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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 --THIRTY-SIXTH DAY--MONDAY, September 29, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Moore.
On motion, leave of absence was granted Messrs. Hedge, Read, and Munnerlyn.
The Chair laid before the House a message from the President; which is as follows, to wit:
I herewith transmit for your consideration communications from the Secretary of the Navy, submitting estimates in response to your resolutions of the 22d and 23d instant.
I recommend appropriations of the sums, for the purposes specified.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
which was read, and the estimates accompanying the same were referred to the committees of Ways and Means and Naval Affairs.
The Chair also presented a communication from the President: which is as follows, to wit:
I herewith transmit for your information a report from the Secretary of War upon the case of Charles K. Hyde, in response re your resolution of the 20th instant.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
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Mr. Baldwin moved that the message and accompanying documents be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, with instructions to inquire and report whether the claim of the President of the right to establish martial law requires any further action of Congress.
Mr. Foote moved to amend by instructing the committee to report without delay.
The motion was lost.
And the amendment of Mr. Baldwin was lost.
Mr. Heiskell moved that the message and its accompanying documents be laid upon the table and printed.
Mr. Swan called the question; which was ordered, and the motion was agreed to.
The Chair also presented a communication from the President; which is as follows, to wit:
I herewith transmit for your consideration a communication from the Secretary of War, submitting estimates to supply deficiencies in the appropriation for the Medical Department of the Army.
I recommend all appropriation of the amount, and for the purpose specified.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
On motion, the message and accompanying documents were referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The Chair also presented
A bill of the Senate to authorize the appointment of a chief constructor of the Navy;
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. Kenner moved that the rule requiring estimates to be printed before referred to committees be suspended, and called the question thereon; which was ordered, and the motion was agreed to.
The House then proceeded to the consideration of the special order, which was a bill to reorganize and promote the efficiency of the Medical Department of the Army.
The second section of the same being under consideration; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Clapp moved to amend the same by inserting after the word "twelve" the words "as the President may deem necessary;" which was agreed to.
The bill was then engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Royston, from the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, to whom was referred
A bill to authorize the Postmaster-General to employ special agents to secure the speedy and certain transportation of the mails across the Mississippi River in the Confederate States,
reported the same back, with the recommendation that it pass.
The rules were suspended;
The bill was taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Welsh, from the same committee, reported
A bill to establish certain post routes therein named;
which was read the first and second times.
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The rules were suspended;
The bill was taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
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 for extending the present session of Congress to Monday, the 6th day of October next, at 12 o'clock m.
Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported, as correctly enrolled and ready for the signature of the Speaker
A bill (No. 19) to be entitled "An act to amend acts Nos. 223 and 311 of the Provisional Congress, so as to authorize an extension of the time for selling property for taxes in default;" and
Also, a bill (No. 20) to be entitled "An act to amend the 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."
And the Speaker signed the same.
Mr. Clopton, from the Committee on Claims, to whom was referred
A bill for the relief of John Hunter, collector of customs and agent of the marine hospital at the port of Natchez, Miss.,
reported the same back, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and that it lie upon the table; which was agreed to.
Mr. Clopton, from the same committee, reported
A bill for the relief of John Hunter, collector of customs and agent of the marine hospital at the port of Natchez, Miss.;
which was read the first and second times.
The rules were suspended;
The bill was taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Clopton, from the same committee, to whom was referred
A bill making appropriation for the payment of certain interest due to the branch of the Bank of Tennessee at Memphis,
reported the same back, asked to be discharged from the further consideration of the seine, and that the bill lie on the table; which was agreed to.
Mr. Clopton, from the same committee, to whom was referred a memorial of sundry clerks in the Departments, asking an increase of pay, reported the same back, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means; which was agreed to.
Mr. Clapp, from the same committee, to whom was referred
A bill to provide for the removal or destruction of property in certain cases, and to perpetuate the testimony as to the value of property destroyed or injured during the pending war,
reported the same back, with the recommendation that it pass, with an amendment.
The bill was ordered to be printed and made the special order for Wednesday next.
Mr. Chilton, from the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments and Military Transportation, reported
A bill to enable the President of the Confederate States to provide the means of military transportation by the construction of a railroad between Blue Mountain, in the State of Alabama, and Rome, in the State of Georgia;
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which was read the first and second times and, on motion of Mr. Chilton, its further consideration postponed until the morning hour of to-morrow.
Mr. Chambliss, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom were referred joint resolutions tendering the thanks of Congress to Captain and Flag Officer W. F. Lynch, of the Confederate States Navy, and the officers and men under him, for gallant services at Aquia Creek, for the capture of the Fanny and for the engagement at Roanoke Island; reported the same back, with the recommendation that they pass.
The rules were suspended:
The resolutions were taken up, engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
A message was received from the Senate; which is as follows:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of the following title, viz:
In which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
The House then proceeded to the consideration of the special order, which was
A bill to be entitled "An act to exempt certain persons from military duty, and to repeal an act entitled 'An act to exempt certain persons from enrollment for service in the Army of the Confederate States,' approved April twenty-first, eighteen hundred and sixty-two."
Mr. Dupré called the question, which was upon the motion of Mr. Lyon to recommit the bill and amendments to a special committee.
The question was ordered, and the motion was lost.
Mr. Chambers moved that the bill and amendments be laid upon the table for the purpose of taking up the bill of the House on the same subject.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Heiskell moved a suspension of the rules for the same purpose.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Lyons demanded the previous question.
The demand was not sustained.
Mr. Russell moved to amend by inserting after the word "law," in the first section, the words
all volunteer troops heretofore raised by any State since the passage of the act entitled "An act further to provide for the public defense," approved April sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, while such troops shall be in active service under State authority: Provided, That this exemption shall not apply to any persons who are liable to be called into service by virtue of said act of April sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two;
which was agreed to.
Mr. Conrad moved a reconsideration of the vote agreeing to the amendment.
Upon which Mr. Collier demanded the question; which was ordered, and the motion was lost.
Mr. Harris moved to amend by inserting after the words "eighteen hundred and sixty-two" the words
Provided, That no person who shall have been a commissioned officer and commanded troops actually in the field, and shall have been honorably separated from the service during the present war, shall be held to military service in any lower grade or capacity than was held by such officer last before his separation from the military service.
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On motion of Mr. Royston, the amendment was laid upon the table.
Mr. Perkins moved to amend by inserting after the word "all" the word "salaried," and after the word "clerks" insert the word "now," and strike out the word "allowed" and insert in lieu thereof the word "authorized;" which was agreed to.
Mr. Herbert moved to amend by inserting after the word "service" the words "the citizens of the frontier and coast counties in Texas."
Mr. Graham moved to amend the amendment by striking out all thereof and inserting in lieu thereof the words
all able-bodied male citizens fit for military duty living in the counties on the frontier of the State of Texas.
Mr. Machen called the question; which was ordered, and the amendment to the amendment was lost.
Mr. Foster then called for the question; which was ordered, and the amendment was lost.
Mr. Herbert moved to amend by inserting after the word "service" the words "the stock raisers."
The amendment was lost.
On motion of Mr. Smith of North Carolina, the vote agreeing to the amendment of Mr. Perkins was reconsidered, and Mr. Smith of North Carolina moved to amend the same by inserting after the word "salaried" the words "or feed;" which was agreed to, and the amendment as amended was agreed to.
Mr. Foster moved to amend by striking out the words
the president, superintendents, conductors, treasurer, chief clerk, engineers, managers, station agents, section masters, two expert track hands to each section of eight miles, and mechanics in the active service and employment of railroad companies,
and inserting in lieu thereof the words "the presidents, superintendents, engineers, machinists, and section masters of railroad companies."
Mr. Machen called the question; which was ordered, and the amendment was lost.
Mr. Gartrell moved to amend by striking out the words "conductors and treasurer."
Mr. Clark moved to amend the amendment by adding thereto the word "managers."
Mr. Machen called the question: which was ordered, and the amendment to the amendment was lost.
Mr. Jones demanded the previous question.
The demand was not sustained.
Mr. Moore moved to lay the amendment on the table.
Mr. Heiskell called for the question; which was ordered, and the motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Mr. Hilton moved to insert before the word "laborers" the word "directors."
Mr. Heiskell called the question; which was ordered, and the amendment was lost.
Mr. Atkins moved to amend by inserting after the word "messenger," the words
Provided, That where the road shall be a lateral or branch road of a length less than twenty miles only the president, conductors, engineers, machinists, section masters, and track hands shall be exempt.
Mr. Ralls called for the question; which was ordered, and the amendment was lost.
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Mr. Dargan moved to amend by inserting after the word "messenger" the words "all now engaged in the manufacture of gas for lights," and called the question thereon; which was ordered, and the amendment was lost.
Mr. Barksdale moved to amend by striking out the words
all foremen, pressmen, and journeymen printers employed in printing newspapers having at least five hundred bona fide subscribers,
and inserting in lieu thereof the words
proprietors of newspapers actually engaged in said business: Provided, They have five hundred bona fide subscribers, and such number of editors, foremen, pressmen, and other employees as the said proprietors may on oath testify to be necessary to the publication of the said newspapers in the same style as at the time of the passage of this law.
Mr. Collier moved to amend the amendment by striking out all thereof and inserting in lieu thereof the words
one editor for each newspaper now being published, and such employees as the editor or proprietor may certify upon oath to be indispensable for conducting the publication.
Mr. Wilcox demanded the question; which was ordered, and the amendment to the amendment was agreed to.
Mr. Dupré moved a reconsideration of the vote agreeing to the amendment of Mr. Collier to the amendment of Mr. Barksdale.
The motion was lost, and the amendment as amended was agreed to.
Mr. Dupré moved to reconsider the vote agreeing to the amendment as amended.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Strickland, by unanimous consent, presented the memorial of sundry citizens of Georgia and South Carolina, praying the establishment of a stage line; which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, without being read.
A massage was received from the President, by his Private Secretary, Mr. Harrison, informing the House that on the 27th instant the President approved and signed the following bills, to wit:
Joint resolution to authorize the Postmaster-General to cause certain alterations to be made in the building now occupied by the Post-Office Department;
An act to provide for the payment of sums ascertained to be due for postal service to citizens of the Confederate States, by the Postmaster-General;
An act to amend an act entitled "An act to provide further for the public defense," approved 16th April, 1862; and
An act to increase the Signal Corps.
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 I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
A message was also received from the Senate; which is as follows to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of the following title, viz:
In which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
The Senate have also passed a bill of this House of the following title, viz:
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Mr. Foote moved that the House resolve itself into secret session.
Pending which,
The House adjourned until 11 o'clock to-morrow.
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