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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 --SEVENTH DAY--MONDAY, May 9, 1864.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Duncan.
On motion of Mr. Whitfield, leave of absence was granted his colleague, Mr. Goode.
On motion of Mr. Funsten, leave of absence was granted Mr. Welsh (detained from his seat by indisposition).
Mr. O. R. Singleton, member from Mississippi, appeared, was sworn to support the Constitution of the Confederate States, and took his seat in the House.
Mr. Echols, under a suspension of the rules, introduced
A joint resolution "of thanks to General Lee and the officers and soldiers engaged in the defense of Richmond;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Hanly introduced
A bill "providing for the payment of the expenses incident to the transmission of election returns from the Army to the governor of the State for which such election may be held;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Elections.
Mr. Manly submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the papers in the ease of A. H. Dobbin be withdrawn from the files and referred to the Committee on Claims;
which was adopted.
Mr. Hilton introduced
A bill "to increase the pay of the noncommissioned officers and privates of the Army of the Confederate States;"
which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Rogers submitted the following resolution:
Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Confederate Congress, That the members of this body organize themselves into a company by the election of officers, etc., and tender their services to the commanding officer of this department, for the defense of the city of Richmond.
Mr. Orr submitted the following amendment to the resolution:
Strike out the whole and insert in lieu thereof the following, viz:
"Resolved, That while the enemy threatens this city the members of Congress will attach themselves to the military engaged in the defense of this city."
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Mr. Barksdale submitted the following amendment to the amendment:
Strike out the whole thereof and insert the following:
"Resolved, That leave of absence be granted to each member who desires to attach himself to military organizations for the defense of the city of Richmond."
Mr. Blandford moved to lay the resolution and amendments on the table.
Mr. Rogers demanded the yeas and nays thereon; which were not ordered, and the motion to lay on the table prevailed.
The Chair laid before the House the following communication; which was read and laid upon the table:
Hon. Thomas S. Bocock,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Sir: The members of the House of Representatives are respectfully invited to attend the funeral obsequies of the late Brigadier-General Jenkins, from Belvin's, east end of Bank street, to the Capitol, this evening at 6 o'clock.
Very respectfully, etc.,
WM. W. BOYCE.
Mr. Lester submitted the following resolution:
Whereas many of the religious denominations of the South have sent forth missionaries from their churches to labor for the religious instruction and spiritual good of the Army and inmates of hospitals of the Confederate States; and
Whereas the labors of these missionaries have resulted in much good to the officers and soldiers of the Army and deserve encouragement and support from a Government that acknowledges the providence of God in its struggle for freedom and independence: Be it therefore
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be, and it is hereby, instructed to consider the propriety of allowing said missionaries, whilst engaged in discharging their duties as such, either to draw free of charge or to purchase from the Commissary Department the same rations drawn by soldiers in the Army;
which was adopted.
Also, the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be, and it is hereby, instructed to consider the propriety of allowing all substitutes in the Army of the Confederate States above the age of fifty years to be discharged from service, and that said committee report thereon by bill or otherwise;
which was adopted.
Mr. Marshall submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the members of the House of Representatives will, as a body, attend the funeral obsequies of Brigadier-General Jenkins at six postmeridian, in compliance with the invitation of the Honorable Mr. Boyce;
which was adopted.
Mr. E. M. Bruce introduced
A bill "to amend an act entitled 'An act to reduce the currency and to authorize a new issue of notes and bonds,' approved February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Perkins submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That it he referred to the Committee on Rules to report what additional rules or amendments to the existing rules should be added to the present rules of the House;
which was adopted.
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Mr. Chambers submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be requested to furnish this House with a copy of the report of J. D. B. De Bow, general agent of the produce loan, "on the condition of Government cottons contiguous to the Mississippi and its tributaries," dated Columbus, April ninth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four;
which was adopted.
Mr. Chambers introduced
A joint resolution "in relation to copies of the acts of Congress on deposit in the Department of Justice."
The rule having been suspended requiring the bill to be referred to a committee,
Mr. Miles moved to amend the bill by striking out the word "one" and inserting in lieu thereof the word "five."
Mr. Garland moved to refer the bill and amendment to the Committee on Printing; which latter motion prevailed.
Mr. Smith of North Carolina introduced
A bill "more clearly to define the duties of persons between the ages of seventeen and eighteen years and between forty-five and fifty years, enrolled under the act entitled 'An act to organize forces to serve during the war,' approved February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Witherspoon presented the memorial of Arthur Morgan, of Georgetown, S. C., asking payment for losses sustained under the authority of officers of the Confederate Government; which was referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. Murray introduced
A bill "to prevent the malicious arrest of officers of the Army;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Also, a bill "to increase the rations of noncommissioned officers and privates;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Foote submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of withdrawing all diplomatic agents or commissioners heretofore sent abroad for the purpose of obtaining the recognition of our national independence, unless there shall be good and special reason to believe that such recognition will be made within the next ninety days;
which was adopted.
Also, the following resolution:
Resolved, That the President be requested, if, in his judgment, compatible with the public interest, such information as he may possess touching the disposition of foreign powers to recognize the independence of the Confederate States of America, and also such special information as he shall possess in regard to any negotiation which may be now pending with the newly organized Imperial Government of Mexico, and that all such information shall be communicated to this House, either in confidential session or otherwise, as the President shall deem most practicable.
Mr. Hilton moved that the resolution be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs; which motion prevailed.
Mr. Foote also submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Commissary and Quartermaster's Departments have the same powers of investigation and scrutiny as were given
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it at the last session, including the appointment of a clerk and authority to send for persons and papers;
which was adopted.
Mr. Sexton submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the expediency of so amending the law creating an invalid corps as to provide that officers or soldiers in hospitals and separated from their commands may be examined without being required to forward their applications through their commanding officers;
which was adopted.
Mr. Sexton introduced
A bill "to extend the franking privilege;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.
Mr. Baldwin submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the subject of impressment of supplies for the use of the Army and for other public purposes be referred to a select committee, to whom all resolutions and memorials on that subject at the present session heretofore or hereafter presented be referred;
which was adopted.
Mr. De Jarnette submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the papers of Captain William H. Brown, asking compensation for a slave impressed and lost in Confederate service, be withdrawn, and referred to the Committee on Claims;
which was adopted.
Also, the following resolution:
Resolved, That the papers of Mrs. Eliza Maury, asking a restoration of her pension, be withdrawn, and referred to the Committee on Claims;
which was adopted.
Mr. Baldwin, from the Committee on Ways and Means, to whom had been referred
A bill "to continue in force the provisions of an act approved January thirtieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, increasing the compensation of certain officers and employees'in the civil and legislative departments in Richmond,"
reported back the same with the recommendation that the committee be discharged from its further consideration, and that it do lie upon the table; which was agreed to.
Mr. Lyon, from the same committee, to whom had been referred the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Ways and Means be instructed to inquire whether under the provisions of the act to regulate the exportation of cotton, tobacco, etc., the Secretary of the Treasury has the right to prevent the sailing from a Confederate port of any vessel owned or chartered by any of the States of the Confederacy because said vessel has not complied with the regulations established by virtue of the provisions of said act, and whether said act does not expressly exempt from the operation of its provisions all vessels owned or chartered by the Confederate States, or any of them,
reported back the same with the recommendation that the committee be discharged from its further consideration, and that it be referred to the Committee on Commerce; which was agreed to.
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Mr. Lyon, from the same committee, to whom had been referred
A bill "to establish a bureau of foreign affairs in the War Department, with an agency in the Trans-Mississippi Department,"
reported back the same with the recommendation that the committee be discharged from its further consideration, and that it be referred to the Committee on Commerce; which was agreed to.
Mr. Baldwin, from the same committee, reported
A bill "to continue in force and amend the provisions of an act approved January thirtieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, increasing the compensation of certain officers and employees in the civil and legislative departments in Richmond;"
which was read a first and second time.
The question being on postponing the bill and placing it on the Calendar;
It was decided in the negative.
Mr. H. W. Bruce submitted the following amendment:
Add at the end of the bill the words "and such other clerks as may be there employed;"
which was agreed to.
The bill was then engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
The title was read and agreed to.
Mr. Chilton moved to reconsider the vote just taken, by which the bill was passed.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Lyon, from the Committee on Ways and Means, to whom had been referred
A resolution of inquiry relative to the best means of auditing claims in the Trans-Mississippi Department,
reported back the same with the recommendation that the committee be discharged from its further consideration, and that it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Perkins submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That so much of the President's message and accompanying documents as relates to matters properly within the inquiry of the different committees of this House be referred to the respective committees under the direction of the Speaker;
which was adopted.
Mr. Heiskell submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Rules report by rule to the House what standing committees shall be entitled to employ clerks;
which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Officers of the House.
On motion of Mr. Lyon, it was ordered that the Committee on Ways and Means be allowed to employ a clerk under such regulations as the House may hereafter adopt m regard to the appointment and pay of clerks.
On motion of Mr. Miles, it was ordered that the Committee on Military Affairs he allowed to employ a clerk under such regulations as the House may hereafter adopt m regard to the appointment and bay of clerks.
Mr. Swan moved that the House take a recess until 8 o'clock.
Pending which,
The House, on motion of Mr. Machen,
Adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.
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