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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 --SIXTIETH DAY--THURSDAY, January 19, 1865.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met at the usual hour, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Patterson.
The Speaker laid before the House a Senate bill "to secure more effectually the preservation and distribution of the effects of deceased officers and soldiers;" which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a bill of the Senate "authorizing the President to appoint commissioners for the exchange of prisoners;" which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a Senate bill "to regulate the pay and allowances of certain female employees of the Government;" which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Also, Senate bill "to increase the maximum rates of compensation allowed to railroad companies for the transportation of the mails of the Confederate States;" which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.
Also, Senate bill "to authorize the commanders of the reserves in each State to order general courts-martial and to revise the proceedings of courts-martial and military courts;" which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The House then proceeded to consider the bill "to lay an additional duty of five cents per pound on cotton, and a duty of five cents per pound on tobacco."
The question being on the motion of Mr. Marshall to recommit the bill, with instructions to report a bill impressing all the cotton in the Confederate States, at just compensation,
Mr. Foster called the question; which was ordered.
Mr. Echols demanded the yeas and nays,
Which were ordered,
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Yeas: Atkins, Baldwin, Baylor, Bradley, Branch, Eli M. Bruce, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Carroll, Cluskey, Conrow, Dupré, Ewing, Funsten, Gaither, Gholson, Gilmer, Goode, Gray, Hanly, Holder, Holliday, Johnston, Keeble, Lamkin, Machen, McMullin, Miles, Miller, Norton, Orr, Perkins, Pugh, Read, Russell, Sexton, Simpson, Snead, W. E. Smith, Staples, Triplett, Villeré, and Wilkes.
Nays: Akin, Anderson, Batson, Barksdale, Bell, Blandford, Boyce, Chilton, Chrisman, Clopton, Colyar, Cruikshank, Farrow, Foster, Fuller, Garland, Hatcher, Herbert, Hilton, J. M. Leach, J. T. Leach, Lester, Logan, Lyon, Moore, Ramsay, J. M. Smith, Shewmake, Turner, Witherspoon, and Mr. Speaker.
So the motion of Mr. Marshall to recommit the bill with instructions was agreed to.
Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following joint resolution; which was adopted:
Joint resolution of thanks to Brigadier-General John S. Williams and the officers and men under his command for their victory over the enemy at Saltville, Virginia, on the second day of October, eighteen hundred and sixty-four.
Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the thanks of Congress are eminently due, and are hereby cordially tendered, to Brigadier-General John S. Williams and the officers and men under his command, composed of his own troops, Gilmer's brigade, and the Virginia Reserves, for their victory over the enemy at Saltville, Virginia, on the second day of October, eighteen hundred and sixty-four.
Mr. Barksdale, rising to a question of privilege, offered the following resolution:
Whereas Henry S. Foote, a member of the House of Representatives from the State of Tennessee, after a formal declaration of his purpose to abandon his seat, did without leave, and in contempt of the rules of the House, so absent himself, and was arrested by the military authorities while attempting to pass into the lines of the public enemy, in defiance of the laws of the Confederate States: Therefore, be it
Resolved, That Henry S. Foote, in view of his conduct aforesaid, deserves the censure of the House, and it is the sense of this body that he should no longer continue a member of it.
The resolution was referred to the Committee on Elections.
Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported back the following joint resolution of thanks to Brig. Gen. Stand Watie, Colonel Gano, and the officers and men under their command, with the recommendation that it pass:
Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the thanks of Congress are due, and are hereby tendered, to General Stand Watie, Colonel Gano, and the officers and men under their command for the daring and skill exhibited in the capture of over two hundred and fifty loaded wagons from the enemy, in the Cherokee Nation, on the nineteenth day of September, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, and for other brilliant and successful services in the Indian Territory.
The joint resolution was engrossed, read a third time, and passed unanimously.
Mr. Miles, from the same committee, also reported back the following bills:
Senate bill "to amend the act, to provide an invalid corps," with an amendment providing for placing in the Invalid Corps all soldiers who have been discharged in ignorance of the law establishing an invalid corps, or have resigned, or may hereafter resign, or be
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discharged in ignorance of said law, and authorizes the President to reappoint to their former rank all meritorious officers who have resigned their positions in ignorance of the provisions of that act upon medical certificate of continued disability; said officers and all others of the Invalid Corps to be on half pay from the passage of this act, except when assigned to duty.
The amendment was concurred in, and the bill as amended was read the third time and passed.
Also, a bill of the Senate "allowing lieutenants in the Navy commanding battalions on shore the same pay as that received by lieutenants at sea;" which was read a third time and passed.
Mr. Miles, from the same committee, to whom was referred a Senate bill "requesting the governors of States to examine into lists of exempts by State authorities, with a view to turn over as many such able-bodied men between eighteen and forty-five years of age as can consistently be spared from the State service," reported back the same, with the recommendation that it do not pass.
The bill was laid on the table.
The Speaker announced as the special committee on the part, of the House on the exchange of prisoners the following:
Messrs. Marshall of Kentucky, Perkins of Louisiana, Gilmer of North Carolina, Clark of Missouri, and Funsten of Virginia.
Mr. Branch, under a suspension of the rules, introduced certain joint resolutions adopted by the legislature of Texas, strongly condemning all separate State negotiations for peace; which, on motion of Mr. Branch, were laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.
On motion of Mr. Boyce, Capt. Raphael Semmes, Confederate States Navy, was invited to a privileged seat on the floor of the House during his stay in the city.
Mr. Foote rose to a question of privilege, stating that he had been prevented from attending the sessions of the House by the interference of other persons, that his rights had been invaded, his reputation assailed, and he wished to be heard in their vindication.
The House decided to hear Mr. Foote at large by yeas and nays,
Mr. Foote then proceeded with his explanation at great length, during which the Speaker declared Mr. Foote out of order and ordered him to take his seat.
Mr. Snead offered the following resolution, upon rising to a question of privilege:
Whereas Henry S. Foote. a member of this House from the State of Tennessee, having absented himself from it without leave and having, by his own admission, written and forwarded to the Speaker a letter tendering his resignation as a member of this House whilst unlawfully attempting to pass to the enemy's capital:
Resolved, That the said Henry S. Foote is unworthy to occupy a sea; upon the floor of this House, and is hereby expelled.
Mr. Foote having asked for leave of absence, the question was on granting Said request; which request, after discussion, was withdrawn in order to allow the House to consider the case of Mr. Foote more directly.
Mr. Snead called the question on his resolution; which was not ordered,
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The resolution was then referred to the Committee on Elections.
The Speaker announced the following as the special committee under the resolution offered by Mr: Ayer of South Carolina, viz:
Messrs. Ayer of South Carolina, Baylor of Texas, and Holliday of Virginia.
The unfinished business, being the exemption bill, was taken up for consideration.
Mr. Blandford moved to postpone the consideration of the same until to-morrow at 12 o'clock m., in order that the substitutes and amendments may be printed.
The motion to postpone until to-morrow did not prevail.
Mr. Villeré moved that the House take a recess until 8 p. m.
Mr. Baldwin moved that the House adjourn; which motion prevailed, and
The House adjourned until 11 o'clock a. m. to-morrow.
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