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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 --SEVENTH DAY--MONDAY, December 14, 1863.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Duncan.
Mr. Chilton offered the following resolutions; which were adopted, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments and Military Transportation do proceed to completion with the matters of investigation referred to them and left unfinished at the adjournment of the last session, and that said committee have authority to employ a clerk to perform its clerical duties.
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Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be requested to inquire of and report by bill such measures as will enable committees of this House to take proof by depositions in regard to matters referred to them for investigation.
Mr. Chilton presented the memorial of certain officers of Alabama regiments, praying relief for adjutants of said regiments; which, without being read, was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, the memorial of Capt. Randolph Owen, of the Fifth Battalion of Alabama Artillery, praying compensation for lost guns; which, without being read, was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Foster introduced
A bill to be entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to repeal certain clauses of an act to exempt certain persons from military service,' etc., approved October eleventh, eighteen hundred and sixty-two;"
which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Foster offered the following resolutions; which were adopted, viz:
Resolved, That the Military Committee be requested to confer with the Secretary of War upon the expediency of transferring the control and management of the provost and conscript duties to the governors of the respective States.
Resolved, That the Military Committee be requested to inquire into the expediency of so amending the exemption law as to place in the service all able-bodied men liable to military duty, and now engaged as conductors, guards, etc., upon the various railroads in the Confederacy, and placing in their stead disabled soldiers and men over forty-five years of age, and report by bill or otherwise.
The Speaker announced the appointment of the two additional members of the Special Committee on the Currency, viz:
Messrs. Johnston of Virginia and Pugh of Alabama.
Mr. Hanly offered the following resolution; which was read and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs:
The Speaker announced that he had appointed Mr. Boudinot corresponding member of the Committee on Indian Affairs, without the privilege of voting.
Mr. Hilton offered
A resolution containing a proposition on finance;
which, without being read, was referred to the Special Committee on the Currency.
Mr. Hartridge introduced
A bill to be entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to regulate impressments,' approved March twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty-three;"
which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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Mr. Clark presented the memorial of the Georgia Relief and Hospital Association, praying such legislation as will insure the prompt payment of the claims of deceased soldiers against the Government; which, without being read, was referred to a special committee of five members to be appointed by the Chair.
A message was received from the President, by Mr. Harrison, his Private Secretary; which is as follows, viz:
Richmond, Va., December 11, 1863.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit for your consideration a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, covering estimates of sums needed for the public service among the Indian tribes.
I recommend an appropriation of the amount specified for the purpose indicated.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Mr. Swan offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire and report to this House what are now and what have been, during the twelve months past, the geographical limits of the department of which General Joseph E. Johnston has been the commanding general; that they further inquire and report whether where by the orders and instructions given him while so commanding he was invested with plenary power to direct the operations of armies within that department.
Mr. Hilton called the question; which was ordered, and the resolution was agreed to.
Mr. Gray offered the following resolution; which, under the rule, was laid over for two days:
Resolved, That the rule adopted at the last session, limiting debate on resolutions before being referred to a committee to five minutes, for explanation by the mover, is hereby rescinded.
Mr. Graham offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That fifty copies of the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs be printed for the use of the Indian Bureau.
Mr. Graham moved that the rule be suspended requiring the resolution to be referred to a committee.
The motion was agreed to, and the resolution adopted.
Mr. Wilcox presented the memorial of Thomas Rooke, collector of the war tax in the State of Texas, praying to be relieved from the payment of $10,339.97 of said tax, lost on his way to pay the same over to the Government; which, without being read, was referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. Boteler offered the following resolutions; which were adopted, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the appointment of a veterinary surgeon, with the rank of captain, to each brigade of cavalry, the appointment to be made upon due examination before a board of at least three colonels of cavalry.
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the expediency of amending the law establishing a military court for each army corps, so as to authorize a similar court to commands of cavalry composed of two or more divisions.
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the expediency of so amending the law abolishing regimental commissaries as to except the cavalry regiments from it operation.
Mr. Lyons offered the following resolution; which was adopted, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on Printing be instructed to cause the Journal of this House to be printed as speedily as practicable.
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Mr. Chambliss offered a proposition in relation to the currency; which, without being read, was referred to the Special Committee on the Currency.
Mr. Lyons offered the following resolution; which was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the Speaker of this House do invite General Robert E. Lee, Major-General Howell Cobb, and the Honorable Isham G. Harris, governor of Tennessee, to take seats within the bar of this House, as a testimonial of the great respect which this House entertains for them.
Mr. Russell introduced
A bill to be entitled "An act to permit the funding of certain Treasury notes not now fundable,"
which was read first and second times and referred to the Special Committee on the Currency.
Also, a bill to be entitled "An act imposing a tax on Treasury notes;" which was read first and second times and referred to the same committee.
Mr. Baldwin offered the following resolution; which was adopted, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary inquire whether the seventeenth section of the act of Congress approved January eleventh, eighteen hundred and twelve, providing punishment for procuring or enticing soldiers to desert, is in force in the Confederate States, and whether it does not require amendment so as to increase its efficiency.
Mr. Wilcox, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which had been referred joint resolutions of thanks to Captain Odlum, Lieutenant Dowling, and the men under their command, reported back the same, with the recommendation that they do pass.
The joint resolutions were engrossed, read a third time, and passed unanimously.
The Speaker laid before the House the communication from the President, covering estimates by the Secretary of the Treasury of sums required for the public service in the Indian tribes; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Conrow introduced
A joint resolution for the relief of Col. Charles H. Hawthorn;
which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The House, on motion of Mr. Foote, then went into secret session; and having spent some time therein, resolved itself into open session.
On motion of Mr. Elliott,
The House adjourned until 12 o'clock m. to-morrow.
SECRET SESSION.
The House being in secret session,
On motion of Mr. Foote, the diplomatic correspondence of the State Department referred to in the President's message of Tuesday last was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
And on motion,
The House resolved itself into open session.
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