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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 --THIRTIETH DAY--WEDNESDAY, February 18, 1863.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Wise.
Mr. Chilton, by consent, from the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments, reported as follows, viz:
The Committee on the Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments and Military Transportation, to whom was referred the resolution of this House instructing them "to make special inquiry and report as to any connection, official or otherwise, that Major Frank G. Ruffin, of the Commissary Department, may have had with the making or with the benefits of" a contract entered into between the Confederate States and Messrs. Haxall, Crenshaw & Co. for supplies of flour, have had the same under consideration, and have instructed me to report: That after a full and searching investigation and an examination of all the witnesses who were supposed to be best acquainted with the facts, and after soliciting evidence by giving notice of the time and place of the sessions of the committee to all parties concerned (copies of which correspondence, together with a memorandum of the proof, are herewith submitted), the committee arrived at the conclusion that Maj. Frank G. Ruffin had no connection, either official or otherwise, with the making of said contract and no interest whatever in the benefits or profits thereof. On the contrary, the proof conclusively shows that he knew nothing of the fact that any such contract was in contemplation until after it was consummated, being absent on furlough by reason of sickness when it was made.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
W. P. CHILTON,
Chairman, etc.
On motion of Mr. Chilton, the same was laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.
The House then proceeded to the consideration of the unfinished business of Monday, in the call of committees; which was
A bill to amend an act entitled "An act to establish the general staff of the Army of the Confederate States."
Mr. Curry demanded the question; which was upon the engrossment of the bill.
The question was ordered, and the bill was engrossed and read a third time.
The question being on the passage of the same,
Mr. McDowell demanded the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered,
Yeas: Ashe, Atkins, Batson, Bell, Boteler, Boyce, Breckinridge, Eli M. Bruce, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Chambers, Chambliss, Collier, Conrow, Crockett, Currin, Curry, Dargan, De Jarnette, Dupré, Elliott, Foote, Foster, Garnett, Goode, Graham, Harris, Hartridge, Holcombe, Kenan of Georgia, Kenner, Lyon, Lyons, Marshall, McQueen, McRae, Miles, Moore, Munnerlyn, Perkins, Preston, Pugh, Read, Russell, Sexton, Simpson, Smith of Alabama, Staples, Vest, Villeré, Wilcox, Wright of Texas, and Mr. Speaker.
Nays: Arrington, Baldwin, Chilton, Clark, Clopton, Davidson, Ewing, Freeman, Garland, Gartrell, Hanly, Hodge, Holt, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Lander, Machen, McDowell, McLean, Ralls, Royston, Strickland, and Trippe.
So the bill was passed.
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On motion of Mr. Miles, the title of the same was amended as follows: Strike out all of the original and insert in lieu thereof the following, viz:
A bill to be entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act for the establishment and organization of a general staff for the Army of the Confederate States.'"
Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred
A bill to be entitled "An act to provide for the arrest of soldiers absent from their commands without leave, and providing compensation to their captors,"
reported the same back, with the recommendation that it pass.
The question being on postponing and placing the same upon the Calendar,
It was decided in the negative.
Mr. Baldwin moved that the consideration of the bill be postponed until Friday next.
The motion was lost.
The bill having been read as follows, to wit:
Mr. Preston moved to amend the first section of the same by inserting after the words "without leave" the words "and has remained so absent for three days."
Mr. Foster moved to amend the amendment by striking out the word "three" and inserting in lieu thereof the word "five."
Mr. Wilcox demanded the question.
The question was ordered, and the amendment to the amendment was lost.
Mr. Royston demanded the previous question.
The demand was not sustained, and the amendment was lost.
Mr. Chilton moved to amend the same section by inserting before the word "absent" the word "voluntarily."
The amendment was lost.
Mr. Smith of North Carolina moved to amend the same section by
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striking out the words "private or noncommissioned officer" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "officer, noncommissioned officer, or private;" which was agreed to.
Pending the further consideration of the bill,
On motion of Mr. Kenner,
The House resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into opn session.
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the President; which is as follows, viz:
Richmond, February 17, 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 30th ultimo with regard to Lieutenant-Colonel Broadwell.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
which was read and, with its accompanying documents, was laid upon the table.
The Chair also presented a communication from the President; which is as follows, to wit:
Richmond, Va., February 17, 1863.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of War, asking for an appropriation to meet a claim of the State of North Carolina for reimbursement of sums expended upon clothing, etc., for troops of that State in the Confederate service.
I recommend an appropriation of the amount for the purpose specified.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
which was read and, with its accompanying documents, was ordered to be printed and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The Chair also presented a communication from the President; which is as follows, viz:
Richmond, Va., February 16, 1863.
To the House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of War, covering a list of all the civilians now in custody under authority of the War Department in the city of Richmond, being a response in part to your resolution of the 5th instant.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
which was read and, with its accompanying documents, laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.
The Chair also presented a communication from the President; which is as follows, viz:
Richmond, Va., February 17, 1863.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a report of the Postmaster-General, supplemental to his report submitted to Congress at the opening of the present session, to which I invite your special attention.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
which was read and, with its accompanying documents, was ordered to be printed and referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.
On motion of Mr. Graham,
The House adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.
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SECRET SESSION.
The House being in secret session,
On motion of Mr. Kenner, resolved itself into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Russell in the chair, on a bill to fund the currency; and having spent some time therein, the committee rose and, through their Chairman, reported that they had had under consideration the matter referred to them and had come to no conclusion thereon.
On motion of Mr. Garnett, Senate bill to provide for the further issue of Treasury notes, and for other purposes, was ordered to be printed for the use of the House.
Mr. Kenner, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported and recommended the passage of
A bill to make appropriations for ironclad and other war steamers, steam engines, and other supplies contracted for abroad;
which was read first and second times, postponed, and made the special order immediately after the bill to fund the currency.
And on motion of Mr. E. M. Bruce,
The House resolved itself into open session.
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