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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-FOURTH DAY--MONDAY, April 21, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Hoge.
Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported as correctly engrossed and enrolled bills of the following titles, viz:
Also, a joint resolution of thanks to Major-Generals Van Dorn and Price, and the officers and soldiers under their command, for their valor, skill, and good conduct in the battle of Elkhorn; in the State of Arkansas, and of respect for the memory of Generals McCulloch and Mcintosh;
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And the Speaker signed the same.
Mr. Singleton offered
A joint resolution appointing a joint committee to wait upon the President and inform him that the two Houses of Congress would adjourn at 19 o'clock m., and to know if he had any further communication to make to Congress;
which was agreed to.
The Chair announced as the committee on the part of the House:
Messrs. Singleton of Mississippi, Gentry of Tennessee. and Holt of Georgia.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed, without amendment, a bill of this House of the following title, viz:
On motion of Mr. Davis, the House resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session.
Mr. Davis moved to suspend the rules to allow him to introduce a resolution.
Mr. Kenner demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Davis.
Nays: Ashe, Ayer, Barksdale, Batson, Bell, Benham, Boteler, Breckinridge, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Chilton, Clopton, Conrad, Conrow, Cooke, Currin, Davidson, Dawkins, De Jarnette, Elliott, Farrow, Foote, Gaither, Gardenhire, Gartrell, Goode, Graham, Gray, Hanly, Harris, Hartridge, Heiskell, Herbert, Hilton, Holcombe, Holt, Jenkins, Johnston, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Lander, Lewis, Machen, McDowell, McLean, McRae, McQueen, Miles, Moore, Perkins, Preston, Pugh, Rails, Read, Royston, Sexton, Singleton, Smith of North Carolina, Staples, Strickland, Swan, Welsh, Wilcox, Wright, of Texas, and Mr. Speaker.
So the motion was lost.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate has refused to concur in the amendment of the House to the Senate bill to exempt certain persons from enrollment for service in the armies of the Confederate States.
Mr. Heiskell offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Clerk of this House detail a sufficient force to make out a tabular statement of the bills passed this House for the last ten days, date of passage, time of transmission to the Senate, what bills have been reported back, when; what have been enrolled, when, and what have been approved by the President and when, and that he have the same ready immediately for the inspection of the members.
That at all future sessions the clerk shall keep a docket in the manner above indicated and have the same kept up from day to day for the inspection of members;
which was read and agreed to.
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Mr. Gaither moved the House take up from the table for consideration a resolution offered by him yesterday, calling upon the President for information respecting the seizure of private arms in the State of North Carolina.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Harris, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported A bill to around an act to authorize payment to be made for certain horses purchased for the Army by Col. A. W. McDonald, approved August 31, 1861;
which was read the first and second times.
The rules were suspended;
The bill was taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed. On motion of Mr. Heiskell, the House resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session;
When,
A message was received from the President, by his Private Secretary, Mr. Harrison; which informed the House that
The President has to-day approved and same the following acts:
Mr. Miles moved to suspend the rules in order to introduce a joint resolution.
Mr. Foote called for the yeas and nays thereon;
Which being ordered
Yeas: Ashe, Bell, Benham, Boteler, Horatio W. Bruce, Chambliss, Conrad, Currin, Davis, De Jarnette, Elliott, Foote, Gardenhire, Goode, Graham. Gray, Harris, Heiskell, Hilton, Holcombe, Jenkins, Johnston, Lander, Lewis, Machen, Marshall, McDowell, McRae, McQueen, Miles, Moore Perkins Preston Pugh, Read, Sexton, Singleton, Staples, Swan, Vest, Welsh, Wilcox, Wright of Texas, and Mr. Speaker.
Nays: Ayer, Batson, Breckinridge, Burnett, Chilton, Conrow, Davidson, Dawkins, Farrow, Gaither, Gartrell, Hanly, Hartridge, Herbert, Holt, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, McLean, Ralls, Royston, Smith of North Carolina, and Strickland.
So the motion was lost.
Mr. Singleton, from the joint committee appointed to wait on the President, reported that the committee had performed that duty.
On motion of Mr. Miles,
The House took up for consideration a Senate bill to exempt certain persons from enrollment in the armies of the Confederate States.
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Mr. Swan moved that the House insist on its amendment, disagreed to by the Senate.
Mr. Miles moved that the House recede from its amendment.
The question being on insisting,
Mr. Marshall called for the yeas and nays;
Which being ordered.
Yeas: Aver, Batson, Bell, Bonham, Boteler, Breckinridge, Chambliss, Davidson, De Jarnette, Farrow, Foote, Gaither, Hanly, Hilton, Holcombe Johnston, Jones, Kenner, Marshall, McQueen, Menees, Staples, Perkins, Pugh, Ralls, Royston, Smith of Ninth Carolina, Swan, and Welsh.
Nays: Ashe, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Chilton, Clopton, Conrad, Conrow, Currin, Dawkins, Elliott, Gardenhire, Gartrell, Gentry, Graham, Gray, Harris, Hartridge, Heiskell, Herbert, Holt, Jenkins, Kenan of North Carolina, Lander, Lewis, Machen, McDowell, McLean, McRae, Miles, Moore, Read, Sexton, Strickland, Vest, Wilcox, Wright of Texas, and Mr. Speaker.
So the motion was lost.
Mr. Ashe moved to reconsider the vote just taken.
Mr. Singleton moved to lay the motion to reconsider on the table, and called the question thereon.
The motion to lay on the table was lost.
Mr. Heiskell demanded the question, which was upon the motion to reconsider, and which being ordered, the motion prevailed.
Mr. Hilton demanded the question; which was ordered, and was upon the motion of Mr. Swan that the House insist on its amendment.
The motion prevailed.
The Speaker signed the following bill, reported by Mr. Elliott, of the Committee on Enrolled Bills, as correctly enrolled:
A bill to amend an act entitled "An act to amend an act recognizing the existence of war between the United States and the Confederate States, and concerning letters of marque, prizes and prize goods," approved May 21, 1861.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed joint resolutions and a bill of the following titles, viz:
A message was received from the President, by his Private Secretary, Mr. Harrison; which informed the House that
The President, on the 19th instant, approved and signed the following acts:
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A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash, as follows:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have directed to be returned to this House a duplicate engrossed bill of the House of Representatives, the original of which had been previously sent to the Senate and was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs of the Senate and by that committee reported upon, passed by the Senate, and brought back this morning to the House of Representatives, the title of which is as follows, viz:
The Chair laid before the House a message from the President; which is as follows, to wit:
Executive Department, April 21, 1862.
To the honorable the House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, covering an estimate of an appropriation required to carry into effect an act therein mentioned.
I recommend that an appropriation be made of the sum, and for the purposes specified.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Treasury Department, Richmond, Va., April 19, 1862.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herein, to be transmitted to Congress, an estimate of an appropriation required to carry into effect "An act to authorize the exchange of bonds for articles in kind, and the shipment, sale, or hypothecation of such articles."
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. G. MEMMINGER,
Secretary of the Treasury.
To the President.
Estimate of an appropriation required to carry into effect "An act to authorize the exchange of bonds for articles in kind, and the shipment, safe, or hypothecation of such articles."
For this amount, to cover the probable expenses of carrying into effect said act$2, 000,000
RO. TYLER, Register.
Treasury Department, Register's Office,
Richmond, Va., April 19, 1362.
Mr. Kenner, from the Committee on Ways and Means, by consent of the House, introduced
A bill making appropriations to carry into effect an act authorizing the exchange of bonds for articles in kind, and shipment, sale, or hypothecation of such articles;
which was read the first and second times, and the rules being suspended, was engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the President; which was read and laid on the table, and is as follows, to wit:
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States:
I deem it proper to inform you that a number of acts passed by the Congress were presented to me at a very late hour on Saturday night. I have examined them as carefully as the limited time at my disposal has permitted, and have returned nearly all of them with my approval. There are, however, three of them to which I have objections which it is impossible to communicate to you in writing within the few remaining hours of the session, and which will, therefore, fail to become laws. Happily, the acts in question are not of great public importance. Recognizing, as
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I do, the right of Congress to receive the fullest information from the Executive on all matters of legislation on which his concurrence is required by the Constitution, I have considered it more respectful to the Congress to make this statement of the cause which has prevented my action on these bills, than to retain them without assigning my reason for so doing.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Mr. Ralls, from the special committee appointed to visit the hospitals, made the following report; which was laid upon the table and ordered to be printed:
The committee appointed under a resolution of this House, authorizing an examination into the Medical Department of the Army, to inquire into the practical workings of the system, and to point out abuses, if any are found to exist, etc., beg leave to present the following report:
The resolution is very comprehensive in its character, as it appears to open up the whole field connected with our military operations. Confined, however, as the committee have been, by the discharge of their regular duties as members of this body, they have only been enabled to make a personal examination of the hospitals in this city and its suburbs, and have been compelled to rely on other sources for information as to the workings of the system in the field.
We find that at this time there are some twenty hospitals in the city where sick and wounded soldiers are treated, and capable of accommodating some five or six thousand patients. They are partly under Government and State control, while others are under exclusive Government control. Those of them that are under State auspices receive rations or commutation therefor from the Government; the nurse hire is also paid and the medicines furnished. There is a scarcity of medicines to a considerable extent, and those having charge of State hospitals occasionally make purchases in addition to what is furnished them. The State hospitals are superior to those of the Government in two respects. We found the bedding more clean, and a greater amount of what might be called delicacies for the sick, as from the liberal State and private contributions a larger fund has been furnished with which to make purchases. In all the hospitals there was found to be sufficient cleanliness in the floors and walls and in the culinary department; or we might use stronger language and say that in all these respects they are worthy of commendation. The same remark will apply to the food furnished, it being good in quality and well prepared. In all, too, so far as we could judge, the sick are kindly treated, and do not suffer for want of attention. The chief ground of complaint in the Government hospitals, with the exceptions presently to be named, was the want of cleanliness in the bedding; the sheets in many instances evidently being used too long without being changed.
While the Bird's Island Hospital, in common with other Government hospitals, is obnoxious to this criticism, we also found the vessels used in its wards, such as spittoons, etc., to receive too little attention, and to be somewhat offensive. The Government hospitals that, in the particulars on which we are commenting, received the approval of the committee, are the General, the Banner, and Royster's Factory. The latter we mention particularly as being a model of neatness, and as reflecting great credit on those who have it in charge. We mention this with the greater pleasure, as it affords convincing proof that the present regulations, if properly enforced, are amply sufficient to afford our sick and wounded soldiers all the "aid and comfort" they could reasonably expect to find short of home. The attention of the committee was specially called to two very important subjects, to wit: discharges and furloughs. The present system of procuring discharges is, in the unanimous opinion of the committee, very objectionable. The plan now adopted is as follows: The surgeon makes application to the Surgeon-General; if the Surgeon-General approves of the application he makes his indorsement, and it is then forwarded to the captain under whom the sick man serves. He is expected also to approve, as well as the colonel and the general commanding, in which case an order for the discharge of the applicant is issued and addressed to the hospital surgeon. Thus it will be seen the whole process is tedious, in the opinion of the committee wholly unnecessary, and wholly inefficient. Indeed, if the intention had been to keep disabled soldiers as long as possible in the wards of a hospital, breathing the impure air of such places, then the present system is one that is entitled to preference over all others, as it most effectually accomplishes that object. We call special attention to the following objections to this system, as above detailed. In the first place we would remark that the army officers are incapable of judging of the propriety or impropriety of the discharges, because of the fact that they have not seen the patient for weeks, it may be for months, and can not, therefore, in the very nature of the case, have any personal knowledge of the condition of such patient. Again, the
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delay which must, of necessity, result, as the experience of the last six months proves. The Army is frequently moving, so that the application often fails to reach the military officer; or the officer may himself be sick, so as to be unable to attend to the matter; or, his attention being taken up with other matters that he may perchance consider of pressing importance, the papers are laid inside for the time being, or perhaps are entirely forgotten and never acted on at all, or until the attention of the officer is again called to the matter by the intervention of some friend of the sick man. At any rate, your committee have seen patients in the hospitals of the city utterly broken down in health, and who, notwithstanding the recommendation of both the surgeon and the Surgeon-General, have waited in vain for months for a release from their present uncomfortable position. Both the interests of the service and the consideration of humanity imperatively demand that some more effectual mode of procuring discharges should be adopted.
It is now, too, exceedingly difficult to procure a furlough, while the committee are satisfied that cogent reasons may be given for the adoption of a more liberal policy in this matter. There are many convalescents who will still be in the hospitals weeks before being able to do duty. These patients would recover much more rapidly if on furlough, breathing the purer air and receiving the kinder attentions of home. The beds thus vacated could be appropriated to other patients, thus greatly increasing the capacity of the hospitals to accommodate a greater number of patients in a given time. One other fact is worthy of attention. It is now universally conceded that typhoid fever is, to a certain extent, a contagious affection. Now it often happens that convalescents from other diseases, as they linger for some time about the hospitals before being able to return to service, contract this serious malady, and in too many instances succumb under it. The testimony of the surgeons is uniform on this point. It is, then, in the opinion of the committee, much to be desired that relief should, in this respect, be extended to our sick and suffering soldiers.
The committee would also call attention to one or two matters connected with the medical department in the field.
We think that the present arrangement allowing only one surgeon and one assistant surgeon is not sufficient to meet the wants of the service. The committee forbear, however, to enlarge on this point, but will only state that the Surgeon-General concurs in this opinion, and recommends that an additional assistant surgeon should be appointed for every regiment.
On inquiry, we find that the transportation for medical stores is insufficient. The wagons that were furnished for this purpose to the Army of the Potomac have been used to a great extent for hauling wood and other articles, and the result has been that the wagons have been broken, and now there is scarcely any transportation of the kind, and a large amount of medicines, bandages, etc., have been, at various times, abandoned or destroyed. As a remedy, we would suggest that the use of such wagons should be limited absolutely to the transportation of medical stores.
The committee have thus given a fair and impartial statement of facts, and have made such suggestions as, in our opinion, would promote the public weal and add to the comfort and efficiency of those brave and patriotic men on whom the country relies in this hour of trial.
All of which is most respectfully submitted.
J.P. RALLS,
Chairman Committee.
The Speaker signed the following bills, reported by Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, as correctly enrolled:
Joint resolution to provide for the payment of stationery purchased for the Provisional Congress;
A bill to increase the facilities of importing goods, wares, and merchandise into the ports of the Confederate States;
Joint resolution to authorize the Joint Committee on Public Buildings to rent rooms for the Treasury Department; and
A bill to be entitled "An act supplementary to an act further to provide for the public defense."
Mr. Barksdale offered
A resolution that the joint resolution of the two Houses declaring that Congress adjourn on Monday, the 21st of April, at 12 o'clock m., be so amended as to read at 2 o'clock p. m.,
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and called the question thereon; which being ordered, the same was agreed to.
Mr. Sexton introduced
A bill for granting discharges to disabled soldiers;
which was read the first and second times and ordered to be placed on the Calendar and printed.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate insist upon their disagreement to the amendment of this House to the bill of the Senate (S. 41) entitled "A bill to exempt certain persons from enrollment for service in the armies of the Confederate States," ask a conference with the House upon the disagreeing votes of the two Houses thereon, and have appointed Messrs. Yancey, Semmes, and Henry managers on the part of the Senate at said conference.
Mr. Foote moved that the House insist on its amendment, disagreed to by the Senate, to a bill to exempt certain persons from enrollment for service in the armies of the Confederate States, and agree to appoint a committee of conference.
The motion prevailed; and
The Speaker appointed, on the part of the House, as said committee:
Messrs. Marshall of Louisiana, Smith of North Carolina, and Chilton of Alabama.
On motion of Mr. Kenner, the House resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session;
When,
Mr. Ashe moved a suspension of the rules in order to introduce a resolution in relation to rescinding the resolution of adjournment.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Ashe moved to suspend the rules to allow Mr. McQueen to make a report from the Committee on Accounts.
The motion was lost.
A message was received from the President, by his Private Secretary, Mr. Harrison, informing the House that the President on the 19th instant approved and signed the following acts:
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The Speaker signed the following bill, reported by Mr. Elliott, of the Committee on Enrolled Bills, as correctly enrolled:
A bill to organize battalions of sharpshooters.
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 they ask the concurrence of this House.
Mr. Miles, by consent, offered
A joint resolution extending the time of adjournment to 3 o'clock; which was agreed to.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have concurred in the resolution of this House to extend the session of the two Houses of Congress to the hour of 3 o'clock p. m.
On motion, the House resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session.
The hour fixed for adjournment having arrived,
The Speaker declared the House adjourned until the third Monday in August next.
SECRET SESSION.
The House being in secret session,
Mr. Davis offered the following resolution, to wit:
Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States, That the President is hereby authorized, and required without excuse, to direct Generals Johnston and Magruder to attack the enemy at Yorktown, on to-morrow.
On motion of Mr. Jones, the House resolved itself into open session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into secret session.
Mr. Clopton, from the Committee on Claims, reported the following resolution; which was read and agreed to:
Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives is directed to pay out of the contingent fund the bills of R. McDonald and George Ruskell for specimen flags furnished by order of the Committee of the Provisional and Permanent Congress.
A message was received from the Senate, by the hands of the Secretary of that body, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of this House of the following title, viz:
The Speaker signed the following bill, reported by Mr. --, of the Committee on Enrollment, as correctly enrolled:
A bill to be entitled "An act making appropriations to carry into effect an act authorizing the exchange of bonds for articles in kind, and the shipment, sale, or hypothecation of such articles."
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Mr. Perkins moved to suspend the rules for the purpose of introducing
A bill to enable the President to purchase, at home or abroad, arms and ironclad vessels and munitions of war, and to contract for the means of raising the existing blockade by employing for this purpose any portion of the cotton crop pledged to the Government, or of funds heretofore appropriated to our military defenses.
The motion did not prevail.
A message was received from the Senate, by the hands of the Secretary of that body, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: I am directed to inform the House of Representatives that the Senate have agreed to the resolution of this House to extend the session until 2 o'clock p. m. this day.
Mr. Jones moved that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the proceedings of the House in relation to the bill to provide further for the public defense, approved April 16, 1862.
Mr. Clopton moved to amend the motion by applying the same to the bill amendatory of said act.
The amendment was lost.
And the question being upon agreeing to the motion of Mr. Jones,
The same was lost.
A message was received from the Senate, by the hands of Mr. Nash, Secretary of that body; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed, without amendment, a bill of this House of the following title, viz:
Mr. Miles moved that the President be requested to return to the House a bill to organize battalions of sharpshooters.
The motion was agreed to.
And Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported
A bill to organize battalions of sharpshooters;
which was read first and second [times], engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
A message was received from the Senate, by the hands of the Secretary of that body, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed, without amendment, a bill of this House of the following title, viz:
Mr. Smith of North Carolina, from the committee of the House appointed to confer with a similar committee of the Senate upon the disagreement of the two Houses on an amendment of the House to a Senate bill declaring what persons shall be exempt from enrollment for military service, reported that the committee had come to no conclusion.
Mr. Chilton moved that the House recede from its amendment.
Upon which Mr. Conrad demanded the yeas and nays; and
The demand being sustained,
Yeas: Barksdale, Bell, Boteler, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Chilton, Clopton, Conrad, Conrow, Currin, Dawkins, De Jarnette, Elliott, Gardenhire,
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Gartrell, Graham, Gray, Harris, Hartridge, Heiskell, Hilton, Holt, Johnston, Kenan of North Carolina, Lander, Lewis, Lyons, Machen, McDowell, McLean, McRae, Moore, Preston, Pugh, Ralls, Royston, Singleton, Strickland, Vest, Wilcox, Wright of Texas, and Mr. Speaker.
Nays: Ashe, Ayer, Batson, Bonham, Breckinridge, Chambliss, Davidson Davis Farrow, Foote, Gaither, Gentry, Goode, Herbert, Holcombe, Jones, Kenner, Marshall, McQueen, Menees, Miles, Perkins, Sexton, Smith of North Carolina, and Welsh.
So the House receded from its amendment.
A message was received from the Senate, by the hands of the Secretary of that body, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate adheres to its disagreement to the amendment of this House to the bill of the Senate (S. 41) entitled "A bill to exempt certain persons from enrollment for service in the armies of the Confederate States."
A message was received from the President, by his Private Secretary, Mr. Harrison; which is as follows, to wit:
To the honorable the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Mr. Speaker: The President has to-day approved and signed the following acts:
A message was received from the Senate, by the hands of Mr. Nash, the Secretary of that body; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of this House of the following title, viz:
Mr. Heiskell moved to suspend the rules for the purpose of introducing a resolution.
Upon which motion Mr. Foote demanded the yeas and nays; and
The demand being sustained,
Yeas: Boteler, Horatio W. Bruce, Chilton, Clopton, Conrow, Currin, Elliott, Gardenhire, Gartrell, Gentry, Goode, Graham, Hanly, Harris, Hartridge, Heiskell, Holcombe, Jenkins, Kenan of North Carolina, Lander, Lewis, Lyons, McDowell, McLean, McRae, Preston, Pugh, Ralls, Sexton, Singleton, Strickland, Swan, Vest, and Wright of Texas.
Nays: Ashe, Barksdale, Bonham, Breckinridge, Burnett, Davidson, Davis, Dawkins, Farrow, Foote, Gaither, Gray, Herbert, Hilton, Holt, Jones, Machen, Marshall, McQueen, Miles, Moore, Perkins, Read, Royston, Smith of North Carolina, Welsh, Wilcox, and Mr. Speaker.
So the motion did not prevail.
The Speaker signed a bill to exempt certain persons from enrollment
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for military service in the armies of the Confederate States, reported by Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Enrollment, as correctly engrossed and enrolled.
On motion of Mr. Moore, the House resolved itself into open session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into secret session;
When,
Mr. Miles reported from the Military Committee
A bill to amend an act entitled "An act to further provide for the public defense," approved 16th April, 1862;
which was read first and second [times], engrossed, read third time, and passed.
Mr. Ashe moved to suspend the rules to introduce a resolution.
And upon a division of the House, it appeared that no quorum was present.
The Speaker signed a bill to amend an act further to provide for the public defense, approved April 16, 1862, reported by Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Enrollment, as correctly engrossed and enrolled.
A message was received from the Senate, by the hands of Mr. Nash, the Secretary of that body; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The President, on the 19th instant, approved and signed the following acts originating in the Senate:
The President has to-day approved and signed the following acts:
A message was received from the President, by the hands of his Private Secretary, Mr. Harrison; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The President has to-day approved and signed an act entitled "An act to organize battalions of sharpshooters."
The Speaker signed the following bill, reported by Mr.--, of the Committee on Enrollment, as correctly enrolled:
A bill to be entitled "An act to amend an act to authorize payment to be made for certain horses purchased for the Army by Colonel A. W. McDonald, approved August twenty-first, eighteen hundred and sixty-one."
On motion,
The House resolved itself into open session.
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