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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 --FORTY-EIGHTH DAY--WEDNESDAY, March 11, 1863.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Jeter.
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the President; which is as follows, viz:
Richmond, Va., March 10, 1863.
To the House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, in further response to your resolution of the 5th ultimo, in regard to the number and amount of claims for vessels seized for public use.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
which was read and, with its accompanying documents, was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
The Chair also presented a communication from the President; which is as follows, viz:
Richmond, Va., March 10, 1863.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of War, submitting an estimate of the amount required for the fulfillment of contracts made by the medical purveyors.
I recommend that an appropriation be made of the amount for the purpose indicated.
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which was read and, with its accompanying documents, was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The Chair also presented a communication from the President; which is as follows, to wit:
Richmond, Va., March 10, 1863.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of War, covering an estimate of additional funds required for the subsistence of the Army for the period ending June 30, 1863.
I recommend that an appropriation be made of the amount for the purpose indicated.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
which was read and, with its accompanying documents, was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The Chair laid before the House a bill of the Senate entitled "An act to repeal section two of an act entitled 'An act relating to the prepayment of postage in certain cases,' approved July twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and sixty-one;" which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.
The Chair also presented a bill of the Senate entitled "An act to regulate the pay allowed soldiers for duty as clerks in the city of Richmond;" which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Hilton moved that when the House adjourn to-day it adjourn to meet at 11 o'clock to-morrow; which was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Miles, the rules were suspended to enable him to report back a bill from the Committee on Military Affairs, and
Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred a bill of the Senate entitled "An act to provide and organize engineer troops to serve during the war," 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.
The bill was taken up, and the third section of the same being under consideration; which is as follows, to wit:
Mr. Garnett moved to amend the same by adding thereto the following words, viz:
No officer shall be appointed or promoted under authority of this law until his qualifications have been tested by examination under rules to be prescribed by the War Department, and appointment shall be made from those passing such examination in the order of merit.
Mr. Wilcox demanded the question.
The question was ordered.
Mr. Collier demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
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Yeas: Arrington, Ashe, Atkins, Baldwin, Boyce, Burnett, Chambliss, Clapp, Collier, Currin, Curry, Dargan, De Jarnette, Dupré, Elliott, Farrow, Foote, Garnett, Hodge, Marshall, Perkins, Preston, Tibbs, and Trippe.
Nays: Batson, Breckinridge, Bridgers, Horatio W. Bruce, Chambers, Chilton, Chrisman, Clark, Clopton, Davidson, Ewing, Foster, Freeman, Gardenhire, Garland, Gartrell, Goode, Graham, Gray, Hanly, Hartridge, Heiskell, Herbert, Hilton, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Lyon, Machen, McDowell, McQueen, McRae, Miles, Miller, Moore, Munnerlyn, Ralls, Royston, Singleton, Smith of Alabama, Smith of North Carolina, Smith of Virginia, Swan, Welsh, and Wilcox.
So the amendment was lost.
Mr. Chambliss moved to amend the same section by adding thereto the following words, viz:
No officer shall be appointed or promoted under authority of this law until his qualifications have been tested by examination under rules to be prescribed by the War Department.
Mr. Jones demanded the previous question; which was ordered, and the amendment was lost.
The bill was then read a third time and passed.
Mr. Conrad moved that the rules be suspended to enable him to introduce certain joint resolutions for reference without debate to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. Conrad introduced joint resolutions relating to a restoration of peace; which were read the first and second times, ordered to be printed, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
On motion of Mr. Royston,
The House resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session;
When, on motion,
The House adjourned until 11 o'clock to-morrow.
SECRET SESSION.
The House, in secret session, went into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Chilton in the chair, on the bill to lay taxes for the common defense and to carry on the Government of the Confederate States; and having spent some time therein, the committee rose and, through the Chairman, reported that they had had the same under consideration and had come to no conclusion thereon.
Mr. Chilton moved to suspend the rules.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. Garnett offered the following resolutions:
Resolved, That in laying direct taxes we are bound to observe that clause of the Constitution which declares that "No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid unless in proportion to the census or enumeration hereinbefore directed to be taken."
Resolved, That the census of eighteen hundred and sixty is a sufficient basis of apportionment within the meaning of the Constitution.
Resolved, That taxes on land and buildings are direct taxes.
Resolved, That taxes on slaves are direct taxes.
Resolved, That taxes on real or personal property generally and on income generally are direct taxes.
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Mr. Machen moved to amend the resolutions by striking out all after the word "Resolved" and inserting in lieu thereof the words
That, in the opinion of this House, the first section of the bill for raising taxes is constitutional.
Mr. Garland moved to lay the resolutions and the amendment on the table.
On which Mr. Swan demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Atkins, Baldwin, Barksdale, Batson, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Chrisman, Clark, Conrow, Davidson, Elliott, Garland, Goode, Harris, Herbert, Hodge, Lyon, Smith of North Carolina, Tibbs, Welsh, and Wilcox.
Nays: Arrington, Ashe, Boyce, Bridgers, Chambers, Chambliss, Chilton, Clapp, Clopton, Collier, Conrad, Currin, Curry, Dargan, Dupré, Ewing, Farrow, Foote, Foster, Freeman, Gardenhire, Garnett, Graham, Gray, Hanly, Hartridge, Heiskell, Hilton, Holcombe, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Machen, McDowell, McQueen, McRae, Miles, Moore, Munnerlyn, Perkins, Preston, Pugh, Ralls, Royston, Sexton, Singleton, Strickland, Swan, Trippe, Villeré, Wright of Tennessee, Wright of Texas, and Mr. Speaker.
So the motion was lost.
Mr. Dupré called the question; which was ordered, and the question being on the amendment to the resolutions,
Mr. Swan demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Atkins, Baldwin, Barksdale, Batson, Bridgers, Burnett, Chilton, Chrisman, Clark, Conrow, Currin, Dargan, Davidson, Elliott, Ewing, Freeman, Garland, Goode, Graham, Harris, Hodge, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Lyon, Machen, McDowell, McRae, Menees, Moore, Ralls, Royston, Singleton, Tibbs, Welsh, and Wilcox.
Nays: Arrington, Ashe, Boyce, Horatio W. Bruce, Chambers, Clapp, Clopton, Collier, Conrad, Curry, Dupré, Farrow, Foster, Gardenhire, Garnett, Gray, Hanly, Hartridge, Herbert, Holcombe, Marshall, McQueen, Miles, Munnerlyn, Perkins, Preston, Pugh, Sexton, Strickland, Swan, Trippe, Villeré, Wright of Tennessee, Wright of Texas, and Mr. Speaker.
So the amendment was agreed to.
Mr. Heiskell demanded the question.
Mr. Bridgers moved that the House go into open session.
The motion was lost.
The question was then ordered on agreeing to the resolutions as amended.
Mr. Chambers asked for the yeas and nays; which were ordered.
On motion of Mr. Garnett,
The House went into open session.
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