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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 --FIFTY-THIRD DAY--SATURDAY, April 19, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Jeter.
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury in relation to the estimates of the Navy Department; which was read and, on motion, laid on the table.
Mr. Foster presented the protest of himself and Mr. Wright of Georgia against the passage of an act entitled "An act to provide for the safe and expeditions transportation of troops and munitions of war by railroad;" which was read, ordered to be spread upon the Journal, and is as follows, to wit:
We, the undersigned, members of the first, session of the First Permanent Congress, beg leave most respectfully to enter this our most solemn protest against the passage of an act entitled "An act to provide for the safe and expeditious transportation of troops and munitions of war by railroad," and, in justification of the same, to lay before the House and the country the following as our reasons:
For these and other equally cogent reasons, which must occur to every intelligent mind not unreasonably depressed by exigencies and vicissitudes through which Providence has decreed that we shall pass in our progress to national independence, and which we hope and believe are but the precursors of victory and success, we protest against said act, and respectfully request that this, our protest, be entered upon the Journal.
Mr. McDowell presented the memorial of J.P. Levy, of North Carolina, praying for the sequestration of the property of an alien enemy; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, without being read.
Mr. Ashe presented the memorial of James, John, and Noah Roberts in relation to a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Perkins offered
A resolution that the President be requested to furnish to the House of Representatives, in secret session, information as to the amount of
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funds which has been sent abroad to officers or agents of the Government for military or naval purposes, indicating the department through which each amount has been sent, the date and amount of each sum of money sent, and to whom and for what purpose sent. and whether said sums sent in coin, sterling bills, or produce, and the date and amount of each kind so transferred, and if in exchange or produce. the prices paid for such exchange or produce, and whether said produce was paid for in bonds or notes, and in what proportion of each; and furthermore, what amount of funds so sent has been expended and what for;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Gaither offered
A resolution that the President be requested to inform this House whether he has authorized any person or persons in the State of North Carolina, or in any other State in which martial law has not been proclaimed, to seize and impress into the public service the private arms of the citizens.
On motion of Mr. Conrad, the resolution was laid on the table.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have rejected a bill of this House of the following title, viz:
Mr. Chambliss offered the following resolution, to wit:
Resolved, That the President be requested to furnish to this House the report of Colonel William C. Scott in relation to the movements of the Forty-fourth Regiment of Virginia Volunteers on the eleventh of July, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, the day of the battle of Rich Mountain;
which was read and agreed to.
On motion of Mr. H. W. Bruce,
The House reconsidered the vote by which the amendment of the Senate to a resolution for the benefit of Capt. Ben. Desha was referred to the Committee on Claims.
The rules were suspended, and the amendment was taken up.
And the question being on agreeing to the same, which is as follows, to wit: Strike out the second letter "s" in the word "Dessa," where occurring, and insert in lieu thereof the letter "h," so as to read "Desha."
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr. Graham offered
A resolution that the President be requested to furnish to this House, if not incompatible with the public interest, copies of the reports of the subordinate officers who participated in the recent engagement at Elkhorn, in the State of Arkansas;
which was read and agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Davis, the House resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have refused to concur in a resolution of this House to rescind a resolution for the adjournment, on Monday, the 21st, of both Houses of Congress.
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A message was received from the President, by his Private Secretary, Mr. Harrison, informing the House that
The President, on the 19th of April, 1862, approved and signed
An act entitled "An act to prohibit the transportation to and sale of certain articles in any port or place within the Confederate States in the possession of the enemy, and to prohibit the sale, barter, or exchange of certain articles therein named, to alien or domestic enemies."
Also, an act entitled "An act making Augusta. Georgia, a port of delivery for goods imported into Charleston, South Carolina."
Mr. Lyons, by unanimous consent, offered
A joint resolution to authorize the Joint Committee on Public Buildings to rent rooms for the Treasury Department; which was read the first and second times, and the rules having been suspended, the resolution was taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Menees, from the Committee on Printing, to whom was referred a motion to print 1,000 copies of the report of the special committee on the disaster at Roanoke Island, reported the same back, with the recommendation that it pass.
The report was agreed to.
Mr. Bell, from the Committee on Patents, to whom was referred the memorial of John H. Ward, of Arkansas, in relation to the construction of railway tracks, reported the same back, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and that it lie on the table; which was agreed to.
Mr. Bell, from the same committee, to whom was referred the memorial of Wilson Williams, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and that it lie on the table; which was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Chilton,
The House took up for consideration an amendment of the Senate to a bill of the House to regulate the compensation of deputy postmasters.
And the question being on agreeing to the amendment, which is as follows, to wit: In second line, first section, insert after the word "that" the words "from and after the first day of July next."
The same was agreed to.
Mr. Lyons offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to report, a bill to prevent and punish the loss and destruction of wagons, horses, clothing, and arms in the Army, and to regulate impressments of property.
Mr. Clopton, from the Committee on Claims, to whom was referred a memorial of Starke & Cardozo, reported
A joint resolution to pay for stationery furnished the Provisional Congress;
which was read first and second times, and the rules being suspended, was taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported as correctly enrolled bills of the following titles, and the Speaker signed the same, to wit:
A bill to amend an act to regulate the mode of paying the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, and the disbursement of the contingent fund;
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Joint resolutions authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to pay the mileage and per diem of members of the Provisional Congress out of the contingent fund of that Congress: and
A bill in relation to auditing the accounts for the War Department.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed bills of the following titles, viz:
Mr. Kenner offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:
Resolved, That the Clerk be authorized to employ, for two days, such additional help in his office as may be necessary to keep up with the business: persons so employed to receive, out of the contingent fund, four dollars per day.
Mr. Boteler, from the Committee on the Flag and Seal, reported
A joint resolution adopting the flag of the Confederate States of America;
which was read the first and second times.
Also, the following report, to wit:
To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States:
The Joint Committee on Flag and Seal submit to the judgment of Congress the accompanying design of a flag of the Confederate States of America.
The considerations which influenced the committee in selecting the proposed design were--
Ancient heralds, in their quaint language, would describe this flag as on a field gules saltiere argent with a shield azure, charged with a sun in his glory, or,
The red field denotes martial prowess, boldness, courage, valor;
The saltiere an honorable ordinary in heraldry, emblem of progress and strength, its white indicating purity, innocence, and gentleness:
The blue of the shield represents justice, faith, perseverance, and vigilance;
The sun manifests the dominion, generosity, and stability of the Confederacy.
Nearly all the designs submitted to the committee contained a combination of stars. This heraldic emblem, however, has been discarded as a manifestation of our entire and absolute severance from the "United States" and the complete annihilation of every sentiment indicating the faintest hope of reconstruction.
Respectfully submitted.
April 19, 1862.
Mr. Boyce moved that the House postpone the consideration of the report of the committee until the first day of the next session.
The motion was lost.
And the joint resolution offered by the committee having been read as follows:
Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the flag of the Confederate States shall be as follows, to wit:
A red field charged with a white saltiere, having in the center a sun in its glory, on
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an azure shield, the rays of the sun corresponding with the number of States composing the Confederacy.
Mr. Holt moved to amend the same by inserting after the word "shall" the words "after the lapse of ninety days from the adoption of this resolution."
On motion of Mr. Trippe, the vote by which the motion to postpone was lost was reconsidered, and the motion prevailed.
On motion of Mr. Miles, the House again resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed bills of this House of the following titles:
The former with an amendment; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported as correctly enrolled
A Senate bill for the relief of Samuel M. Wilkes, late adjutant of the Fourth Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers.
Also, a bill to amend the several acts in relation to the pay of chaplains in the Army.
The Speaker signed the same.
The Speaker signed the following bill, reported by Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, as correctly enrolled:
A bill to be entitled "An act to amend an act for the establishment and organization of a general staff for the Army of the Confederate States of America."
On motion, a bill of the Senate entitled "An act to secure for the use of the Government small arms taken from the enemy," was taken up and road the first and second times.
The rules were suspended;
The bill was read a third time and passed.
Mr. Burnett, from the Committee on Pay and Mileage, to which were referred joint resolutions of the Senate to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to pay the mileage and per diem of members of the Provisional Congress out of the contingent fund of that Congress, reported the same back, with the recommendation that they pass.
The rules were suspended;
The resolutions were taken up, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Gartrell, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom were referred sundry amendments of the Senate to a bill of the House entitled "An act to insure the prompt and speedy returns of disbursing officers," reported the same back, with the recommendation that the House concur in the amendments of the Senate.
The bill was taken up, and having been read as follows, viz:
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That when any disbursing officer or agent of the Government shall fail to make his quarterly returns within the time limited or in the manner required by law, it shall be the duty of the head of the Department to which he is responsible immediately to cause notice of such
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delinquency to be published for one month, in one newspaper, at the seat of government of the Confederate States, and in one newspaper within the city, town, or district in which said officer or agent was performing duty, at the end of the quarter for which his returns are in default, and forthwith to report the facts to Congress, if in session; or, if not in session, to make said report within the first week of its next ensuing session.
And the amendments of the Senate thereto having been read as follows, viz:
Strike out the words "for one month" and insert in lieu thereof the words "for such time as the said head of the proper Department may determine, not to exceed once a week, for four weeks."
After the word "suspension" insert the words "with knowledge thereof."
Add at end of second section the words
"Provided, That no head of Department shall grant any extension of time for the rendition of said quarterly returns beyond sixty days,"
The same were concurred in.
On motion of Mr. Jones,
The House took up for consideration 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; which was read the first and second times.
The rules were suspended;
The bill was taken up;
When,
Mr. Jones moved to amend the same by adding as an additional section the following, to wit:
The Speaker signed the following bill, reported by Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, as correctly enrolled:
A bill to be entitled "An act to enforce prompt returns from disbursing officers and agents;"
which was read the first and second times.
The rules were suspended;
The bill was taken up, and having been read as follows, viz:
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express or other companies of every kind, their agents or employees, be, and the same are hereby, repealed, and the laws of the United States. adopted by an act of the Provisional Congress, entitled "An act to continue in force certain laws of the United States of America," on the ninth day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-one. relating to the conveyance or transportation of letters, packets, or packages of letters, and other mailable matter, by express or other companies, their agents or employees, be, and the same are hereby, declared to be in full force: Provided, That nothing in this act contained shall be construed as to declare that any portion of said laws of the United States adopted as aforesaid, not inconsistent with the acts of the said Provisional Government, was by said last-named acts in anywise abrogated or repealed: Provided further, That frauds upon the revenue of the Post-Office Department, and offenses against and violations of the laws hereby repealed, may be proceeded against and punished under the laws existing at the time of the commission of such fraud, offense, or violation, and this act shall not be construed to have a retroactive operation so as to repeal or abrogate any law as to such frauds, offenses, or violations heretofore committed, but shall have a prospective operation only,
Mr. Kenner, from the Committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred a Senate bill in relation to auditing accounts for the War Department, 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. Chilton, from the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, reported and recommended the passage of
A bill to repeal certain laws therein named and to declare others in full force in relation to conveyance of mailable matter outside of the mail.
Mr. Heiskell moved that the bill be recommitted to the committee.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Chilton moved to amend the bill by adding at the end thereof the words
Provided also, That this act shall take effect from and after the first of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-two;
which was agreed to.
Mr. Heiskell moved to amend the bill by striking out the words "United States," wherever occurring.
The amendment was lost, and the bill as amended was read a third time and passed.
On motion of Mr. Miles, the House took up for consideration
A bill to authorize the employment of drillmasters in the Army; which was read a third time.
And the question being on its passage,
Mr. Hanly demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Ashe, Barksdale, Batson, Bell, Boteler, Boyce, Breckinridge, Horatio W. Bruce, Eli M. Bruce, Chilton, Clopton, Conrad, Conrow, Cooke, Currin, Davidson, Elliott, Gaither, Gardenhire, Graham, Gray, Hartridge, Hilton, Holt, Johnston, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Lyons, Machen, McDowell, McLean, McRae, Miles, Read, Sexton, Staples, Strickland, Tibbs, Wilcox, and Wright of Texas.
Nays: Aver Bonham, Burnett, Chambliss, Dawkins, Farrow, Foster, Gartrell, Hanly, Heiskell, Holcombe, Jenkins, Jones, Lander, Marshall, McQueen, Menees, Moore, Perkins, Pugh, Ralls, Royston, Singleton, Smith of North Carolina, Smith of Virginia, Swan, Trippe, Welsh, Wright of Georgia, and Mr. Speaker.
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The Speaker signed the following bill and resolutions, reported by Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, as correctly enrolled:
A bill regulating the fees of marshals, and for other purposes;
Joint resolution for the relief of Capt. Ben. Desha; and
Resolution for the preservation of public documents.
Mr. Gartrell moved that when the House adjourn it adjourn to meet at 9 o'clock on Monday.
The motion prevailed.
Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred a Senate bill for the relief of the representatives of Samuel M. Wilkes, late adjutant of the Fourth Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers, reported the same back and recommended its passage.
The rules were suspended, and the bill was taken up, read a third time, and the question being on the passage of the same,
Mr. Swan demanded the yeas and nays.
The demand was sustained,
Yeas: Ashe, Ayer, Batson, Benham, Boteler, Horatio W. Bruce, Chambliss, Chilton, Clopton, Conrad, Conrow, Currin, Davidson, Dawkins, De Jarnette, Elliott, Farrow, Foster, Gaither, Gardenhire, Gartrell, Goode, Graham, Gray, Hanly, Hartridge, Heiskell, Hilton, Holcombe, Holt, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Lander, Lewis, Lyons, Machen, Marshall, McDowell, McQueen, Menees, Miles, Moore, Pugh, Ralls, Read, Royston, Sexton,.Singleton, Smith of North Carolina, Strickland, Swan, Tibbs, Vest, Wilcox, and Mr. Speaker.
Nays: Jones.
So the bill was passed.
Mr. Miles, from the same committee, to which was referred a Senate bill to amend the several acts in relation to the pay of chaplains in the Army, reported the same back, with a recommendation it do pass.
The rules were suspended;
The bill was taken up, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Miles, from the same committee, to which was referred a Senate bill for the organization of the Maryland Line, reported the same back, with the recommendation that it pass.
The rules were suspended;
The bill was taken up, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Miles, also, from the same committee, to which were referred sundry amendments of the Senate to
A bill of the House entitled "An act to amend an act for the establishment and organization of a general staff for the Army of the Confederate States of America,"
reported the same back, with the recommendation that the House concur in the amendments of the Senate.
The bill having been read as follows, to wit:
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And the amendments proposed by the Senate having been read as follows, to wit:
After the word "command" insert "all."
Strike out the words "in military hospitals, or other places where they have charge of the sick or wounded," and insert in lieu thereof the words "like other commissioned officers,"
The same were concurred in.
Mr. Miles moved that the House take up from the Calendar a bill for the employment of negroes on Government work.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Miles. from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill, and recommended its passage, to be entitled "An act to appoint a superintendent general of armories."
On motion of Mr. Heiskell,
The consideration of the bill was postponed until the first day of the next session of Congress.
Mr. Lyons offered the following resolutions: which were read and unanimously adopted, to wit:
Resolved, That this House has heard with deep regret of the death of the Honorable John Tyler, a member-elect of this House. Having served his country, through a long life, with great ability and unswerving fidelity, he has fallen full of years and covered with honors which a grateful country bestowed upon him.
Resolved, That, sympathizing in the national regret at the death of this distinguished citizen, and lamenting that he is not now among us to cheer and sustain us by his wise and patriotic counsels in our great conflict for the liberty of our country, the members of this House will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.
Resolved, That these resolutions be communicated to the honorable Senate, and a copy of them transmitted to the widow and family of the deceased.
Mr. Ashe moved that 1,000 copies of the report of the special committee on the Roanoke Island disaster be printed.
The motion was referred to the Committee on Printing.
Mr. Moore moved that the rules be suspended and that the House take up the bill to exempt certain persons from militia duty.
The motion was lost.
The House then proceeded to the consideration of an amendment of the Senate to a bill of the House to organize bands of partisan rangers.
And the question being on concurring in the amendment, which is as follows: Strike out the second section.
The second section was read as follows, to wit:
And the amendment of the Senate was concurred in.
On motion.
The House then took up for consideration sundry amendments of the Senate to a bill of the House to be entitled "An act to organize battalions of sharpshooters."
The bill having been read as follows, to wit:
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And the amendments of the Senate having been read as follows, to wit:
Add at the end of the first section the words "to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent, of the Senate."
Strike out in second section the words "used, if the Government shall not have a sufficient supply of such arms not in use," and insert in lieu thereof the words "token for that purpose: Provided, the Government has not at its command a sufficient number of approved long-range rifles or muskets wherewith to arm said corps,"
The same were concurred in.
The House also took up for consideration an amendment of the Senate to a bill of the House to be entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to authorize and provide for the organization of the Maryland Line,' approved February fifteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two."
The bill having been read as follows, to wit:
And the amendment of the Senate having been read as follows, to wit:
Add to section 1 the following words:
"Provided, This act shall not apply to any troops who have received a bounty from any State on a reenlistment,"
The same was agreed to.
The House also took up for consideration a bill of the Senate entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to prescribe the rates of postage in the Confederate States, and for other purposes;'" which was read the first and second times.
Mr. Jones moved to amend the bill by adding thereto the following:
Provided, That single postage under two hundred miles shall be five cents; over two hundred and under eight hundred miles, ten cents, and over eight hundred miles, fifteen cents.
Mr. Heiskell moved that the further consideration of the bill be postponed until the third Monday in August.
On motion of Mr. Heiskell, the House then resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session.
Mr. Boteler, by consent, presented the memorial of Capt. Buchanan, asking pay for making flags; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Singleton demanded the previous question; which was ordered, and the amendment of Mr. Jones to the act to prescribe the rates of postage was lost.
The bill was then read a third time, and the question being on its passage,
Mr. McDowell called for the yeas and nays; and
The call being seconded,
Yeas: Ayer, Barksdale, Batson, Bell, Boteler, Boyce, Breckinridge, Horatio W. Bruce, Eli M. Bruce, Burnett, Chambliss, Chilton, Clark,
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Conrow, Cooke, Currin, Davidson, Dawkins, Elliott, Foster, Gardenhire, Graham, Hilton, Holcombe, Johnston, Kenner, Lander, Machen, Marshall, McLean, McRae, McQueen, Miles, Moore, Pugh, Read, Royston, Sexton, Singleton, Strickland, Tibbs, Welsh, Wilcox, and Wright of Texas.
Nays: Ashe, Benham, Clopton, Conrad, Gaither, Gartrell, Gray, Hanly, Hartridge, Heiskell, Herbert, Holt, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Lyons, McDowell, Menees, Perkins, Rails, Smith of North Carolina, Smith of Virginia, Swan, Wright of Georgia, and Mr. Speaker.
So the bill was passed.
Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported as correctly enrolled
A bill to organize a signal corps;
A bill to repeal certain laws therein named and to declare others in full force in relation to conveyance of mailable matter outside of the mail;
A bill making further appropriations for the expenses of the Government in the Treasury, War, and Navy Departments; and
A bill to aid in the construction of a certain line of railroad in the States of Louisiana and Texas.
The Speaker signed the same.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash, as follows:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a resolution and bills of this House of the following titles, viz:
The two latter with amendments; in which amendments I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
The Senate have also passed a bill of this House to aid in the construction of a certain line of railroad in the States of Louisiana and Texas, without amendment.
The House then proceeded to the consideration of a bill to exempt certain persons from enrollment for service in the armies of the Confederate States.
And the question being on suspending the rule requiring its reference to a committee,
Mr. Jones demanded the yeas and nays:
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Yeas: Ashe, Barksdale, Batson, Bell, Bonham, Boyce, Breckinridge, Horatio W. Bruce, Eli M. Bruce, Burnett, Chambliss, Chilton, Clark, Clopton, Conrad, Conrow, Cooke, Currin, Davidson, Dawkins, Elliott, Foster, Gaither, Gardenhire, Gartrell, Graham, Gray, Hartridge, Herbert, Hilton, Holt, Jenkins, Kenner, Lander, McDowell, McRae, Miles, Moore, Push, Ralls, Read, Royston, Sexton, Singleton, Strickland, Tibbs, Wilcox, and Wright of Texas.
Nays: Ayer, Hanly, Heiskell, Holcombe, Johnston, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Lyons, Machen, Marshall, McLean, McQueen, Menees, Perkins, Smith of North Carolina, Smith of Virginia, Swan, Welsh, Wright of Georgia, and Mr. Speaker.
So the rule was suspended.
Mr. Smith of North Carolina moved to amend by inserting before the words "shall be, and are hereby, exempted from military service in the armies of the Confederate States," the following:
and all persons who now are, or may hereafter be, exempted by the laws of the respective States.
Mr. Hilton moved to amend the amendment by striking out the words "may hereafter be;" which was agreed to.
And the amendment as amended was agreed to.
The bill as amended was then read a third time, and the question being on its passage,
Mr. Smith of North Carolina demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Ashe, Ayer, Barksdale, Bell, Bonham, Chambliss, Clark, Conrad, Currin, Farrow, Foster, Gardenhire, Graham, Gray, Hanly, Heiskell, Hilton, Holcombe, Holt, Kenner, Lander, Machen, McDowell, McRae, McQueen, Miles, Perkins, Pugh, Sexton, Tibbs, Wilcox, and Wright of Texas.
Nays: Batson, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Chilton, Clopton, Conrow, Davidson, Dawkins, Hartridge, Herbert, Jenkins, Johnston, Kenan of North Carolina, Lyons, Marshall, McLean, Menees, Moore, Ralls, Royston, Singleton, Smith of North Carolina, Smith of Virginia, Strickland, and Welsh.
So the bill was passed.
Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported as correctly enrolled
A bill to authorize the employment of drillmasters; and
A bill to secure for the use of the Government small arms taken from the enemy.
Mr. Gardenhire, from the same committee, reported as correctly enrolled
A bill to amend an act to prescribe the rates of postage in the Confederate States.
The Speaker signed the following bills, reported by Mr. Elliott, of the Committee on Enrolled Bills, as correctly enrolled:
A bill supplementary to the act to encourage the manufacture of saltpeter and of small arms;
A bill to limit the act authorizing the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus:
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A bill to amend the act to increase the military establishment of the Confederate States, and to amend the act for the establishment and organization of the Army of the Confederate States of America;
A bill to organize bands of partisan rangers; and
A bill to establish certain post routes therein named.
On motion of Mr. Miles,
The House then resolved itself into secret session.
SECRET SESSION.
The House being in secret session,
The Chair presented a message from the President, covering certain estimates for the completion of a line of railroad in the States of Louisiana and Texas.
On motion, the message and accompanying documents were laid on the table.
And the House proceeded to the consideration of the motion of Mr. Davis to reconsider the vote on the passage of a bill to aid in the construction of a line of railroad in the States of Louisiana and Texas.
The motion to reconsider prevailed:
When,
Mr. Davis moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
The motion prevailed.
Mr. Davis moved to amend the bill by striking out therefrom the words "seven hundred and fifty" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "five hundred."
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr. Chilton moved to amend by adding at the end of the bill the following, to wit:
and that the President be directed to take a mortgage on said road and its appurtenances for the ultimate payment of the money so expended in aid of its extension.
The amendment was agreed to, and the bill as amended was engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
On motion of Mr. Sexton, the House resolved itself into open session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into secret session;
When,
Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported and recommended the passage of
A bill to amend an act further to provide for the public defense; which was read first and second times:
When,
Mr. Perkins moved to amend by adding at the end of the bill the following, to wit:
Strike out of section 6 the words "held to be deserters and punished as such" and insert in lieu thereof the words "subject to be imprisoned for six months."
Mr. Royston demanded the previous question: which was sustained, and the amendment was lost.
And the bill was engrossed and read a third time.
Mr. Wright of Georgia moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
The motion to reconsider prevailed,
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And Mr. Smith of North Carolina moved to amend by adding at the end of the bill the following, to wit:
That the first section be so amended as to add after the words "legally exempted from military service" the following words, to wit: "by existing or future State laws."
Mr. Conrad moved to lay the amendment on the table.
On which motion Mr. Smith of North Carolina demanded the yeas and nays.
The demand was not sustained, and the motion to lay on the table prevailed.
Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Enrollment, reported as correctly engrossed and enrolled
A joint resolution authorizing the President to contract for the construction, in Europe, of six ironclad vessels;
And the Speaker signed the same.
Mr. Ashe moved to amend as follows, to wit:
Be it further enacted, That persons enrolled under the provisions of the third section of the act to which this is an amendment shall have the privilege of choosing the company in service to which they shall be assigned until each company is filled to its maximum number: Provided, That persons shall be enrolled only in companies from the State from which they come; and unless such selection shall be made at the time of their being called into actual service, they shall be assigned by the Secretary of War.
And that the fourth section of said act be repealed.
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr. Jenkins moved to amend by adding at the end of the bill the following, to wit:
And strike out, in the first section of the act to which this is amendatory, the words "by electing all the officers, which they had a right heretofore to elect," and to insert in lieu thereof t e words "by electing all their company and field officers, up to the grade of colonel, inclusive."
Mr. Gray demanded the previous question; which was sustained.
And upon a division of the House, it appearing that there was not a quorum present,
Mr. Chambliss moved that the House do now adjourn.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Holcombe moved that the House take a recess until half past 7 o'clock.
Mr. Jones being in the chair, decided the motion out of order, less than a quorum being empowered only to adjourn from day to day.
Mr. Gardenhire appealed from the decision of the Chair, and the question being,
Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgment of the House? was decided in the affirmative.
Mr. Machen moved a call of the House.
Upon which Mr. Chilton demanded the yeas and nays; and
The demand being sustained,
Yeas: Ashe, Ayer, Bonham, Boteler, Elliott, Gartrell, Gray, Hartridge, Heiskell, Herbert, Hilton, Holcombe, Jenkins, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Machen, McRae, McQueen, Menees, Moore, Royston, Sexton, Singleton, Welsh, and Mr. Speaker.
Nays: Barksdale, Batson, Bell, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Chambliss, Chilton, Clopton, Conrad, Conrow, Davidson, Dawkins, Farrow,
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Foster, Gaither, Gardenhire, Graham, Holt, Kenner, Lander, Lyons, Miles, Perkins, Pugh, Smith of North Carolina, Strickland, Wright of Georgia, and Wright of Texas.
So the motion was lost.
And by unanimous consent,
The House took a recess until 7.30 o'clock.
And upon reassembling, the House,
On motion of Mr. Singleton, resolved itself into open session: and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into secret session. and proceeded to the consideration of the bill to amend an act to further provide for the public defense.
And the question being upon agreeing to the amendment offered by Mr. Jenkins,
He demanded the yeas and nays thereon: and
The demand being sustained,
Yeas: Ashe, Ayer, Batson, Benham, Boyce, Horatio W. Bruce, Clark, Farrow, Foster, Hanly, Hilton, Holcombe, Jenkins, Kenan of North Carolina, Lander, Machen, McDowell, McLean, McRae, McQueen, Menees, Perkins, Pugh, Rails, Strickland, and Welsh.
Nays: Barksdale, Bell, Burnett, Chambliss, Chilton, Clopton, Conrow, Currin, Davidson, Dawkins, Gardenhire, Graham, Gray, Hart, ridge, Heiskell, Herbert, Holt, Johnston, Kenner, Lyons, Marshall, Miles, Moore, Royston, Sexton, Singleton, Smith of North Carolina, Smith of Virginia, Tibbs, Wilcox, Wright of Texas, and Mr. Speaker,
So the amendment was lost, and the bill as amended was engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
And the title of the same, on motion of Mr. Miles, was amended by adding to the end thereof the words "approved April sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two."
And on motion of Mr. Bell,
The House adjourned until 9 o'clock a. m. on Monday.
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