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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 --SIXTH DAY--SATURDAY, August 23, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Bishop Early.
On motion of Mr. Holt, the rules were suspended to enlarge the Committee on Commerce by the addition of one member; and
The Chair appointed Mr. Hartridge thereon.
On motion, leave of absence was granted Mr. Royston, on account of sickness in his family.
Mr. Miles introduced
A bill to authorize the grant of medals as a reward for courage and good conduct on the field of battle;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a bill changing the organization of the Engineer Corps of the Provisional Army; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a bill to authorize the appointment of additional officers of artillery for ordnance duties: which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a bill concerning partisan rangers; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a bill to regulate promotion in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States, and to amend the act entitled "An act to further provide for the public defense," approved April 16, 1862; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a bill to increase and regulate the appointment of general officers in the Provisional Army; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Gartrell introduced
A bill amendatory of an act entitled "An act concerning the transportation of soldiers, and allowance for clothing of volunteers," etc., approved May 21, 1861;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Bonham offered joint resolutions of thanks to Col. Thomas G. Lamar and the officers and men engaged in the battle of Secessionville; which was read the first and second times, and the rules being suspended, the resolution was taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed unanimously.
Mr. Villeré offered joint resolutions in relation to P. Soulé; which were read the first and second times and, the rules being suspended, were taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Clopton moved a suspension of the rules to enable the Chair to enlarge the Committee on Naval Affairs by the addition of one member.
The motion prevailed; and
The Chair appointed Mr. Hodge thereon.
On motion of Mr. Jones of Tennessee, the House then resolved itself into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Curry being in the chair; and having spent some time therein, the committee rose and Mr. Curry reported that the Committee of the Whole had had under consideration
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the President's message and accompanying documents, and reported thereon the following resolutions, to wit:
Resolved, That so much of the President's message and accompanying documents as relates to finance be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
That so much as relates to the Army be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
That so much as relates to the Navy be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
That so much as relates to the indian nations be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs;
which were read and agreed to.
Mr. Barksdale, by the consent of the House, introduced joint resolutions of thanks to Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn and the officers and soldiers under his command and the citizens of Vicksburg, Miss.; which were read the first and second times and, the rules being suspended, were taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Clopton offered
A resolution that the Committee on Ways and Means be instructed to inquire and report what further legislation, if any, is necessary to protect the Government and people of the Confederate States against the disastrous consequences of a counterfeited currency;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Chilton offered
A resolution that the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting such amendment to the bill usually called the conscript law as shall provide for exempting or detailing from military service such number of physicians as shall be necessary to provide for the families of our soldiers and our citizens sufficient medical aid, also a sufficient number of persons to keep in subjection our slaves and direct their industrial pursuits;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Hanly offered
A resolution instructing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into existing laws and regulations of the War Department pertaining to the payment of the monthly pay and commutation money of the men and noncommissioned officers of our Army, and report to this House whether in their opinion any change is necessary to insure prompt payment of the same, and if so, that they be directed to report by bill at their earliest convenience;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Lewis presented the memorial of sundry citizens of Georgia in relation to the pay of collectors of the war tax; which was referred to the Special Committee on the War Tax, without being read.
Mr. Strickland offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for carrying into effect the fifth clause of the eighth section of the first article of the Constitution, and also of putting in operation the mint at Dahlonega in the State of Georgia; and report by bill or otherwise;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Hartridge introduced
A bill to amend an act approved February 15, 1862, entitled "An act to alter and amend an act entitled 'An act for the sequestration of the estates, property, and effects of alien enemies,'" etc.;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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Mr. Munnerlyn presented the petition of sundry citizens of Georgia in relation to Sunday mails; which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, without being read.
Mr. Trippe offered joint resolutions in relation to the discharge of noncommissioned officers and privates in certain cases; which were read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Jones of Tennessee moved that the House reconsider the vote by which the resolution offered by Mr. Clopton in reference to protecting the Government and people against counterfeit currency was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The motion prevailed.
Mr. Jones moved to amend the same by striking out the words "Ways and Means" and inserting in lieu thereof the word "Judiciary."
The motion prevailed, and the resolution as amended was agreed to.
Mr. Read offered
A resolution that the office of sergeant-at-arms be created, and that this House proceed to the election of that officer on Monday, the 25th instant, at 12 o'clock m.;
which was, on motion of Mr. Gartrell, laid on the table.
Mr. Moore introduced joint resolutions of thanks to Major-General Breckinridge and his army; which were read the first and second times and, the rules being suspended, were taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Crockett offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to report to this House, at as early a day as practicable, from the most reliable statistics or other information accessible to them, the number of additional troops that will be raised in the Confederate States by so amending what is commonly known as the "conscript law" as to make it embrace all between the ages of thirty-five and forty-five years;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Machen offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be requested to inquire into the practical operations of the law of exemptions, as applicable to manufactures within the Confederacy, and that they report to this House whether or not abuses have not occurred under said law by the employment in manufactures of many able-bodied citizens liable to military duty to the exclusion of slave labor, when that kind of labor has been superabundant in the region where the manufactory was located;
which was agreed to.
Mr. Dupré introduced
A bill to provide further compensation of collectors of the war tax in States which have assumed the payment thereof, and for other purposes;
which was read the first and second times, referred to the Special Committee on the War Tax, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Dupré presented the memorial of Joseph A. McCoy, of Louisiana, in relation to bids for carrying the mails;
which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, without being read.
Mr. Villeré introduced
A bill granting certain powers to generals;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Perkins offered
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A resolution instructing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the propriety of providing by law for the relief from duty in the civil service of the Government, and as clerks in the Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments of the Army, of all persons between the ages of 18 and 35, and supplying their places with those who are disqualified for active military duty by reason of disability incurred in service in the Army or otherwise;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Singleton offered
A resolution that the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of, so amending "the conscript act" as that whenever a substitute for any person subject to military duty, under said act, shall desert from the service, then the principal shall again return to duty as though no substitute had been offered and accepted;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Welsh introduced
A bill to repeal all laws and parts of laws authorizing the employment of substitutes in the armies of the Confederate States;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Bell introduced
A bill to provide for raising and organizing in the State of Missouri additional forces for the Provisional Army of the Confederate States; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Harris offered
A resolution that the President be requested to inform this House, if not incompatible with the public interests, the number of men held to military service in the Confederate States, the number on sick or other furlough, the number of employees and staff officers drawing pay in the military service, the number of surgeons and assistant surgeons, the number of medical officers on sick or other leave and detached service, the number of sick in hospitals and the number of beds or extent of hospital accommodation, the number and kind of arms and equipment issued and not issued, the number and kinds of arms manufactured in the Confederate States, with the average cost of such manufactured arms;
which was read and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Smith of North Carolina, offered
A resolution that the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of so amending the law relating to the counterfeiting and circulating Treasury notes, and other securities of the Confederate Government, as to provide adequate punishment for the introduction within the Confederate States, the purchasing, receiving, and having in possession such counterfeit notes and other securities, knowing the same to be forged and with intent to put them in circulation, and that they report by bill or otherwise;
which was read and agreed to.
The Chair laid before the House a message from the President, inclosing the report of Maj. Gen. George B. Crittenden of the battle of Fishing Creek; which was read and laid upon the table.
Mr. Chambliss introduced
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A bill for the relief of the collector of the port at Norfolk and Portsmouth;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Lyons offered the following resolution, to wit:
Resolved, That it is improper to use wheat as food for the homes and mules of the Army, and that the Secretary of War be requested to take such steps as may be necessary to prevent such use of it;
which was read.
Mr. Jones called for the question on agreeing to the resolution; which was ordered.
Mr. McLean moved that the House do now adjourn.
The motion was lost, and the resolution was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Elliott,
The House then adjourned until 12 o'clock Monday.
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