acts of the last session of the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States be published in pamphlet form as early as possible, to be distributed by the Attorney-General among the public officers and members of Congress; which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Miles, by unanimous consent, from the Committee on Military Affairs, offered
A resolution that the Committee on Military Affairs be authorized to employ a clerk;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Foster offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:
Resolved, That the committee appointed to inquire into the causes of our late disasters at Forts Henry and Donelson be instructed to inquire particularly into the causes of the incomplete state of the defenses of Fort Henry at the time it was attacked and captured by the enemy; also by whom and under whose authority said fort was located, and whether its location was or was not injudicious and inferior for purposes of defense to other locations in its immediate vicinity; also whether said location was or was not reviewed in person and approved by the commanding general of the department; also whether any other location in its immediate vicinity had been selected as a better point for defense and works begun thereat; and if so, by whom and under whose authority such new position had been selected and why said works had not been completed.
Mr. Chilton introduced
A bill to be entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act in relation to the public printing;'"
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Public Printing.
Mr. Holt offered the following resolution; which was read and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, to wit:
Resolved, That the Committee on Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of restricting and limiting by law the production of cotton in the Confederate States during the continuance of the war and blockade. And also into the expediency of the Confederate Government taking into its own control, by purchase, advance thereon, or otherwise, of all the cotton now on hand or which may be grown in said Confederate States during the existence of the present war and blockade; and that said committee report by bill or otherwise.
Mr. Wright presented a memorial from Thomas McNeill; which was referred to the Committee on Patents, without being read.
Mr. Perkins introduced
A bill to prohibit the importation of articles the produce of the United States, or of other nations from the United States into the Confederate States:
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Singleton presented the petition of L. L. Nichols; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Davidson offered
A resolution instructing the Committee on Ways and Means to make
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provision for supplying this House with stationery, etc., to report by bill or otherwise;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. McDowell presented a certain resolution of the North Carolina convention in relation to the reenlistment of volunteers; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, without being read.
Mr. Tibbs offered
A resolution instructing the Committee on Military Affairs to provide for the payment for horses lost in the battles of Fishing Creek, Roanoke Island, and Fort Donelson;
which was read and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a resolution in reference to the increase of the pay of officers and soldiers of the Army; which was read and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Currin moved to take up a memorial from certain citizens of Tipton County, Tenn., and refer the same to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads; which motion was agreed to.
Mr. Sexton introduced
A bill to amend an act entitled "An act to authorize the issue of Treasury notes, and to provide a war tax for their redemption;" which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Pryor introduced
A bill to amend an act for the establishment of a general staff for the Army of the Confederate States of America;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a bill to repeal an act to authorize the Secretary of State to appoint an assistant; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Jenkins introduced
A resolution that the President be requested to furnish to this House the report of Col. Walter H. Jenifer of the battle of Leesburg, if not incompatible with the public interest;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Lyons introduced
A resolution that the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to report a bill declaring who shall be exempt from military service.
Mr. Miles moved to amend by striking out the words "be instructed to report" and inserting the words "be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting."
The motion prevailed, and the resolution as amended was adopted.
Mr. Pryor, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported back
A bill to continue in office the major and brigadier generals of the Provisional Army.
The rules were suspended, and the bill was taken up.
The first section being under consideration; which is as follows, to wit:
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for every four regiments in the service of the Confederate States; and the President shall have power to reduce the number of such generals to the proportion of one to every three brigades and one to every four regiments by revoking commissions of supernumerary generals, by selection from the whole number: And provided further, That in appointing major and brigadier generals the proportion as aforesaid shall in no case be exceeded.
Mr. Wright of Georgia moved to amend the same by adding at the end thereof the following words, to wit:
And provided further, That said major and brigadier generals shall be subject to removal, according to the regulations of the War Department as heretofore practiced.
On motion of Mr. Foote, the further consideration of the bill was postponed, ordered to be printed, and made the special order for to-morrow.
The following message was received from the Senate, by the hands of the Secretary of that body, Mr. Nash, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of the following title, viz:
Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported the following resolution, to wit:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be authorized to procure maps of the several States of the Confederacy, to assist them in the discharge of their duties.
Mr. Swan moved to amend the same by inserting after the word "Confederacy" the following words, to wit: "and such other maps as the committee may, in their judgment, deem necessary."
The amendment was agreed to, and the resolution as amended was adopted.
Mr. Gartrell, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported back
A bill to carry into effect the latter part of the second clause of the sixth section of the first article of the Constitution of the Confederate States of America,
and recommended the passage of the same, with an amendment.
The bill was ordered to be printed, and made the special order for Saturday next.
Mr. Kenner moved to take up for consideration the message of the President.
The motion was agreed to;
When,
Mr. Kenner offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:
Resolved, That so much of the President's message as relates to the report of the Secretary of State be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs; so much as relates to the report of the Secretary of War be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs; so much as relates to the report of the Secretary of the Treasury be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means; so much as refers to the report of the Secretary of the Navy be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs; so much as refers to the report of the Postmaster-General be referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads; so much as refers to the report of the Attorney-General be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and so much as refers to the report of the Commissioner of Patents be referred to the Committee on Patents.
Mr. Miles moved that, the House take up for consideration a Senate bill to be entitled "An act supplementary to an act entitled 'An act to establish the War Department,' approved February twenty-first, eighteen hundred and sixty-one."
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The motion was agreed to, and the bill was read first, second, and third times, and passed.
Mr. Moore offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:
Resolved, That the President of the Confederate States be requested, if not incompatible with the public interests, to communicate to this House a correct list of the number of establishments now engaged in manufacturing small arms, under contract with the Government; where located, the quantity of arms which are furnished per month or week. Also the number of powder mills engaged trader contract with the Government in the manufacture of powder; and the quantity which is furnished from such mills per month or week. Also the means now employed in furnishing percussion caps. Whether, in his opinion, the various manufacturing establishments now employed by the Government will be able to furnish an ample supply of arms, powder, and percussion caps for the use of our Army; and if not, what further legislation by Congress may be necessary for the attainment of this object, and that he communicate the information in his possession in relation to the foregoing manufactures in secret session.
Mr. Villeré moved that the House meet daily at 11 o'clock a. m., and that no motion to adjourn shall be in order before 4 o'clock p. m.
Mr. Miles moved to amend the motion of Mr. Villeré by striking out "11 o'clock a. m." and inserting in lieu thereof "12 o'clock m."
Pending which motion,
The House, on motion of Mr. Miles,
Adjourned until 12 o'clock m. to-morrow.
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