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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 --EIGHTY-SIXTH DAY--MONDAY, April 27, 1863.

Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, 1861-1865 [Volume 6]
EIGHTY-SIXTH DAY--MONDAY, April 27, 1863.

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OPEN SESSION.

The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with [prayer] by the Rev. Mr. Read.

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

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed, without amendment, bills of this House entitled

• H. R. 58. An act to admit free of duty all machinery for the manufacture of cotton or wool, or necessary for carrying on any of the mechanic arts; and
• H. R. 60. An act to declare the meaning and extend the provisions of an act entitled "An act to increase the pay of certain officers and employees in the executive and legislative departments," approved October 13, 1862.

They have passed, with amendments, the bill of this House entitled

• H. R. 30. An act to punish forgery and counterfeiting;

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

The Senate have concurred in the amendments of this House to bills of the Senate of the following titles, viz:

• S. 76. An act to regulate the extra pay allowed soldiers detailed for duty as clerks in the city of Richmond;
• S. 111. An act to authorize the issue of eight per cent bonds or certificates of stock in certain cases; and
• S. 129. An act to amend an act entitled "An act to regulate impressments by officers of the Army."

They have passed a bill of the following title, viz:

• S. 109. An act to provide for dropping officers of the Army who are absent without leave;

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

The Speaker laid before the House a communication from Hon. John B. Baldwin, asking leave of absence for two or three days.

The leave of absence was granted.

Mr. McQueen asked leave of absence for Hon. C. F. Collier.

Mr. Jones demanded the yeas and nays on the question of granting the leave;

Which were ordered,

And are recorded as follows, viz:
• Yeas ... 34
• Nays ... 21

Yeas: Ashe, Atkins, Batson, Bell, Boteler, Eli M. Bruce, Chambers, Clopton, De Jarnette, Farrow, Garland, Graham, Hanly, Harris, Herbert, Holt, Lewis, Lyon, Lyons, McLean, McQueen, Miller, Munnerlyn, Preston, Ralls, Royston, Russell, Simpson, Singleton, Smith of Alabama, Smith of North Carolina, Vest, Wilcox, and Wright of Texas.

Nays: Arrington, Boyce, Clapp, Conrad, Crockett, Curry, Freeman, Hartridge, Hilton, Hodge, Jones, Kenner, Machen, Marshall, McRae, Perkins, Pugh, Sexton, Welsh, Wright of Tennessee, and Mr. Speaker.

So the leave of absence was granted.

The House then resumed the consideration of the unfinished business of Saturday.

The question being upon the amendment of Mr. McRae,

It was decided in the negative.

The question then recurring on the amendment of Mr. Gray,

The same was agreed to.

The bill was then engrossed and read a third time.

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The question being upon its passage as amended,

It was decided in the negative.

Mr. Chambers, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which had been referred

A joint resolution of thanks to Brigadier-General Forrest and the officers and men under his command,
reported back the same, with a recommendation that it do pass.

The question on postponing the further consideration of the joint resolution and placing it upon the Calendar being decided in the negative,

The joint resolution was engrossed, read a third time, and passed.

Mr. Miles, from the same committee, to which had been referred joint resolutions of thanks to the officers and men engaged in the defense of Fort McAllister, Ga., reported back the same, with a recommendation that they do pass.

The question on postponing the further consideration of the joint resolutions and placing them on the Calendar being decided in the negative,

The joint resolutions were engrossed, read a third time, and passed.

A message was received from the President, by Mr. Harrison, his Private Secretary, informing the House that on the 24th instant the President approved and signed an act entitled

• H. R. 18. An act to lay taxes for the common defense and carry on the Government of the Confederate States.

Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which had been referred a Senate bill to be entitled

• S. 73. An act to provide and organize a general staff for armies in the field, to serve during the war,
  reported the same back and recommended that it do pass.

The question upon postponing the further consideration of the bill and placing it upon the Calendar being decided in the negative,

The bill was taken up for consideration and read as follows, viz:

The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That a general commanding a department or an army in the field may assign to duty, as chief of staff, one of the general officers under his command, who shall, under his direction, be charged with the general administration of such department or army; and one of the brigadier-generals under his command as inspector-general. There shall also be allowed to a general so commanding as above, to be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, one adjutant-general, one chief quartermaster, one chief commissary, and one chief of ordnance, with the rank, pay, and allowances of a colonel of cavalry; and one surgeon, as medical director, with the pay and allowances of a colonel of cavalry; one aid-de-camp, with the rank, pay, and allowances of a lieutenant-colonel of cavalry; one with rank, pay, and allowances of a major of cavalry, and one with the rank, pay, and allowances of a captain of cavalry.

• Sec. 2. That to a lieutenant-general commanding an army corps shall be allowed, to be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, one assistant inspector-general, with the rank, pay, and allowances of a colonel of cavalry; one assistant adjutant-general, one chief quartermaster, one chief commissary, and one chief of ordnance, with the rank, pay, and allowances of a lieutenant-colonel of cavalry; one surgeon, as medical director, with the pay and allowances of a lieutenant-colonel of cavalry; one aid-de-camp, with the rank, pay, and allowances of a major of cavalry; one with the rank, pay, and allowances of a captain of cavalry, and one with the rank, pay, and allowances of a first lieutenant of cavalry.
• Sec. 3. That a major-general commanding a division shall be allowed, to be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, one assistant inspector-general, with the rank, pay, and allowances of a lieutenant-colonel of cavalry; one assistant adjutant-general, one chief quartermaster, one chief commissary, and one chief of ordnance, with the rank, pay, and allowances of a major of cavalry; also a surgeon, with the pay and allowances of a major of cavalry; two aids-de-camp, with

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  the rank, pay, and allowances of a captain of cavalry, and one with the rank, pay, and allowances of a first lieutenant of cavalry.

• Sec. 4. That a brigadier-general commanding a brigade shall be allowed, to be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, one assistant inspector-general, one assistant adjutant-general, one chief quartermaster, one chief commissary, one chief of ordnance, with the rank, pay, and allowances of a major of cavalry; one surgeon, with the pay and allowances of a major of cavalry; one aid-de-camp, with the rank, pay, and allowances of a captain of cavalry, and one with the rank, pay, and allowances of a first lieutenant of cavalry.
• Sec. 5. That the officers assigned to duty, or appointed to armies, army corps, divisions, or brigades, under this act, shall, with the exception of aids-de-camp, form a part and remain attached to the several organizations to which they are assigned or appointed, except when otherwise directed by the President.
• Sec. 6. That all appointments under this act shall be made from officers who are now or have been in service, or from privates who have served twelve months in the field or distinguished themselves in battle.
• Sec. 7. No more officers shall be allowed in the staff of general officers other than those provided by this act, except such as may be assigned for duty as assistant inspectors-general or assistant adjutants-general.

Mr. Hartridge offered the following amendment; which was agreed to, viz:

Insert, in line 14, before the word "pay," the word "rank," and add, in line 15, after the word "cavalry," the words "such rank to entitle the medical director to command only in his own corps."

Mr. Atkins moved to amend the bill by striking out section 6.

Mr. Kenner demanded the yeas and nays; which were not ordered.

The amendment of Mr. Atkins was agreed to.

The bill as amended was engrossed and read a third time.

The question being on the passage of the bill,

Mr. Jones demanded the yeas and nays;

Which were ordered,

And are recorded as follows, viz:
• Yeas ... 42
• Nays ... 25

Yeas: Atkins, Batson, Bell, Boteler, Boyce, Bridgers, Eli M. Bruce, Horatio W. Bruce, Chambers, Chilton, Conrad, Conrow, Currin, De Jarnette, Farrow, Garland, Garnett, Hanly, Harris, Hartridge, Heiskell, Hilton, Holt, Lewis, Lyons, Machen, Martin, McQueen, Menees, Miles, Miller, Royston, Russell, Simpson, Smith of Alabama, Swan, Tibbs, Vest, Villeré, Wright of Georgia, Wright of Tennessee, and Mr. Speaker.

Nays: Arrington, Ashe, Clapp, Clopton, Ewing, Freeman, Gaither, Goode, Graham, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Lyon, Marshall, McLean, McRae, Perkins, Preston, Pugh, Sexton, Singleton, Smith of North Carolina, Staples, Welsh, and Wright of Texas.

So the bill as amended was passed.

Upon motion of Mr. Kenner,

The House then resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, again resolved itself into open session.

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

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have concurred in the amendments of this House to the bill of the Senate entitled

• S. 90. An act relative to certain bonds and treasury notes issued under the provisions of the act approved May 16, 1861.

The Senate have refused to concur in the amendments of this House to the bill of the Senate entitled

• S. 19. An act to amend an act to organize the clerical force of the Treasury Department.

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The Chair presented a message from the President; which is as follows, viz:

Richmond, Va., April 24, 1863.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I herewith transmit for your consideration a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, covering additional estimates of the sum required for the support of the Government from July 1 to December 31, 1863.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

The message and accompanying documents were referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. McRae, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported back a communication from the Attorney-General, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and that it be referred to the Committee on Claims; which was agreed to.

Mr. McRae, from the same committee, reported back

A bill to be entitled "An act to provide for the payment of certain claims against the Confederate States and making appropriation therefor,"
asked to be discharged from the further consideration thereof, and that it be referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. Hilton called the question; which was ordered.

Mr. Smith of North Carolina demanded the yeas and nays; which were not ordered, and the report of the committee was agreed to.

Mr. Heiskell, by unanimous consent, introduced

A bill to be entitled "An act to supply omissions in the act to lay taxes for the common defense and carry on the Government of the Confederate States;"
which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. Garnett, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which had been referred

A bill to be entitled "An act to amend an act concerning the pay and allowances due deceased soldiers, approved February sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two,"
reported the same back, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and that it do lie upon the table; which was agreed to.

Mr. Garnett, from the same committee, to which had been referred a House bill to be entitled "An act to allow commutation for clothing to the militia in actual service of the Confederate States," with a Senate amendment, reported the same back, with a recommendation that the House concur in the amendment.

The question being upon postponing and placing the bill on the Calendar,

It was decided in the negative.

The bill was then taken up for consideration and read as follows, viz:

• Section 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That there shall be allowed and paid to the militia of any State who have been or may hereafter be called into the service of the Confederate States under authority of existing laws, to each private and noncommissioned officer, commutation for clothing for the time of actual service at the rate of fifty dollars per annum, deducting therefrom the value of any clothing which may have been issued them, or commutation therefor which may have been allowed them.
• Sec. 2. All claims for commutation under authority of this act made by any of the militia who have been heretofore paid shall be settled by the Second Auditor, with the approval of the Comptroller of the Treasury.

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The question being on agreeing to the Senate amendment, which is as follows, viz:

Insert after the word "service," in line 8, the words "at the rate of forty-two dollars a year, up to the thirtieth August, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, and after that date,"

The same was agreed to.

Mr. Garnett, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which had been referred a Senate bill to be entitled

• S. 116. An act to authorize the Secretary of War to purchase or lease real estate,
  reported back the same, with a recommendation that it pass with an amendment.

The question on postponing the further consideration of the bill and placing it upon the Calendar being decided in the negative,

The bill was taken up for consideration and read as follows, to wit:

• Section 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, authorized to purchase or lease any and all real estate which may by him be deemed necessary for the use of the Government in the conduct of those works or operations submitted by law to the supervision or control of the War Department, and for which appropriations are made by Congress.
• Sec. 2. That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized to ratify and complete any purchase or lease of real estate heretofore made under the direction of the Chief of Ordnance, and all such leases or purchases heretofore made shall be binding as soon as the same are approved by the Secretary of War.

The question being on the amendment proposed by the committee, which is as follows:

Add as section 3 the following:

"Every purchase of freehold estate made by authority of this act shall be subject to the condition that the consent of the State within whose limits it lies shall be obtained by the Confederate Government,"

The same was agreed to, and the bill as amended was then read a third time and passed.

The Chair laid before the House a message from the President; which is as follows, viz:

Richmond, Va., April 24, 1863.

To the House of Representatives:

I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of War, in response to your resolution of the 2d instant, asking for certain information relative to hospitals and the provision for the sick and wounded of the Army in them.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

The message and accompanying document were ordered to be printed and referred to the Committee on the Medical Department.

The Speaker also laid before the House the following message from the President:

Richmond, Va., April 25, 1863.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I herewith transmit for your consideration a communication from the Secretary of War, covering an estimate for the contingent expenses of the Adjutant and Inspector General's Office for the six months ending December 31, 1863.

I recommend an appropriation of the amount for the purpose specified.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

The message and accompanying document were referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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The Chair also laid before the House the following message from the President, viz:

Richmond, April 25, 1863.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I herewith transmit for your consideration a communication from the Postmaster-General, submitting an estimate of the amount required to prepare a building for the post-office for the city of Richmond.

I recommend an appropriation of the amount for the purpose specified.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

The message and accompanying document were referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

The Speaker laid before the House a Senate bill to be entitled "An act to provide for dropping officers of the Army;" which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Bridgers, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which had been referred a Senate bill to be entitled

• S. 81. An act to provide for the payment of certain North Carolina troops from the time of their enlistment,
  reported back the same, with the recommendation that it pass with an amendment.

The question on postponing the further consideration of the bill and placing it upon the Calendar being decided in the negative,

The bill was taken up for consideration and read as follows, viz:

The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the troops heretofore raised by the State of North Carolina, under requisitions made on that State by the Confederate States, shall be paid from the date of their enlistment.

The question recurring on agreeing to the amendment of the committee, which is as follows, to wit:

Strike out the words "under requisitions made on that State" and insert in lieu thereof "and afterwards received into the service of the Confederate States,"

The same was agreed to, and the bill as amended was then read a third time and passed.

Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which had been referred a Senate 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,' approved February twenty-eighth, eighteen hundred and sixty-one," reported back the same, with a recommendation that it do pass.

The question on postponing the further consideration of the bill and placing it upon the Calendar being decided in the negative,

The bill was taken up for consideration, read a third time, and passed.

A message was received from the President, by Mr. Harrison, his Private Secretary, notifying the House that the President has to-day approved and signed the following joint resolution and acts:

• H. R. 12. A joint resolution entitled "Joint resolution authorizing the payment of rent for the building occupied by the Quartermaster's Department;" also
• H. R. 38. An act entitled "An act supplemental to an act to establish judicial courts in certain Indian Territories," approved February 15, 1862; also
• H. R. 37. An act to authorize the President to offer rewards for the apprehension of fugitives from justice; also
• H. R. 36. An act entitled "An act to amend the first section of an act entitled 'An act to amend the laws relative to the compensation of

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  The attorneys of the Confederate States,' approved March fifteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-one."

Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which had been referred a Senate bill to be entitled "An act to pay officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates not legally mustered into the service of the Confederate States for services actually performed," reported the same back, with a recommendation that it do pass.

The question being on postponing and placing the bill on the Calendar,

It was decided in the negative.

The bill was then read a third time and passed.

Mr. Miles, from the same committee, to which had been referred a House bill to be entitled "An act to repeal certain clauses of an act entitled 'An act to exempt certain persons from military service,' approved October eleventh, eighteen hundred and sixty-two," which had been amended by the Senate, reported back the same with sundry amendments to the Senate amendments.

The question on postponing the further consideration of the bill and placing it upon the Calendar being decided in the negative,

The amendments of the Senate were read as follows, viz:

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert

"That certain persons, as hereinafter provided, are and shall be exempt from military service in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States.

• "I. For the police of slaves, one person on each farm or plantation, the sole property of a minor, person of unsound mind, a feme sole, or a person absent from home in the military or naval service of the Confederacy, on which there are twenty or more slaves: Provided, The person so exempted was employed and acting as an overseer previous to the fifteenth [sixteenth?] of April, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and there is no white male adult on said farm or plantation who is not liable to military duty, which fact shall be verified by the affidavits of said person and two respectable citizens, and shall be filed with the enrolling officer: And provided, That the enrolling officer shall be satisfied that no white male adult not liable to military duty can be obtained, by ordinary diligence, suitable for said purpose: Provided further, That this clause shall not extend to any farm or plantation on which the negroes have been placed by division from any other farm or plantation since the eleventh day of October, eighteen hundred and sixty-two.
• "II. That on any farm on which resides a family of white women and children, not less than ten in number, who are dependent for support and protection on the labor and presence of a white man, and on which there is no white male adult not liable to military duty, or male minor or minors capable of working said farm, there shall be exempted one person as laborer, when said person shall verify the facts aforesaid by his own and the affidavit of two respectable citizens, to be filed with the enrolling officer, and shall also make affidavit that said person so to be exempted designs in good faith to act in said capacity on said farm; and in the event of a failure to do so at any time thereafter, this exemption, as to said person, shall cease: Provided, The enrolling officer shall be satisfied that a white male adult not liable to military duty can not be procured suitable for said purpose.
• "III. Those who shall be held unfit for service in the field by reason of bodily or mental incapacity--to be ascertained by a surgeon of the Army who is not a resident of the part of the country from which those he is called upon to examine may have come--and persons declared to be unfit for duty in the field under this act or under the act entitled 'An act to establish places of rendezvous for the examination of enrolled men,' approved October eleventh, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, by reason of any organic disease or permanent disability, shall not be afterward subject to be again examined and enrolled.
• "IV. The Vice-President of the Confederate States, and the officers, judicial and executive, of the Confederate and State governments, including postmasters appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and such clerks and employees in their offices as are allowed, in writing, by the Postmaster-General, and excluding all other postmasters, their assistants and clerks, and except such State officers as the several States may have declared or may hereafter declare, by law, to be liable to military duty. Members of both Houses of the Congress of the Confederate States and of the legislatures of the several States, and their respective officers.

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• "V. All volunteer troops heretofore raised by any State since the passage of the act further to provide for the public defense, approved April sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, while such troops shall be in active service under State authority: Provided, This exemption shall not include any person liable to military duty under said last-named act.
• "VI. Pilots and persons actually and regularly engaged in the merchant marine service.
• "VII. The presidents, superintendents, conductors, treasurer, chief clerk, engineers, managers, station agents, section masters, two expert track hands to each section of eight miles, and mechanics in the active service and employment of railroad companies, not to embrace laborers, porters, and messengers: Provided, That no president or conductor of any railroad company or railroad train shall be exempted from military service under this act when such president or conductor shall fail, neglect, or refuse to furnish seats to such wounded or sick soldiers of the Army as may desire transportation over such railroad, and fresh water, for drinking purposes, in such tanks or other vessels in each passenger car as may be necessary for the use of said sick and wounded, and also the necessary fires to render said cars comfortable.
• "VIII. Captains of boats, and the engineers thereof, actually and regularly engaged in canal and river navigation; the president of any canal company, the secretary, chief clerk, chief toll gatherer, and such mechanics in the permanent service of said company as the president, under oath, shall declare to be necessary and now employed; the president, the general superintendent, and operators of telegraphic companies, and the local operators of said companies, not to exceed two in number at any telegraphic office but that at the seat of government of the Confederate States.
• "IX. One editor of each newspaper now being published, and such journeymen printers, engineers, pressmen, and stenographic reporters as the editor or proprietors thereof may certify, upon oath, to be indispensable for conducting the publication; the Public Printer, engineers, pressmen, and such number of journeymen printers as he may certify, upon oath, to be necessary for the discharge of his duty.
• "X. Every minister of religion authorized to preach according to the rules of his sect, and now in the discharge of ministerial duty, and all persons who have been, since the sixteenth of April, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and now are, members of the Society of Friends, or the Association of Dunkards, Nazarenes, or Mennonists, in regular membership in their respective denominations: Provided, That such members shall furnish a substitute or pay a tax of five hundred dollars each into the public treasury.
• "XI. All shoemakers, tanners, blacksmiths, wagonmakers, millers and their engineers, and millwrights, skilled and actually employed on the sixteenth of April, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, in said trades as their regular vocation, and working therein for the public, and who have since said time been so regularly employed: Provided, Said persons shall make oath, in writing, supported by the affidavits of two creditable persons (which affidavit shall be delivered to the enrolling officer), that they, said artisans and mechanics, are so skilled and are, and have been, since the sixteenth of April, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, actually employed in one of the above trades as their regular vocations, and working for the public; also the superintendents and operators in wool and cotton factories, paper mills, and carding machines, and in card factories, and in factories for the manufacture of wire for cotton and wool cards: Provided, That the exemptions herein granted to persons on account of their mechanical skill or occupation shall be subject to the condition that the product of the labor of said exempts shall not exceed a fair and reasonable amount, and to be within a maximum to be fixed by the Secretary of War, under such regulations as he may prescribe: And provided, That in the case of the superintendents and operators in wool and cotton factories, paper mills, carding machines, and mechanics in these and all other manufacturing establishments, the manufactured articles shall be sold at a net profit not to exceed thirty per centum upon the capital invested, which fact shall be ascertained by the oath of the president, superintendent, or proprietors of such manufacturing establishment: And provided also, The presidents or proprietors of said establishments shall make affidavit, in writing, to be filed with the Secretary of War, that the superintendents and operators therein are skilled as such and indispensable to said establishments: And provided, If it shall be shown, upon evidence to be submitted to and judged of by the Secretary of War, that any manufacturing establishment has violated this condition, the exemption herein granted shall no longer be extended to the persons employed in said establishments or factories, but each of them shall be forthwith enrolled and placed in the military service.
• "XII. All presidents and professors of colleges and theological seminaries who have been regularly engaged as such for the two years last preceding the eleventh of October,

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  eighteen hundred and sixty-two; all superintendents of lunatic asylums and the regular physicians, nurses, and attendants therein, and all teachers regularly employed in institutions for the deaf, dumb, and blind.

• "XIII. All physicians who now are, and have been for the last five years, in the actual practice of their professions; and in each apothecary store now established and doing business, one practical apothecary in good standing as such.
• "XIV. All artisans and mechanics employed in the manufacture of arms or ordnance of any kind, ordnance stores or other munitions of war or army supplies, by the several States, or by contractors to furnish the same to the several State governments, whom the governor or secretary of state thereof may certify to be necessary to the same: Provided, The persons contracting with said State government shall make oath, in writing, to be filed with the Secretary of War, that said employees are indispensable, on account of their skill, to the successful performance of their contract.
• "XV. All persons employed, under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy, in the construction of ships, gunboats, engines, sails, or other articles necessary to the public defense.
• "XVI. Superintendents, mechanics, and miners employed in the production and manufacture of lead and iron; also persons engaged in burning coke for the smelting and manufacture of iron; regular miners in coal mines, and one collier to each furnace and forge for making blooms and pig and bar iron, but said exemption shall not apply to laborers, messengers, and wagoners, except at works employed exclusively for the State or Confederate governments: Provided, The person interested in the exemption from military duty of said superintendents, mechanics, miners, and colliers shall make affidavit, in writing, that said persons are skilled in said labor and are indispensable to such works; and that, after diligent effort, they have been unable [to] procure superintendents, mechanics, miners, and colliers who have been discharged from the Provisional Army, or who are not subject to military duty.
• "XVII. Such other persons as the President shall be satisfied ought to be exempted on account of justice, equity, or necessity.

• "Sec. 2. That all exemptions granted by law shall only continue whilst the person is holding the office or engaged in the pursuit or occupation by reason of which the exemption was granted; and nothing in this act or any other in relation to exemptions shall be construed so as to exempt agents, clerks, or other persons employed by officers in the quartermaster, commissary, or other departments of the Government, unless such agents or clerks are allowed by law, and their fees or salary paid by law; nor shall anything herein contained be construed so as to authorize the discharge of anyone now in the military service of the Confederate Government.
• "Sec. 3. That all laws and parts of laws providing for exemptions from military service are hereby repealed; and no person exempted under previously existing laws shall continue to be exempted unless embraced within the provisions and on the terms and conditions of this act. The provisions of this act shall apply to all persons between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years not in the military service. But this act shall not repeal an act passed at the present session of Congress entitled "An act to exempt contractors for carrying the mails of the Confederate States and the drivers of post coaches and hacks from military service."

Strike out the title and insert

"A bill to exempt certain persons from military duty and to repeal the act heretofore passed by Congress on the same subject."

The amendment of the committee was then read as follows, viz:

Strike out all after the word "That," in the second line, and insert
"so much of the act approved October eleventh, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, as exempts from military service 'one person, either as agent, owner, or overseer, on each plantation on which one white person is required to be kept by the laws or ordinances of any State, and on which there is no white male adult not liable to military service, and in States having no such law one person as agent, owner, or overseer on each plantation of twenty negroes and on which there is no white male adult not liable to military service;' and also the following clause in said act, to wit: 'And furthermore, for additional police for every twenty negroes on two or more plantations within five miles of each other, and each having less than twenty negroes, and on which there is no male adult not liable to military duty, one person, being the oldest of the owners or overseers on such plantations,' be, and the same are hereby, repealed.

• "Sec. 2. For the police and management of slaves, there shall be exempted one person on each farm or plantation, the sole property of a minor, a person of unsound mind, a feme sole, or a person absent from home in the military or naval service

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  of the Confederacy, on which there are twenty or more slaves: Provided, The person so exempted was employed and acting as an overseer previous to the sixteenth of April, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and there is no white male adult on said farm or plantation who is not liable to military duty, which fact shall be verified by the affidavits of said person and two respectable citizens, and shall be filed with the enrolling officer: And provided, The owner of such farm or plantation, his agent or legal representative, shall make affidavit and deliver the same to the enrolling officer, that, after diligent effort, no overseer can be procured for such farm or plantation, not liable to military duty: Provided further, That this clause shall not extend to any farm or plantation on which the negroes have been placed by division from any other farm or plantation since the eleventh day of October, eighteen hundred and sixty-two.

• "Sec. 3. Such other persons shall be exempted as the President shall be satisfied ought to be exempted in districts of country deprived of white or slave labor, indispensable to the production of grain or provisions necessary for the support of the population remaining at home, and also on account of justice, equity, and necessity.
• "Sec. 4. In addition to the State officers exempted by the act of October eleventh, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, there shall also be exempted all State officers whom the governor of any State may claim to have exempted for the due administration of the government and laws thereof, but this exemption shall not continue in any State after the adjournment of the next regular session of its legislature, unless such legislature shall, by law, exempt them from military duty in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States."

The House disagrees to the proposed amendment of the Senate to the title.

Mr. Boyce demanded the previous question; which was not sustained.

Mr. Smith of North Carolina moved to amend the amendment of the committee as follows, to wit: Add at the end of section 2 the following:

Provided further, That for every person exempted as aforesaid, and during the period of such exemption, there shall be paid, annually, into the public Treasury, by the owners of such slaves, the sum of five hundred dollars.

Mr. Swan demanded the previous question.

Mr. Gray demanded the yeas and nays on Mr. Swan's motion; which were not ordered.

The main question was then ordered.

The question recurring on Mr. Smith's amendment,

It was decided in the affirmative.

The question then being on the amendment of the committee, as amended,

Mr. Sexton demanded the yeas and nays; which were not ordered.

The amendment of the committee, as amended, was then agreed to.

The question recurring on agreeing to the Senate's amendments as amended,

Mr. Jones demanded the yeas and nays;

Which were ordered,

And are recorded as follows:
• Yeas ... 34
• Nays ... 30

Yeas: Ashe, Atkins, Batson, Boteler, Bridgers, Eli M. Bruce, Clopton, Conrow, Crockett, Currin, Curry, Ewing, Farrow, Freeman, Garland, Goode, Harris, Heiskell, Hilton, Hodge, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Lewis, Machen, Martin, McLean, Menees, Miles, Miller, Munnerlyn, Royston, Smith of North Carolina, Staples, and Swan.

Nays: Bell, Boyce, Horatio W. Bruce, Chilton, Clapp, Conrad, Graham, Gray, Hanly, Hartridge, Herbert, Holt, Jones, McQueen, McRae, Moore, Perkins, Pugh, Sexton, Simpson, Singleton, Tibbs, Trippe, Vest, Villeré, Welsh, Wilcox, Wright of Georgia, Wright of Tennessee, and Wright of Texas.

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So the amendments of the Senate, as amended, were adopted.

Mr. Boyce, from the Committee on Ways and Means, to which had been referred

A bill to be entitled "An act to increase the salaries of females employed in the Treasury Department,"
reported the same back and recommended that it do pass with an amendment.

The question on postponing and placing the bill on the Calendar was decided in the negative.

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

The Congress of the Confederate States do enact, That hereafter the compensation of females employed in the Treasury Department shall be five dollars per diem,

The question being on agreeing to the amendment of the committee, which is as follows:

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert

"That hereafter the compensation of females employed in the Treasury Department shall be at the rate of one hundred dollars per month,"

The same was agreed to.

The bill was then engrossed, read a third time, and the question being on its passage,

Mr. Swan demanded the yeas and nays;

Which were ordered,

And are recorded as follows, viz:
• Yeas ... 38
• Nays ... 22

Yeas: Bell, Boteler, Boyce, Eli M. Bruce, Horatio W. Bruce, Chambers, Chambliss, Chilton, Conrad, Farrow, Garland, Garnett, Graham, Hanly, Harris, Hartridge, Heiskell, Hodge, Holt, Lewis, Martin, McLean, McQueen, McRae, Menees, Miles, Miller, Moore, Munnerlyn, Pugh, Sexton, Simpson, Singleton, Tibbs, Trippe, Villeré, Wilcox, and Wright of Tennessee.

Nays: Ashe, Atkins, Batson, Bridgers, Clopton, Conrow, Crockett, Curry, Ewing, Freeman, Goode, Hilton, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Machen, Royston, Smith of North Carolina, Swan, Vest, Welsh, and Wright of Texas.

So the bill was passed.

Mr. Hilton, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which had been referred

A bill to be entitled "An act to increase the rank, pay, and allowances of adjutants of regiments and independent battalions,"
reported the same back, with a recommendation that it do pass.

The question being on postponing and placing the bill on the Calendar,

It was decided in the negative.

Mr. Chambers called the question on the third reading of the bill; which was sustained.

The bill was then engrossed and read a third time.

And the question being on the passage of the bill,

Mr. Jones demanded the yeas and nays; which were ordered.

The House then,

Upon motion of Mr. Curry,

Adjourned until to-morrow at 11 o'clock a. m.

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SECRET SESSION.

The House being in secret session,

The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President; which is as follows, viz:

Richmond, Va., April 23, 1863.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I herewith transmit for your consideration in secret session a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, submitting an estimate of the amount required to meet the charges upon exchange for the sum recently appropriated for the use of the Navy Department abroad.

I recommend an additional appropriation of the amount for the purpose specified, or such provision as will secure to the Department the use of the appropriation in funds current at the place where required.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

The message and accompanying document were referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

A message was received from the Senate, through the hands of Mr. Nash, the Secretary of that body; which is as follows, viz:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate disagree to the amendment of this House to the joint resolution (S. 2) of the Senate relative to the plan of retaliation proposed in the President's message, ask a conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses thereon, and have appointed Mr. Semmes, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, and Mr. Peyton managers at the same on the part of the Senate.

Mr. Russell moved that the House insist on its amendment and agree to the proposition of the Senate for a committee of conference.

The Speaker appointed Mr. Russell, Mr. Garland, and Mr. Smith of North Carolina as managers on the part of the House.

Mr. Kenner, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported back a Senate bill to be entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to make appropriations for ironclad and other war steamers, steam engines, and other supplies contracted for abroad,'" with the recommendation that it pass with the following amendment:

And ten millions of dollars are hereby appropriated for the premium of exchange on the same.

The rules were suspended.

And the question being on postponing the bill and placing it on the Calendar,

It was decided in the negative.

The question then recurred on the amendment of the committee, and the amendment was agreed to.

The bill as amended was then read a third time and passed.

Mr. Kenner, from the same committee, reported back a Senate bill to be entitled "An act supplementary to an act to provide for the funding and further issue of Treasury notes," with the recommendation that it pass with the following amendments, viz:

Strike out all after the word "date," in the sixteenth line, and insert "and bearing interest at the rate of six per centum per annum, to be paid at the pleasure of the Government, in specie, or in cotton of the quality of New Orleans middling, to be valued at six pence sterling per pound, the said cotton to be delivered at the pleasure of the Secretary of the Treasury, at either of the ports of New Orleans, Savannah, Charleston, Mobile, Wilmington, Richmond, or Norfolk, under such regulations as the said Secretary may establish. These bonds shall be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury, for all outstanding Confederate States Treasury notes, at not less than their par value in Treasury notes: Provided, That the Secretary of the Treasury be authorized to apply the proceeds of as many of the said bonds as

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may be required for the purchase of agricultural products, under the act of Congress approved twenty-first April, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, entitled 'An act to authorize the exchange of bonds for articles in kind, and the shipment, sale, or hypothecation of such articles.'"

The question being upon postponing the bill and placing it upon the Calendar,

It was decided in the negative.

The question then recurred upon the amendments of the committee, and the amendments were agreed to.

The bill as amended was then read a third time and passed.

Mr. Smith of North Carolina moved to reconsider the Senate bill first reported by Mr. Kenner, from the Committee on Ways and Means.

The motion was not agreed to.

Mr. Kenner, from the same committee, reported back a Senate bill to be entitled "An act to appropriate ten millions of dollars to pay for the construction, armament, and equipment of ten ironclad war ships in southern Europe," with the recommendation that it pass.

The question being on postponing the bill and placing it upon the Calendar,

It was decided in the negative.

The bill was laid upon the table.

Mr. Clopton, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported back a Senate bill to be entitled "An act to authorize the President to contract for the construction and equipment of vessels for the Navy abroad," with the recommendation that it pass with the following amendments:

Strike out all after the word "to," in fourth line, and insert
"contract for the construction and equipment, abroad, of any number of war vessels, not exceeding twenty, which he may deem necessary, provided that the total cost shall not exceed twenty million dollars, and that all contracts which may be made shall be communicated to Congress as soon as practicable.

• "Sec. 2. That the sum of ten millions of dollars, equivalent to two millions of pounds sterling, is hereby appropriated toward the execution of this act."

The question being on postponing the bill and placing it upon the Calendar,

It was decided in the negative.

On motion, the rules were suspended.

And the question being on the amendments of the committee,

They were agreed to.

Mr. Conrad moved to amend the amendment by inserting after the word "dollars" the words "in sterling currency."

The motion was agreed to.

The question then recurred upon the amendment of the committee, as amended; which was agreed to.

The bill as amended was then read a third time and passed.

Mr. Lyon, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported back a Senate bill to be entitled "An act to authorize the issue of bonds to the Bank of Louisiana," with amendment.

The question being on postponing the bill and placing it upon the Calendar,

It was decided in the negative.

The question then recurred upon the amendment of the committee; which is as follows, viz:

Provided further, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized, from the adjusted balance due to the Bank of Louisiana as aforesaid, to deduct

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the amount of specie drafts drawn against the coin mentioned in this act prior to the seizure thereof, and accepted by said bank or its authorized agent, and held by loyal citizens of the Confederate States, and to pay the amount so deducted to the holders of said drafts, in bonds of the Confederate States, with condition to pay the market value of said amount as coin, in Treasury notes, or to return the same in kind within six months after the termination of the present war, with interest thereon in the meantime at the rate of six per cent per annum, and to deduct the amount so paid from the balance due said Bank of Louisiana.

Mr. Machen offered the following amendment to the amendment of the committee:

Provided further, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized, from the adjusted balance due to the Bank of Louisiana as aforesaid, to deduct the amount of specie drafts drawn against the coin mentioned in this act prior to the fifteenth day of October last, and accepted by said bank or its authorized agent, and held by loyal citizens of the Confederate States, and to pay the amount so deducted to the holders of said drafts, in Treasury notes of the Confederate States, on such terms as may be agreed on between the holders and Secretary of the Treasury, or, if preferred by said draft holders, in bonds of the Confederate States of like character and with the same stipulations as those authorized by this act to be issued to the Bank of Louisiana, except that they shall be delivered to the parties entitled thereto.

Mr. Smith of North Carolina moved to postpone the consideration of the subject to the first Monday of the next session.

Mr. Boyce demanded the previous question, and the main question was ordered.

Mr. Machen demanded the yeas and nays; which were not ordered.

The motion to postpone was agreed to.

On motion of Mr. Vest, a bill was taken up, to be entitled "An act to provide for placing in the military service of the Confederate States citizens of the State of Maryland and foreigners residing or sojourning within the limits of the Confederate States."

Mr. Vest moved to amend the amendment of Mr. Perkins as follows, viz:

Provided, That the President may, after the first day of July, anno Domini eighteen hundred and sixty-three, exempt from the operation of this act any of the persons hereinbefore described.

Mr. Wright of Texas called the previous question, and the main question was ordered.

Mr. Swan demanded the yeas and nays; which were not ordered.

The question being on the amendment of Mr. Vest, the amendment was agreed to.

The bill was then engrossed and read a third time.

Mr. Conrad moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was ordered to its engrossment, and demanded the yeas and nays;

Which were ordered,

And are recorded as follows, viz:
• Yeas ... 32
• Nays ... 33

Yeas: Arrington, Ashe, Atkins, Boyce, Horatio W. Bruce, Chilton, Clapp, Conrad, Crockett, Currin, Curry, De Jarnette, Freeman, Gaither, Garland, Garnett, Harris, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, Kenner, Marshall, McQueen, Menees, Miles, Miller, Preston, Pugh, Smith of North Carolina, Trippe, Wright of Georgia, Wright of Tennessee, and Mr. Speaker.

Nays: Batson, Bell, Boteler, Bridgers, Chambers, Clopton, Conrow, Ewing, Farrow, Goode, Graham, Hartridge, Heiskell, Hilton, Holt, Lewis, Machen, Martin, McLean, McRae, Moore, Munnerlyn, Perkins, Royston, Russell, Sexton, Simpson, Singleton, Swan, Vest, Villeré, Welsh, and Wright of Texas.

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So the motion to reconsider was decided in the negative.

Mr. Heiskell demanded the question; which was ordered.

Mr. Jones demanded the yeas and nays;

Which were ordered,

And are recorded as follows, viz:
• Yeas ... 39
• Nays ... 24

Yeas: Ashe, Batson, Bell, Boteler, Bridgers, Chilton, Clopton, Curry, De Jarnette, Ewing, Farrow, Gaither, Goode, Graham, Heiskell, Herbert, Hilton, Kenan of North Carolina, Machen, McLean, McQueen, Miles, Moore, Munnerlyn, Perkins, Preston, Royston, Russell, Sexton, Simpson, Singleton, Smith of Alabama, Swan, Trippe, Vest, Villeré, Welsh, Wilcox, and Wright of Texas.

Nays: Arrington, Atkins, Boyce, Horatio W. Bruce, Clapp, Conrad, Conrow, Crockett, Currin, Freeman, Garland, Garnett, Harris, Hartridge, Holt, Jones, Kenner, Marshall, Martin, McRae, Miller, Pugh, Smith of North Carolina, and Wright of Tennessee.

So the bill was passed.

Mr. Vest moved to amend the title of the bill, and the motion was agreed to.

Mr. Chilton moved to take up, from the unfinished business of the last secret session, a bill to be entitled "An act to aid the several Departments in the investigation of accounts."

The question being on the amendment of Mr. Chambers,

Mr. Chilton moved to lay the amendment on the table, and the motion was agreed to.

Mr. Chilton moved to amend the fourth section of the original bill by inserting after the word "shall" the words "to the several heads of Departments, by whom the subject-matter was referred for investigation."

The amendment was agreed to.

Mr. Heiskell demanded the question; which was on the engrossment of the bill as amended, and the question was ordered.

Mr. Chilton demanded the yeas and nays;

Which were ordered,

And are recorded as follows, viz:
• Yeas ... 37
• Nays ... 27 [28]

Yeas: Ashe, Atkins, Boteler, Eli M. Bruce, Horatio W. Bruce, Chilton, Conrad, Conrow, Currin, Curry, De Jarnette, Garnett, Hilton, Lewis, Lyons, Machen, Marshall, Martin, McQueen, McRae, Menees, Miles, Perkins, Preston, Royston, Russell, Sexton, Simpson, Singleton, Smith of Alabama, Trippe, Vest, Villeré, Welsh, Wilcox, Wright of Georgia, and Mr. Speaker.

Nays: Arrington, Batson, Bridgers, Chambers, Clapp, Clopton, Ewing, Farrow, Freeman, Gaither, Garland, Goode, Graham, Hanly, Harris, Heiskell, Herbert, Holt, Jones, Kenan of North Carolina, McLean, Miller, Munnerlyn, Pugh, Smith of North Carolina, Swan, Wright of Tennessee, and Wright of Texas.

So the bill was ordered to its engrossment.

The bill was then read a third time, and the question being on its passage,

Mr. Jones demanded the yeas and nays; which were not ordered.

The bill was then passed.

On motion of Mr. Heiskell, the resolutions of Mr. Foote, from the Committee on Frauds in Transportation, were taken up.

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Mr. Heiskell moved to lay the resolutions on the table, and the motion was agreed to.

And on motion of Mr. Garnett,

The House went into open session.

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