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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 --EIGHTEENTH DAY--TUESDAY, February 3, 1863.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Crumly.
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the governor of Florida, transmitting a resolution in relation to the present war, passed by the general assembly of that State at its late session; which was read and, with the accompanying resolution, was laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Kenner moved to postpone the consideration of the special order, viz:
A bill making appropriations for the support of the Government for the period from February 1 to June 30, 1863, inclusive, and to supply deficiencies arising prior thereto.
The motion was agreed to.
The House then took up for consideration the unfinished business of the morning hour of yesterday; which was the resolution offered by Mr. Barksdale.
The question being on the amendment of Mr. Davis,
Mr. Conrad moved to amend the resolution by adding thereto the following words, viz:
Also copies of all correspondence between the President or the Secretaries of War and Navy and the governor of Louisiana on the same subject.
Mr. Barksdale accepted the amendment.
Mr. Davis withdrew the amendment offered by him.
Mr. Jones of Tennessee demanded the previous question; which was ordered, and the resolution as modified was agreed to.
Mr. Clapp offered the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That the Military Committee be instructed to inquire into the propriety and necessity of legislation to repress the vice of gambling in the Army, and to report by bill or otherwise;
which was agreed to.
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Mr. Clapp also introduced the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments be instructed to inquire whether officers and employees connected with these departments are not in the habit of obtaining supplies for their families from these departments at Government prices; and, if so, by what authority this privilege is allowed by them;
which was read and agreed to.
Mr. Davis introduced
A bill to be entitled "An act granting transportation to troops who have volunteered for the war;"
which was read the first and second times.
Mr. Davis moved that the rule requiring the reference of the bill to a committee be suspended.
Mr. Holt called for the special order.
On motion of Mr. Curry, the same was postponed.
The motion to suspend the rule was agreed to, and the bill was engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
On motion of Mr. Davis, the forty-second rule was suspended, and the Clerk was directed to report the bill to the Senate immediately.
Mr. Swan moved to further postpone the consideration of the special order of business until the conclusion of the call of States.
The motion was lost.
A message was received from the President, by his Private Secretary, Mr. Harrison.
Mr. Gray, by consent, offered
A joint resolution of thanks to Maj. Gen. J. Bankhead Magruder and officers and men of his command at Galveston, Tex.;
which was read the first and second times and, on motion of Mr. Miles, was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Ayer, by consent, introduced
A joint resolution of thanks to Gen. William S. Walker and his command for good conduct and gallantry in the battles of Pocotaligo and Coosawhatchie;
which was read the first and second times and, on motion of Mr. Miles, was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the President; which is as follows:
Richmond, Va., February 3, 1863.
To the House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit for your information a communication from the Secretary of War in response to your resolution of the 27th ultimo.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
which was read and, with its accompanying documents, was ordered to be printed and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The Chair also laid before the House the following communication from the President, viz:
Richmond, Va., February 3, 1863.
To the House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of War in reference to the examination and appointment of ordnance officers, being a response to your resolution asking for information upon the subject.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
which was read and, with its accompanying documents, was ordered to be printed and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
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Mr. Baldwin moved that the special order be postponed until after the call of States shall be concluded.
The motion was lost.
The House then proceeded to the consideration of the special order, and resolved itself into Committee of the Whole, on a bill declaring what persons shall be exempt from military service, Mr. Curry in the chair; and having spent some time therein, the committee rose and reported, through their Chairman, that they had had under consideration the bill referred to them, and reported the same back, with the recommendation that it pass with sundry amendments.
Mr. Dargan moved that the bill and amendments be recommitted to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Pending the consideration of which,
Mr. Lyons, by consent, offered the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That as a mark of the respect which this House entertains for the patriotism and military services of Major-General Sterling Price, that the Speaker do invite him to take a seat upon the floor of this House;
which was read and unanimously agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Hilton,
The House resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session.
Mr. Chilton offered the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That so much of the call of this House on the President as requests him to send the papers relating to the contract made with Haxall, Crenshaw & Co., for flour, be rescinded, as such papers have been furnished the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments by the Commissary-General;
which was read and agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Holt,
The House adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.
SECRET SESSION.
The House being in secret session,
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 President of the Confederate States has notified the Senate that he did, on the 29th instant, approve and sign a bill of the following title, viz:
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury in response to a resolution of inquiry of the House as to the extent and character of the foreign indebtedness of the Confederate Government, and the execution of such contracts as were dependent upon the negotiation of a foreign loan; which was read and laid on the table.
The Speaker stated that he had received a verbal communication from the Doorkeeper of the House that much dissatisfaction is occasionally expressed by the members of this House at their seats being occupied by visitors. There being no extra seats in the House, a spectator seated in the Hall must, necessarily, occupy the seat of some member.
In the beginning of the Congress, the Speaker, under rule 4, had required that no one not specially entitled to the privileges of the Hall should be admitted on the floor without his express permission. The object of this order was to have inquiry always made whether vacant seats could be found for those applying for admission, before being
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granted. The members have disregarded this order and much complaint is the result.
The Chair submits the subject for the advice and order of the House;
Whereupon,
On motion of Mr. Kenan of Georgia, it was unanimously resolved that the House will leave it to the Speaker to make such order as he may make for the correction of the evil complained of.
And on motion of Mr. Clapp,
The House resolved itself into open session.
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