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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 --TWELFTH DAY--MONDAY, March 3, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Ford.
Mr. Machen announced the presence of Mr. James S. Chrisman, Representative-elect from the State of Kentucky, who came forward, was qualified, and took his seat.
Mr. Miles moved to postpone the regular order of business to take up for consideration a bill authorizing the President to appoint a commander in chief.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Pugh introduced
A bill to authorize the purchase of private arms or pay for the use of the same;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Ralls introduced
A joint resolution declaring the sense of Congress in regard to reuniting with the United States;
which was read the first and second times, engrossed, and read the third time.
Mr. Pugh demanded the yeas and nays on agreeing to the resolution;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Arrington, Ashe, Baldwin, Barksdale, Batson, Bell, Bocock, Bonham, Boteler, Boyce, Breckinridge, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Chambliss, Chilton, Chrisman, Clapp, Clark, Clopton, Crockett, Currin, Curry, Dargan, Davidson, Davis, Dawkins, De Jarnette, Dupré, Elliott, Ewing, Farrow, Foote, Foster, Gaither, Gardenhire, Garland,
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Garnett, Gartrell, Goode, Graham, Gray, Hanly, Heiskell, Herbert, Hilton, Holcombe, Holt, Jenkins, Johnston, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Lander, Lewis, Lyon, Lyons, Machen, Marshall, McDowell, McLean, McRae, McQueen, Menees, Miles, Moore, Munnerlyn, Perkins, Preston, Pryor, Pugh, Ralls, Read, Royston, Russell, Sexton, Singleton, Smith of Alabama, Smith of North Carolina, Smith of Virginia, Staples, Strickland, Swan, Tibbs, Trippe, Villeré, Welsh, Wilcox, Wright of Georgia, and Wright of Texas.
The resolution was adopted unanimously.
Mr. Hanly introduced
A bill to provide for the organization of the Arkansas and Red River Superintendency of Indian Affairs, to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indians therein, and to preserve peace upon the frontiers;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Mr. Gartrell offered
A resolution in reference to wages due deceased officers and soldiers; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a letter of Capt. B.C. McCurry, of the Twenty-second Georgia Regiment, in reference to the payment of wages due deceased cers and soldiers; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a communication of Governor Brown of Georgia, to mechanics of that State, on the subject of arms; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Clark introduced
A bill to fix the time of the meeting of Congress;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Also, a resolution that, from and after the -- day of March, no new matter shall be introduced except by a vote of two-thirds of the House; which was, on motion of Mr. Royston, laid upon the table.
Also, a resolution that the ex-members of the Provisional Congress be entitled to seats within the bar of the House while in open session; which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Smith of Virginia moved to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was agreed to.
The motion prevailed;
When,
Mr. Gartrell moved to refer the same to the Committee on Rules; which motion was agreed to.
Mr. Perkins introduced
A bill to regulate the granting of passports;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a resolution that the President be requested to communicate what additional means, in money, men, arms, and other munitions of war, are, in his judgment, necessary, or may be within the present war, for the public service, including military operations on land and water; which was agreed to.
Mr. Barksdale offered
A resolution that the Committee on Foreign Relations be instructed to inquire into the existing relations between this Government and consuls commissioned by foreign powers and accredited to the Government
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of the United States, and are still residing in their official capacity within the territories of the Confederate States, to report whether they exercise their jurisdiction by permission of the Government of the Confederate States in accordance with treaties of commerce, or otherwise, and whether any action of Congress on this subject be necessary to the vindication of the rights and dignity of the Government of the Confederate States;
which was agreed to.
Mr. Chambliss offered
A resolution that the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of placing at the disposal of the President $5,000,000 for the purpose of building gunboats for the defense of the Confederate States;
which was agreed to.
Mr. Baldwin presented the memorial of James McLaughlin in relation to a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Pryor presented a memorial from Spencer T. Hancock in relation to pay for taking the census; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Lyons offered
A resolution that the expenses of the inauguration of the President and Vice-President be paid ratably out of the contingent funds of the two Houses of Congress;
which was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Bonham, which was seconded,
The House then resolved itself into secret session.
SECRET SESSION.
The House being in secret session,
The Chair presented a communication from the President, inclosing the report of the Secretary of the Navy; which, on motion of Mr. Holt, was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
On motion of Mr. Foote, a clerk was authorized to be appointed by the committee, to serve during its sessions, inquiring into the surrender of Forts Donelson and Henry.
The House took up the bill authorizing the President to appoint a commander in chief.
Mr. Foote moved that Congress go into open session.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Boyce moved to amend the bill by striking out in the same, wherever it occurs, the word "commander" and insert in lieu thereof the word "general."
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. Garnett moved to lay the bill and the amendments on the table.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Bonham moved to amend the amendment offered by the Committee on Military Affairs by striking out in the second section the words "He shall be stationed at the seat of government" and inserting in lieu thereof the following words, viz: "His usual headquarters shall be at the seat of government."
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. Bonham moved further to amend the section by adding at the end thereof the following words, viz: "and may, when he shall deem
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it advisable, take command, in person, of our army or armies in the field."
The motion was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Miles, the first section of the amendment of the Military Committee was amended by striking out the words "during the existence of the present war" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "during the pleasure of the President."
Mr. Miles moved to amend the third section of the amendment by filling the blank with the words "four hundred."
Mr. Swan called the question; which was seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The amendment of the committee, as amended, was agreed to, and is as follows, viz:a
[Note a: a Not recorded in the Journal.]
Mr. Perkins moved to lay the bill as amended on the table, and print the same, and thereon demanded the question; which was seconded, and the motion was lost.
Mr. Foote moved to refer the bill to the Committee on the Judiciary, with instructions to report upon the constitutionality of the same, and thereon demanded the question; which was seconded, and the motion was lost.
The question recurring upon engrossing the bill for a third reading,
Mr. Smith of Virginia demanded the question; which was seconded, and the bill was engrossed and read a third time.
The question being,
Shall this bill now pass?
Mr. Smith of Virginia demanded the question; which was seconded.
Mr. Lyons demanded the yeas and nays thereon;
And one-fifth of the members sustaining the demand,
Yeas: Ashe, Baldwin, Barksdale, Batson, Bell, Bocock, Bonham, Boteler, Boyce, Breckinridge, Burnett, Chambliss, Chilton, Clark, Clopton, Crockett, Dargan, Davidson, Ewing, Gaither, Gardenhire, Gartrell, Goode, Heiskell, Holcombe, Holt, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Lander, Lewis, Lyon, Machen, McDowell, McLean, McRae, Miles, Munnerlyn, Pryor, Pugh, Ralls, Read, Royston, Singleton, Smith of Virginia, Strickland, Swan, Tibbs, Trippe, Wright of Georgia, and Wright of Texas.
Nays: Cooke, Curry, Davis, Dupré, Farrow, Garnett, Gray, Herbert, Hilton, Jenkins, Lyons, Marshall, Perkins, Sexton, Villeré, and Welsh.
So the bill was passed.
On motion of Mr. Miles, the title was amended by striking out the same and inserting in lieu thereof the following words, to wit:
"A bill to create the office of commanding general of the Confederate States."
Mr. Jones moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed and demanded the question; which was seconded.
On motion of Mr. Gardenhire, the special order of the day was postponed and made the special order of the day for next Thursday. Mr. Hilton moved that the House adjourn.
The motion was lost.
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Mr. Davis moved a call of the House.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Jenkins moved that the House adjourn.
Mr. Garnett demanded the yeas and nays:
And one-fifth of the members sustaining the demand,
Yeas: Bocock, Bonham, Clark, Farrow, Foote, Garnett, Gray, Hilton, Holcombe, Holt, Jenkins, Kenan of North Carolina, Lander, Lewis, Lyons, Machen, McDowell, Munnerlyn, Perkins, Ralls, Sexton, Singleton, Smith of North Carolina, Smith of Virginia, Strickland, Trippe, and Villeré.
Nays: Batson, Bell, Boyce, Burnett, Chilton, Crockett, Davidson, Davis, Ewing, Gardenhire, Gartrell, Heiskell, Herbert, Jones, McLean, Miles, Pugh, Royston, Swan, and Tibbs.
The House adjourned until half past 11 o'clock to-morrow.
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