| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journal of the Confederate Congress --THIRTIETH DAY--MONDAY, March 24, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Ralls.
The House proceeded to the consideration of the unfinished business of Saturday, which was the resolution offered by Mr. Kenan of Georgia.
Mr. Royston demanded the previous question.
Pending which,
Mr. Chambliss, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported as correctly enrolled
The joint resolution for the relief of Mrs. Julia Tyler, executrix of Hon. John Tyler.
Also, Senate bill to provide a staff and clerical force for any general who may be assigned by the President to duty at the seat of government.
The Speaker signed the same.
The amendment offered by Mr. Swan was then ruled out of order by the Chair.
Mr. Russell, by consent, moved to amend the resolution of Mr. Kenan of Georgia by adding the following, to wit:
Resolved, That in the opinion of this House the respective States have exclusive authority, under the Constitution, to appoint officers of the militia, whether volunteer militia or others; and such officers, when appointed by the States, do not cease to be State officers or become officers "holding office under the Confederate States" when they and the militia under their command are in the service of the Confederate States, receiving pay from them and being subject to their control and government.
Page 138 | Page image
Resolved, That the respective States had authority during the Provisional Government to raise and keep troops both in peace and in war, and have authority now to raise and keep troops in time of war and to appoint the officers thereof; and such officers, when appointed by the respective States, do not cease to be State officers or become officers "holding office under the Confederate States" when in time of war they and the troops under their command are, with the consent of their respective States, receiving pay from them and being subject to their control and government for the purposes of the war, but without commissions from the Confederate States.
Resolved, That under the Constitution and laws of the Confederate States no person can hold a military office under the Confederate States of a grade requiring a commission unless he be appointed by the President, with the consent of the Senate, and receive a commission from the President.
The previous question was then ordered.
Pending which,
The question being upon amending the resolution offered by Mr. Kenan of Georgia by adding thereto the resolutions offered by Mr. Russell,
Mr. Hanly demanded a division of the question; and the question having been put on each resolution seriatim, was decided in the negative.
The question then being upon the amendment of Mr. Holt by way of substitute to the resolution of Mr. Kenan of Georgia, the amendment was agreed to: and on adopting the resolution as amended, Mr. Conrad demanded the yeas and nays; which being seconded,
The yeas and nays are recorded as follows, to wit:
Yeas: Arrington, Ashe, Atkins, Ayer, Barksdale, Batson, Bonham, Horatio W. Bruce, Eli M. Bruce, Burnett, Chambers, Chilton, Chrisman, Clark, Clopton, Crockett, Dargan, Davis, Dawkins, De Jarnette, Ewing, Farrow, Foote, Foster, Gardenhire, Garland, Graham, Hanly, Harris, Heiskell, Herbert, Hilton, Holt, Jenkins, Jones, Kenan of Georgia, Kenner, Lander, Lewis, Lyon, Lyons, Machen, McRae, Miles, Moore, Munnerlyn, Preston, Pugh, Ralls, Read, Royston, Sexton, Smith of Alabama, Strickland, Swan, Tibbs, Trippe, Villeré, Wilcox, Wright of Texas, and Mr. Speaker.
Nays: Bell, Boteler, Bridgers, Chambliss, Conrad, Conrow, Curry, Elliott, Gaither, Gartrell, Holcombe, Johnston, Marshall, McDowell, Perkins, Russell, Smith of North Carolina, Staples, Vest, Welsh, and Wright of Tennessee.
So the resolution as amended was agreed to.
Mr. Burnett, from the Committee on Pay and Mileage, to whom was referred
A bill from the Senate to regulate the mode of paying the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, and the disbursement of the contingent fund,
reported the same back, with the recommendation that it pass.
The rules were suspended, and the bill was taken up, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Miles introduced
A bill to provide for the appointment of instructors or drillmasters for the Army, and for other purposes;
which was read the first, and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a bill to provide for the organization of troops in the service of the Confederate States to be armed with pikes or other available
Page 139 | Page image
arms where firearms can not be procured; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a bill to amend an act to provide for the public defense, approved March 6, 1861; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, the petition of William R. Herron, claiming salary as clerk of the custom-house in Charleston, S. C.; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Chilton introduced
A bill to secure the proper use of voluntary contributions in aid of the war, and to punish persons misapplying the same:
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Chilton also, from the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, reported
A bill to regulate the compensation of deputy postmasters;
which was read the first and second times and placed upon the Calendar.
Mr. Russell introduced
A bill relating to certificates of indemnity under the sequestration acts;
which was read the first and second times, ordered to be printed, and made the special order of business for Thursday next.
Also, a bill to amend the sequestration act of February, 1862, so as to increase the sequestration fund by enlarging the definition of alien enemies and restricting the rights of the next of kin of alien enemies; which was read the first and second times, ordered to be printed, and made the special order for Thursday next.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed, with an amendment, a joint resolution of this House of the following title, viz:
Joint resolution to aid our prisoners in the hands of the enemy;
In which amendment I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
Leave of absence was granted to Messrs. Goode and Gentry.
Upon motion, the House proceeded to the consideration of an amendment of the Senate to a resolution of the House to aid our prisoners in the hands of the enemy.
Mr. Jones demanded the question; which was seconded, and the amendment of the Senate was agreed to, and is as follows, viz: Add to the end of the bill the following words:
Provided, That all sums paid any prisoner or expended for him shall be charged to his account.
Upon motion of Mr. Kenner, which was seconded, the House then resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session;
When,
The Chair presented a communication from the Secretary of War, transmitting the report of Brig. Gen. Henry A. Wise of the battle of Roanoke Island; which, with the accompanying documents, was referred to the special committee appointed to investigate the disaster at Roanoke Island, with instructions to report upon the propriety of printing the same.
The Speaker signed
Page 140 | Page image
A bill regulating the compensation of members of Congress, reported by Mr. Chambers, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, as correctly enrolled.
Mr. Foots moved to reconsider the vote by which the amendment of Mr. Holt to the resolution of Mr. Kenan of Georgia, in relation to officers holding seats as members of Congress, was adopted.
And on motion of Mr. Kenner,
The House adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.
SECRET SESSION.
The House being in secret session,
A message was received from the President, by the hands of his Private Secretary, Mr. Harrison.
The House then went into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Chilton being in the chair, on
A bill making appropriations for the Government from 1st of April to 30th of November, 1862, and for objects hereinafter expressed;
and having spent some time therein, on motion of Mr. Kenner, the committee rose and, through their Chairman, reported progress, and asked leave to sit again; which was agreed to.
Mr. Chambers, from the Committee on Enrollment, reported as correctly enrolled
The joint resolution to aid our prisoners in the hands of the enemy.
The Chair presented a message from the President; which is as follows, to wit:
Executive Department, March 24, 1862.
To the honorable the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Sir: Inclosed I send, for the consideration and action of the House of Representatives, a communication from the Acting Secretary of War. explaining the appropriation already made of $1,000,000 for the floating defenses of the western waters, and asking a further appropriation of half a million of dollars to be used for the same purposes.
I recommend that the money be appropriated as requested.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
On motion, the message and accompanying documents were referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
And on motion of Mr. Jones,
The House then resolved itself into open session.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |