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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 --SIXTY-SEVENTH DAY--SATURDAY, April 4, 1863.

Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, 1861-1865 [Volume 6] PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR

Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, 1861-1865 [Volume 6]
SIXTY-SEVENTH DAY--SATURDAY, April 4, 1863.

OPEN SESSION.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.

Mr. Davidson offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:

Resolved, That the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments inquire into the expediency of providing by law for commutation of quarters for soldiers on detailed service.

Mr. Miles introduced

A bill authorizing the detail of men for service in the Engineer Department;
which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Miles also introduced

A bill to amend the act concerning the pay due to deceased soldiers; which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Miles also introduced

A bill for the appraisement and compensation for horses killed in action;

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which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments.

Mr. Miles presented the memorial of the clerks in the Richmond arsenal, praying an increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, without being read.

Mr. Farrow introduced

A bill to regulate furloughs and discharges in hospitals; which was read first and second times, ordered to be printed, and referred to the Committee on the Medical Department.

Mr. Foote offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:

Resolved, That the President be requested to cause this House to be informed whether or not any special efforts have been made to obtain the release from confinement of Surgeon Joseph E. Dixon, of the Ninth Battalion of Tennessee Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel George Gantt, Surgeon Dixon being now in close confinement in the military prison of Johnson's Island, near Sandusky, in the State of Ohio, and that the letter of Surgeon Dixon and that of General John W. Dunnington, herewith presented, be transmitted to the President for his consideration, with a view to facilitating such action in the case as may secure the early release of Surgeon Dixon from his present state of captivity.

Mr. Foote also offered the following resolution, to wit:

Resolved, That a joint committee be appointed, to be composed ofmembers of the Senate and three members of the House, whose duty it shall be, in the recess of Congress now approaching, to make diligent inquiry for the purpose of ascertaining the practicability of selecting a suitable site for the permanent location of the capitol of the Confederate States, and that said committee do report their action herein to Congress at its next session.

On motion of Mr. Conrad, the resolution was laid on the table.

Mr. Swan offered the following resolution, to wit:

Resolved, That, in the opinion of this House, the act of Congress approved October thirteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, providing for an increase of the pay of certain officers and employees in the executive and legislative departments, does include the clerks of standing committees of the House, employed by order of the House at the time of the passage thereof, and that the Clerk of this House be directed to pay them accordingly.

On motion of Mr. Perkins, the resolution was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Swan also introduced

Joint resolution of thanks to Maj. J. L. Brent and the officers and soldiers under his command for their gallantry in capturing the Federal gunboat Indianola;
which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Menees presented the memorial of certain clerks in the Richmond post-office, praying an increase of compensation; which was read and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. Heiskell offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:

Resolved, That the President be requested to furnish to this House the report of General G. B. Crittenden of the battle of Fishing Creek, and the report of Colonel Preston Smith, acting brigadier-general, of the operations of the forces under his command at the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, of the thirtieth of August, eighteen hundred and sixty-two.

Mr. Wilcox introduced

A bill to admit duty free the machinery of the Comal Manufacturing Company;

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which was read first and second times and referred, on motion of Mr. Perkins, to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. Gray offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:

Resolved, That the Committee on Ways and Means inquire into the expediency of increasing the export duty on cotton and of levying such a duty on tobacco, and other articles of export. And also into the probable necessity of providing for the security of the currency of the Government by declaring that at some future period, to be fixed after reasonable notice, the said duties and also imposts and taxes, except those levied at the present session of Congress, shall be made payable only in certificates or coupons for interest on the funded stocks or bonds of the Confederate States, or in specie.

Mr. Graham introduced

A bill to provide a compensation for the disbursing officers of the several Executive Departments;
which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. Sexton offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:

Resolved, That the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments inquire into the expediency of so amending the Army Regulations as to provide that quartermasters on duty at the capital of the Confederate States shall render their accounts to the Quartermaster-General monthly, and shall not be allowed to make a requisition for funds for use for a longer period than one month from the date of the requisition, and report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. Herbert offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:

Resolved, That a special committee of five be appointed to inquire into and report to this House as early as practicable--

Mr. Gray introduced

A bill supplementary to an act to prohibit the exportation of cotton from the Confederate States, except through the seaports of said States, and to punish persons offending therein, approved May 21, 1861, and to an act to extend the provisions of said act, approved August 2, 1861;
which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

The Chair presented the petition of sundry citizens of Lunenburg County, Va., praying the establishment of a new post route; which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads, without being read.

Also, the petition of Judith Fox, Thomas Fox, Richard Fox, and Martha Ann Fox, asking exemption under the sequestration law; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, without being read.

Also, the petition of Benjamin Hunter, asking compensation for slave lost on public works; which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.

Mr. Garnett offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:

Resolved, That the Committee on Ways and Means inquire into the expediency of so amending the act organizing the Treasury Department as to allow the clerks of said Department to hold State or Confederate stocks.

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Also, the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:

Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the expediency of providing veterinary surgeons for the cavalry.

Also, the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be requested to report to this House as soon as practicable the amount of Treasury notes not bearing interest issued from and received at the Treasury Department during the months of January, February, and March, severally, and also the amount now outstanding.

On motion of Mr. Garnett, the consideration of the business on the General Calendar was postponed in order to conclude the call of the States.

Mr. Garnett offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:

Resolved, That the President be requested to inform this House whether the governor of Virginia has communicated to him certain acts of the general assembly of Virginia, passed October third, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and March thirteenth and March thirtieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, concerning the draft or impressment of slaves into the service of the Confederate States, at the request of the President, made to the said governor, whether the said acts provide that the Confederate States shall pay for such slaves or for injury done them in certain cases, and that any request for slaves made by the President on the governor shall be regarded as an assent to, and acceptance of, the provisions of the said acts; whether any slaves have been called for and accepted under authority of said acts; and, if so, whether the Government has paid or holds itself ready to pay for loss of, or injury to, such slaves.

Mr. Boteler presented the memorial of Lieutenant-Colonel Carter in reference to payment for horses lost in the public service; which was referred to the [Committee on] Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments, without being read.

Mr. Collier presented a device for a seal; which was referred to the Committee on Flag and Seal.

Mr. Collier presented a device for a seal; which was referred to the Committee on Flag and Seal.

Mr. Collier offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:

Resolved, That the communication and accompanying documents from the Attorney-General, of date of the thirteenth of March, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, laid on the table by order of the House, be taken up and referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. Lyons offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:

Resolved, That the President be requested to inform this House whether Generals Lee and Jackson have made reports of the battles which have been fought by the troops under their commands, respectively.

Mr. Lyons offered

Joint resolution for the relief of the sufferers by the explosion of the Confederate States laboratory;
which was read first and second times.

Mr. Lyons moved to suspend the rule requiring its reference to a committee.

The motion was lost, and the joint resolution was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

On motion of Mr. Goode,

The House took up from the table for consideration

A bill to increase the pay of each noncommissioned officer and private in the Army of the Confederate States.

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Mr. Davidson called the question; which was ordered, and the bill was engrossed and read a third time.

And the question being on the passage of the same,

Mr. Davidson demanded the yeas and nays thereon; which were not ordered, and the bill was passed.

Mr. Chambers moved to suspend the rules to enable him to introduce a resolution.

The motion prevailed, and

Mr. Chambers introduced

Joint resolution of thanks to Brigadier-General Forrest and to the officers and men under his command;
which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Dupré moved to suspend the rules to enable him to introduce a bill.

The motion did not prevail.

Mr. Wright of Georgia moved to suspend the rules to enable him to take up from the table a bill.

The motion prevailed, and

On motion of Mr. Wright,

A bill to reorganize and promote the efficiency of the medical branch of the military service
was taken up and made the special order for Tuesday next.

On motion of Mr. Garnett, the consideration of the business on the General Calendar was further postponed, and

On motion of Mr. Garnett, the call of the States was suspended.

Mr. Heiskell, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to which had been referred

A resolution of inquiry as to the mode of holding elections in States occupied by the enemy, for Representatives in the next Congress, reported and recommended the passage of

A bill to provide for holding elections for Representatives in the Congress of the Confederate States in States occupied by forces of the enemy;
which was read first and second times, ordered to be printed, and made the special order for Monday next, and from day to day thereafter until disposed of.

Mr. Heiskell, from the same committee, reported and recommended the passage of

A bill to punish forgery and counterfeiting;
which was read first and second times.

And the question being upon postponing the further consideration of the same and placing it on the Calendar,

It was decided in the negative.

Mr. Conrad moved to reconsider the vote just taken.

The motion did not prevail.

The bill having been read as follows, to wit:

Mr. Conrad moved to amend by striking out the word "falsely," in section 1.

The amendment was lost.

Mr. Chilton moved to amend by inserting the word "fraudulently" before the word "begins," in section 2.

The amendment was agreed to.

Mr. Chilton moved further to amend by inserting the word "fraudulently" before the word "begin," in section 4.

The amendment was agreed to.

Mr. Chilton moved further to amend by inserting the word "fraudulently" before the word "forging," in the same section.

The amendment was agreed to.

Mr. H. W. Bruce moved to amend by striking out, wherever it occurs in section 7, the word "issuance" and to insert in lieu thereof the word "issue."

The amendment was agreed to.

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Mr. Moore called the previous question; which was ordered, and the bill was engrossed as amended, read a third time, and passed.

Mr. Holcombe, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported and recommended the passage of

A bill to secure copyrights to authors and composers.

And the bill having been taken up for consideration,

Mr. Machen moved to amend the same by striking out the second section; which is as follows, to wit:

Any author, composer, or designer who is a citizen of one of the Confederate States and loyal to the Government thereof, and who has any interest in the form of a percentage on the sales or otherwise in the copyright obtained under the laws of the United States and owned by an alien enemy, shall have all the rights, privileges, and remedies of the owner thereof, under the conditions and restrictions provided for in the preceding section of this act.

The amendment was lost, and the bill was engrossed, read a third time, and passed.

Mr. Holcombe, from the same committee, reported and recommended the passage of

A bill to provide just compensation for cases of past impressment; which was read first and second times.

And the question upon postponing the same and placing it on the Calendar being negatived,

The bill was taken up, and having been read as follows:

The Congress of the Confederate States do enact, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of War, without delay, to cause to be detailed for each military district or department one or more suitable officers, to adjust and settle all claims justly arising from past impressments of private property for the use of the Army, upon the principles and according to the rules established by an act passed the present session entitled "An act to regulate impressments;" and the commissioners appointed under that act are authorized to assess just compensation by a fixed schedule of prices in all cases in which the property impressed was, at the time of the seizure, the property of any other than a person who had grown, raised, or produced the same, or who held or had purchased the same for his own use or consumption and not for sale or speculation,

Mr. Chilton moved to amend by inserting the word "appointed" before the word "detailed."

The amendment was agreed to.

Mr. Chilton moved further to amend by inserting the words "persons or."

The amendment was agreed to.

Mr. Collier moved to amend by inserting after the words "raised or produced" the words "or manufactured."

The amendment was lost.

Mr. Machen moved to amend by adding the following proviso, to wit:
Provided, That nothing in this act shall be construed to authorize the agents so appointed to reconsider the question of just compensation in any case where payment has already been made according to scale of prices arranged by the War Department, under which property was impressed.

A message was received from the Senate, by their Secretary, Mr. Nash; which is as follows, to wit:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of the following title, viz:

They have passed, with amendments, a bill of this House of the following title, viz:

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In which bill and amendments I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.

They have concurred in the amendment of the House of Representatives to the joint resolution (S. 10) authorizing the Postmaster-General to extend the time for receiving bids for transportation of the mails in the States therein named.

Mr. Elliott, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported as correctly enrolled

A bill (S. 114) for the relief of certain officers of the Navy and of the Marine Corps; also

Joint resolution (S. 10) authorizing the Postmaster-General to extend the time for receiving bids for transportation of the mails in the States therein named.

And the Speaker signed the same.

On motion of Mr. Bridgers, leave of absence was granted Mr. Lander, on account of sickness in his family.

Mr. Sexton moved that the House adjourn.

Upon which Mr. Garnett demanded the yeas and nays;

Which were ordered,

Yeas: Arrington, Barksdale, Bell, Boteler, Chambliss, Clapp, Collier, Conrow, Currin, Curry, Dargan, Dupré, Elliott, Ewing, Farrow, Gaither, Goode, Graham, Heiskell, Herbert, Hilton, Holt, Johnston, Jones, Lewis, Lyon, Lyons, Machen, McQueen, Miller, Moore, Preston, Read, Sexton, Simpson, Singleton, Trippe, Vest, Wright of Tennessee, and Wright of Texas.

Nays: Ashe, Atkins, Batson, Boyce, Bridgers, Horatio W. Bruce, Chambers, Chilton, Clark, Clopton, Conrad, Davidson, De Jarnette, Foote, Foster, Garland, Garnett, Gray, Holcombe, Kenan of North Carolina, Martin, McLean, McRae, Menees, Miles, Pugh, Ralls, Royston, Smith of North Carolina, Strickland, Swan, Villeré, Welsh, Wilcox, and Wright of Georgia.

So the motion prevailed,

And the House adjourned until Monday, 11 o'clock a. m.

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