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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 --TWENTY-FIFTH DAY--MONDAY, September 15, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Doggett.
The House then proceeded to the consideration of the unfinished business of the morning hour, which was a resolution offered by Mr. Ashe in relation to the amount required to meet claims on the Government for vessels and other property seized for its use; and the same was agreed to.
Mr. Clark offered
A resolution that the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the propriety of limiting by law the discretion of the Secretary of War under the conscript act, and by what authority he declares a substitute becoming liable to conscription renders his principal also liable unless exempt on other grounds, as in General Orders, No. 64; and that said committee report by bill or otherwise.
On agreeing to the resolution, Mr. Foote called the question; which being ordered, the resolution was adopted.
Mr. Chrisman presented a design for a Confederate flag from S. M. Wilson, of Georgia; which was referred to the Committee on Flag and Seal.
Mr. H. W. Bruce offered
A resolution that the Secretary of War is hereby requested to inform this House whether there have been transmitted to him any findings of courts provided for in the act entitled "An act to punish drunkenness in the Army," approved April 21, 1862, and if there have, to report the same to Congress.
On the question of agreeing to the resolution, Mr. Foote called for the question; which was ordered, and the resolution was agreed to.
Mr. Crockett presented the memorial of Lieut. Thomas Arnold, praying a release for money lost; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Breckinridge offered
A resolution that the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing at different points in the Confederacy asylums for indigent and maimed soldiers who have been
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discharged from service on account of wounds or chronic disease, and report the result of their investigations to this House;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Conrad introduced
A joint resolution to provide a homestead for the officers and privates of the Army of the Confederate States: which was read the first and second times.
On the question of reference of the resolution, Mr. Foote demanded the question; which was ordered, and the resolution was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Gartrell, by consent, offered a design for a Confederate flag from S. Root, of Georgia; which was referred to the Committee on Flag and Seal.
Mr. Perkins offered
A resolution that the Secretary of the Treasury be requested to inform this House what legislation, if any, is required to facilitate his Department in meeting the requisitions of the proper officers upon the Treasury;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Dupré introduced
A bill to increase the salaries of certain civil officers of the Confederate Government at Richmond;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Dupré offered
A resolution that the President be requested to report to this House the reasons which thus far have prevented the carrying of the mails from the States east of the Mississippi to the State of Louisiana west of that river, and particularly that portion of the State south of the Red River;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Marshall presented a memorial of Thomas H. Williams in relation to the Medical Department; which was referred to the Committee on the Medical Department, without being read.
Mr. Clapp presented the memorial of sundry citizens of Mississippi in relation to Sunday mails; which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, without being read.
Mr. Welsh offered
A resolution that the President be requested to inform this House whether any authority exists in the military commanders of departments or divisions to institute a commission to examine officers in military tactics, who may have been elected by volunteer companies or regiments, and to deny to such officers the right to exercise the functions of the office to which they may have been elected if the decision of such commission is unfavorable to such officers;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Vest introduced joint resolutions in regard to the protection of persons in arms against the United States but not enrolled in the Confederate Army, and to secure the exchange or release of certain persons held as prisoners by the enemy; which were read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:
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Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of the following title, viz:
Also, a resolution for the adjournment of Congress on the 30th instant;
In which bill and resolution I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
Mr. Harris offered
A resolution that the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments and Military Transportation be instructed to inquire into any abuses arising in the military service of the Confederate States from officers drawing commutation in lieu of transportation in kind, and report by bill or otherwise;
which was read and agreed to.
Also, a resolution that the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments and Military Transportation be instructed to inquire into the expediency of allowing each commissioned officer in the field to draw one ration in kind, in addition to his pay; and to report by bill or otherwise; which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Harris also offered
A resolution that the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments and Military Transportation be instructed to inquire into the expediency of introducing the soup ration into the armies of the Confederate States and to the propriety of providing by systematic arrangement the supply of rations or provisions at the principal railroad depots and points of concentration to soldiers at commutation value;
which was read and agreed to.
The House then proceeded to the consideration of the order of the day, which was a bill to fill up existing companies, squadrons, battalions, regiments, etc.
The question being on the amendment of Mr. Smith of North Carolina,
Pending consideration of the same,
Mr. Gray, by consent, offered a memorial of Capt. Thomas Chubb, praying compensation for the use of a vessel, etc.; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Harris, by consent, offered
A resolution that the Committee on Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of levying an export duty upon cotton payable in coin, adequate to secure the payment of interest accruing upon the bonds of the Confederate States, and report by bill or otherwise;
which was read and agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Perkins, the rules were suspended to allow Mr. Miles to speak on the special order of the day.
A message was received from the President, by his Private Secretary, Mr. Harrison, informing the House that
On the 9th instant the President approved and signed a joint resolution of thanks to Capt. Raphael Semmes, officers and crew of the steamer Sumter.
On the 10th instant the President approved and signed an act entitled "An act making appropriations to comply with the provisions of certain acts of Congress," etc.
The question then being on the amendment of Mr. Smith of North Carolina to the first section of the bill,
Mr. Hanly asked that the vote be taken by yeas and nays.
The demand was sustained,
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Yeas: Arrington, Ashe, Atkins, Ayer, Bell, Bonham, Breckinridge, Bridgers, Clark, Clopton, Davidson, Dawkins, Dupré, Farrow, Foote, Garland, Gartrell, Gray, Hanly, Hilton, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Lander, Marshall, McDowell, McLean, McQueen, Menees, Perkins, Preston, Ralls, Read, Sexton, Smith of North Carolina, Strickland, Trippe, Villeré, Welsh, Wright of Texas, Wright of Tennessee, and Mr. Speaker.
Nays: Baldwin, Barksdale, Batson, Boyce, Horatio W. Bruce, Eli M. Bruce, Chambers, Chilton, Chrisman, Clapp, Collier, Conrad, Conrow, Currin, Curry, Dargan, Davis, De Jarnette, Elliott, Ewing, Gardenhire, Gentry, Goode, Hartridge, Heiskell, Hodge, Holt, Johnston, Kenan of Georgia, Kenner, Lyons, McRae, Miles, Munnerlyn, Pugh, Royston, Russell, Swan, Tibbs, Vest, and Wilcox.
So the amendment was lost.
Mr. Wright of Texas moved to amend the first section by adding at the end thereof the words
Provided, however, That all regiments raised under and by authority of the State of Texas and now in the service of said State for frontier defense are hereby exempted from the provisions and operations of this act.
Mr. Foote moved to amend the amendment of Mr. Wright of Texas by adding thereto the words
The provisions of this act shall not apply to any regiments, battalions, or companies organized and officered under State authority which the governor of the State to which said troops respectively appertain shall deem indispensably necessary to the defense and safety of said State.
Mr. Chambers moved that the further consideration of the bill and amendments be postponed until after the disposal of the next special order, which was a bill to exempt certain persons from military service.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Gardenhire called the question; which was ordered, and the amendment to the amendment was lost.
Mr. Hanly moved to amend the first section by adding thereto the words
Provided, That the President in calling into the service of the Confederate States troops under the provisions of this act shall apportion the troops thus to be called out among the several States, taking into consideration their population between the ages hereinbefore stated, and the number of troops already furnished to the Army under former acts.
Mr. Foote demanded the question; which was ordered, and the amendment of Mr. Wright of Texas was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Hodge,
The House adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.
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