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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 --NINTH DAY--WEDNESDAY, August 27, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Seeley.
The Chair announced as the committee under the resolution of Mr. Garnett to appoint a committee to inquire into the expediency of appointing additional standing committees:
Messrs. Heiskell of Tennessee, Russell of Virginia, Trippe of Georgia, Barksdale of Mississippi, Chilton of Alabama, and Vest of Missouri.
Mr. Villeré offered
A resolution that the President be requested to transmit to this House copies of the reports made by Maj. Gen. Mansfield Lovell, Brigadier-General Duncan, and Lieutenant-Colonel Higgins, in relation to the defense and capture of New Orleans and the surrender of Forts Jackson and St. Philip;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Davis offered
A resolution that each member of this House appropriate his per diem pay for the next two days for the relief of the sick and wounded in the various hospitals in and around the city of Richmond, Va., and that the fund so raised be deposited with the Speaker to be distributed equally among the hospitals in this city.
The resolution was lost.
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Mr. Chambers introduced
A bill to exempt overseers in certain cases from military service; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a bill to amend an act to authorize the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in certain cases; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Barksdale offered
A resolution that the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill increasing the pay of those engaged in the naval service of the Government, with a view to facilitating and promoting enlistments;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Vest offered joint resolutions of thanks to Commodore J. E. Montgomery and the officers and soldiers [men] under his command for gallant and meritorious services on the 10th of May and 6th of June, 1862;
which were read the first and second times and, the rules being suspended, were taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. McLean presented a memorial from the Society of Friends, asking exemption from military service; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, without being read.
Mr. Davidson presented the petition of sundry citizens of North Carolina, asking the exemption of administrators and executors from military service; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, without being read.
Mr. Bonham offered
A resolution that the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads ascertain whether the force in the post-office at this place is sufficient to distribute daily and promptly the mail matter arriving and deposited in it, and whether any and what legislation is needed, and that they report by bill or otherwise;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Miles introduced
A bill to provide for horses killed in action;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Miles offered
A resolution that the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of separating the Pay and Quartermaster Departments of the Army, and of creating a separate department charged, under the superintendence and control of the Secretary of War, with the duty of providing clothing for the Army;
which was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Foote, the House took up for consideration a resolution offered by him in relation to the conduct of the war.
Mr. Foote moved to amend the same by adding thereto the following:
Resolved, That it be further recommended to the President that he will also, if consistent with his own views of propriety, embody in said proclamation an assurance that if the people of the Northwestern States shall conclude to desist as before mentioned from further participation in the pending war, the Confederate States of America will enter into a reciprocity commercial treaty with them, opening at once upon the most liberal and equitable terms the markets of the South to such of said States as shall agree to enter into this arrangement: Provided, however, That no State
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of the present United States lying east of the eastern boundary line of the State of Ohio shall be allowed to participate in the advantages which may be reasonably expected to accrue from said commercial treaty.
The resolution and amendment were referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Foote offered
A resolution that a special committee, to be composed of one member from each of the States here represented, be appointed by the Speaker, whose duty it shall be to investigate thoroughly the present condition of the departments of the Quartermaster-General and of the Commissary-General, with power to examine all the accounts of said departments, the contracts entered into with all individuals in connection with the public service, to ascertain how much money has been heretofore paid out by each of those departments and to whom; what subordinate officers, if any, have been signally delinquent in duty or have become defaulters to the Government; what losses have heretofore occurred in either of said departments either in money or property, and the cause thereof; the result of which scrutiny said committee shall from time to time report to this House and recommend such additional legislation as said committee shall suppose to be necessary for improving the efficiency of said departments and enforcing the promptest and most complete responsibility; and said committee shall have power to send for persons and papers, when in their judgment it shall be necessary, and shall also have power to sit during the recess of Congress;
which was, on motion of Mr. Garnett, referred to the special committee to inquire into the expediency of appointing additional standing committees.
Mr. Foote introduced
A joint resolution in relation to the Hon. S. R. Mallory;
which was read the first and second times.
Mr. Kenan of Georgia moved that the consideration of the resolution be postponed indefinitely.
Mr. Swan moved that the resolution be laid on the table.
Mr. Foote demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Barksdale, Batson, Horatio W. Bruce, Eli M. Bruce, Chambers, Chambliss, Chilton, Chrisman, Clapp, Clark, Collier, Conrow, Crockett, Currin, Dargan, De Jarnette, Ewing, Foster, Freeman, Garnett, Goode, Hanly, Harris, Holt, Johnston, Jones, Kenan of Georgia, Kenan of North Carolina, Lander, Lewis, Lyons, Machen, McRae, Munnerlyn, Pugh, Ralls, Royston, Singleton, Smith of Alabama, Strickland, Swan, Tibbs, Welsh, Wilcox, Wright of Georgia, Wright of Tennessee, and Mr. Speaker.
Nays: Arrington, Ashe, Aver, Bonham, Boteler, Boyce, Bridgers, Clopton, Conrad, Cooke, Curry, Davidson, Davis, Dupré, Foote, Gaither, Gartrell, Graham, Gray, Hartridge, Heiskell, Hilton, Holcombe, Kenner, Lyon, Marshall, McDowell, McLean, McQueen, Miles, Moore, Perkins, Preston, Read, Russell, Sexton, Smith of North Carolina, Trippe, Vest, Villeré, and Wright of Texas.
So the resolution was laid upon the table.
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Mr. Foote offered
A resolution that a committee, to be composed of a member from each State, be appointed, whose duty it shall be thoroughly to investigate the affairs of the Navy Department.
Mr. Barksdale moved to amend the same by striking out all after the word "Resolved" and inserting in lieu thereof the following words, viz:
by the Senate and House of Representatives. That a joint select committee of on the part of the Senate and five on the part of the House be appointed to investigate the administration of the Navy Department under its present head, with power to send for persons and papers, and to report the results of said investigation to the two Houses, respectively.
Mr. Barksdale called for the question: which being ordered, the amendment was agreed to, and the resolution as amended was agreed to.
Mr. Conrad moved that the vote by which the resolution was agreed to be reconsidered.
Mr. Royston called the question thereon; which was ordered, and the motion was lost.
On motion of Mr. Chambers,
The House then adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.
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