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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 --FIFTEENTH DAY--THURSDAY, January 29, 1863.
OPEN SESSION
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Moore.
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the President; which is as follows, viz:
Richmond, Va., January 27, 1863.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of War, covering an estimate of funds required by the Ordnance Bureau.
I recommend an appropriation of the amount specified for the purpose indicated.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
which was read and, with its accompanying documents, referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
On motion of Mr. Vest, leave of absence was granted to Mr. Cooke, on account of illness.
Mr. Dargan introduced
A bill to be entitled "An act to provide for the taking of testimony in certain criminal cases;"
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Russell, by consent, presented the memorial of W. B. Compton, praying compensation for services rendered; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Curry presented the memorial of Capt. J. D. Brandon, praying compensation for a horse lost in the service; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Curry also offered the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on Ways and Means inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill levying duties on exports;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. De Jarnette presented, by consent, a design for a flag; which was referred to the Committee on Flag and Seal.
Mr. Clopton introduced
A bill to be entitled "An act to repeal the laws of naturalization;" which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Chilton presented the memorial of Appleton Haygood, praying compensation for mail services; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Smith of Alabama presented the memorial of Lieut. H. H. Cribbs, praying compensation for a horse killed in action; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Foster offered the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments be requested to inquire into the expediency of repairing the Nashville and Decatur Railroad, from Columbia, Tennessee, to Decatur, Alabama;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Foster also introduced joint resolutions tendering the thanks of Congress to General Wheeler and the officers and men under his command; which was read the first and second times.
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Mr. Foster moved that the rule requiring the resolution to be referred to a committee be suspended.
The motion was lost, and the joint resolution was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Foster offered the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That secret sessions be done away with, and that all business transacted by this House shall for the future be with open doors;
which was read and laid over, under the rules.
Mr. Royston introduced
A bill to be entitled "An act to reorganize and promote the efficiency of the medical branch of the military service;"
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Medical Department.
Mr. Royston offered the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be requested to report back to this House a bill referred to them at its last session, making provision for the maintenance and support of indigent widows and other indigent families having sons or husbands in the Army of the Confederate States;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Holt offered the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That the Judiciary Committee be requested to inquire if there be any sufficient provisions under existing laws for the punishment of forgeries of paroles, furloughs, etc., and if no such provisions exist, to prepare and report a bill for the punishment of such offenses;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Gartrell offered the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill providing for the payment of provost-marshals appointed from civil life, for services actually rendered;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Gartrell presented a letter from C. B. Wellburn, of Dalton, Ga., in relation to the payment of provost-marshals appointed from civil life; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, without being read.
Mr. Gartrell also offered a resolution as follows, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a mail route from Cave Springs, in Floyd County, to Cedartown, in Polk County, in the State of Georgia;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Wright of Georgia introduced
A bill to be entitled "An act to prevent the conscription of officers resigning their commands on account of wounds received or diseases contracted in the service of their country;"
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Wright also introduced
A bill to be entitled "An act to provide compensation for horses lost in the service of the Confederate States;"
which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments.
Mr. Trippe presented the memorial of Messrs. Sparkles and Thigpen, chaplains, praying Congress to bestow rank and uniform upon chaplains in the Army; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, without being read.
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Mr. Conrad offered the following resolutions, viz:
Resolved, That the President be requested to inform this House whether oneBroadwell has been authorized to make purchases of various supplies, particularly of sugar and salt, for the Commissary Department; if yea, whether said Broadwell holds any office in said Department, and what office.
Also, what amount of sugar and salt, respectively, has been purchased by said Broadwell, and what amount expended by him in making such purchases.
Also, whether said Broadwell was authorized to impress and did impress steamboats and railroads and their appurtenances for the transportation of supplies so purchased by him.
Also, whether said Broadwell was authorized to trade with the enemy; if yea, to what extent and on what conditions, and whether such trade was carried on by him, and to what extent.
Also, whether said Broadwell was or was not an agent for the Government for any other purposes than those above specified; particularly whether he was authorized to act as a disbursing officer of the Commissary Department and the depositary of its funds; if yea, what amount has at various times been disbursed by or deposited with him in said capacities, or either of them.
Also, to transmit to this body copies of all powers, orders, or instructions given to said Broadwell, and of all correspondence between the Commissary-General and said Broadwell.
Also, whether any complaints or charges have been made against said Broadwell for fraud, peculation, or other malfeasance or misconduct on the part of said Broadwell in the execution of the powers conferred on him; and if yea, what action, if any, has been taken on such charges or complaints;
which were read and agreed to.
Mr. Read, by consent, offered the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on Public Buildings be instructed to cause the gallery in this House to be removed.
Mr. Preston moved to refer the same to the Committee on Public Buildings.
Mr. Lyons moved to amend the motion by instructing the committee to inquire whether a rearrangement of this Hall can be made which will be more comfortable to the members.
The amendment was agreed to.
The question being on the motion to refer the resolution as amended to the Committee on Public Buildings,
Mr. Read demanded the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered,
Yeas: Barksdale, Boteler, Boyce, Breckinridge, Eli M. Bruce, Burnett, Chambers, Chilton, Clapp, Clopton, Conrad, Curry, Dargan, Davis, Ewing, Farrow, Foote, Foster, Gardenhire, Garland, Gartrell, Gray, Hanly, Hartridge, Heiskell, Hilton, Holt, Johnston, Lewis, Lyons, McQueen, Menees, Miles, Preston, Royston, Russell, Singleton, Smith of Alabama, Staples, Swan, Villeré, Wilcox, Wright of Georgia, Wright of Tennessee, and Wright of Texas.
Nays: Arrington, Ashe, Atkins, Baldwin, Batson, Bridgers, Horatio W. Bruce, Chambliss, Chrisman, Clark, Collier, Conrow, Crockett, Currin, Davidson, Dupré, Elliott, Freeman, Gaither, Goode, Graham, Hodge, Holcombe, Jones, Kenan of Georgia, Kenner, Lander, Machen, Marshall, McDowell, McLean, McRae, Moore, Ralls, Read, Sexton, Strickland, Tibbs, Trippe, and Vest.
So the resolution was referred to the Committee on Public Buildings.
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A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, viz:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of this House of the following title, viz:
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the Clerk; which is as follows, viz:
Hon. Thos. S. Bocock,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Sir: According to instructions of the House of Representatives, adopted yesterday, "That the Clerk of this House do procure from the Department of Justice five copies of the acts of the Provisional, and five copies of the acts of this Congress, which have been published, and to cause the same to be bound for the use of this House and marked 'House of Representatives of the Confederate States,'" I have the honor to report that I applied to the Department for the copies of the acts and was informed by Mr. Matthews, the law clerk of the Department, that there were no copies of the acts of the second and third sessions of the Provisional Congress to be had, and only two copies of the acts of the fourth session.
The other acts that I was instructed to call for have been delivered.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBERT E. DIXON, Clerk.
Richmond, Va., January 29, 1863.
On motion of Mr. Lyons, the communication was referred to the Committee on Public Printing, with instructions to ascertain what means may be necessary to obtain copies of the acts specified.
Mr. Kenner, by consent, presented the memorial of Dr. Henry Perkins, praying compensation for property seized by officers of the Government; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Lyons offered the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That the Attorney-General be requested to furnish to this House as many copies of the acts of the present Congress as will furnish three copies for each member;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Royston called for the special order of the day.
Mr. Dupré moved that the consideration of the same be postponed.
The motion was lost, and
The House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Curry in the chair, on a bill to declare what persons shall be exempt from military service; and having spent some time therein, the committee rose and reported, through their Chairman, that the committee had had under consideration the bill referred to them and had arrived at no conclusion thereon.
On motion of Mr. Jones,
The House resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session.
The House then again resolved itself into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Curry in the chair, on a bill declaring what persons shall be exempt from military service; and having spent some time therein, the committee rose and reported, through their Chairman, that the committee had had under consideration the bill referred to them and had arrived at no conclusion thereon.
On motion,
The House adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.
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SECRET SESSION.
The House being in secret session,
Mr. Jones moved that the rule requiring bills and joint resolutions to lie on the table for two days after their passage for the purpose of allowing motions to reconsider the same be suspended.
Mr. Foote demanded the yeas and nays.
The demand was not sustained, and the motion to suspend the rules prevailed.
On motion of Mr. Jones,
The Clerk was directed to transmit to the Senate Senate bill (9) entitled "An act to authorize a foreign loan."
A message was received from the Senate, by the hands of Mr. Nash, the Secretary of that body; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of the following title, viz:
The Chair laid before the House Senate bill (16) to authorize the issue of bonds to the Bank of Louisiana; which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
And on motion of Mr. Jones,
The House resolved itself into open session.
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