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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 --EIGHTH DAY--TUESDAY, May 10, 1864.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Moore.
Mr. Lyon, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported
A bill "to release certain duties to railroad companies;"
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.
The bill was then engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. Conrad moved to amend the title by striking out the same and inserting in lieu thereof the following, viz:
A bill to exempt railroad companies from the payment of certain duties.
The amendment was agreed to, and the title as amended was road and agreed to.
A message was received from the Senate, by Mr. Nash, their Secretary; which is as follows, viz:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill and joint resolutions of the following titles, viz:
In which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
The Chair announced the appointment, of the Special Committee on Impressments as follows, viz:
Mr. Baldwin of Virginia, Mr. Conrad of Louisiana, Mr. Chilton of Alabama, Mr. Hartridge of Georgia, Mr. Murray of Tennessee, Mr. Simpson of South Carolina, and Mr. Gaither of North Carolina.
Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom had been referred a joint resolution of the Senate "of thanks to General Finegan and the officers and men of his command," reported back the same with the recommendation that it do pass.
The question being on postponing the joint resolution and placing it on the Calendar,
It was decided in the negative
The joint resolution was then read a third time and passed unanimously.
Mr. Miles, from the same committee, to whom had been referred a Senate joint resolution (S. 1) "of thanks to Major-General Hoke and Commander Cooke and the officers and men under their command for the brilliant victory over the enemy at Plymouth, North Carolina," reported back the same with the recommendation that it do pass.
The question being on postponing the joint resolution and placing it on the Calendar.
It was decided in the negative, and the joint resolution was read a third time and passed unanimously.
Mr. Russell, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom had been referred sundry resolutions on the subject of impressments, reported back the same with the recommendation that the committee
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be discharged from their further consideration, and that they be referred to the Special Committee on Impressments.
Mr. Russell, from the same committee, to whom had been referred
A bill "to authorize the judge of the district court for the northern district of Georgia to change the place of holding said court,"
reported back the same with the recommendation that it do pass.
The question being on postponing the bill and placing it on the Calendar,
It was decided in the negative.
The bill was then engrossed, read a third time, and passed, and the title was read and agreed to.
Mr. Russell, from the same committee, to whom had been referred the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire and report whether by requiring the opinion of the Attorney-General to be given, by the establishment of a board of construction, or by any other means, greater accuracy and uniformity may not be obtained in the construction and administration of the tithe and tax law of Congress,
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.
On motion of Mr. Machen, leave was granted him to withdraw from the files of the Clerk's office the papers referred to the Committee on the Commissary and Quartermaster's Departments at the last Congress.
Mr. Clopton introduced
A bill "to authorize the revision of the criminal statutes;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Hilton introduced
A bill "to regulate filling vacancies which may occur among officers of the Army;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. William E. Smith introduced
A bill "to protect private property against illegal impressments, and to prevent conflicts between the civil and military authorities;"
which was read a first and second time, and, together with a copy of orders from the military authorities on that subject, referred to the Special Committee on Impressments.
Mr. Moore submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Ways and Means inquire into the necessity and propriety of so amending an act entitled "An act to levy additional taxes for the common defense and support of the Government," as to exempt from taxation the produce and provisions of eighteen hundred and sixty-three, which have been subject to a tithe of one-tenth in kind;
which was adopted.
Mr. Burnett submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the expediency of amending the law imposing punishment upon soldiers for absence without leave from their companies and regiments, and for exceeding the leave given, and that the committee report by bill or otherwise;
which was adopted.
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On motion of Mr. Dupré, it was ordered that the Clerk deliver to the chairman of the Committee on Printing all papers referred to that committee at the last Congress.
Mr. Lamkin introduced
A bill "to provide for the payment of claims for certain property informally impressed for the use of the Confederate States Government;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Special Committee on Impressments.
Mr. Chambers moved that the resolution be rescinded, which was adopted yesterday, appointing a special committee on impressments. The motion prevailed.
Mr. Chambers introduced
A joint resolution "providing for the appointment of a special committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the subject of impressments;"
which was read a first and second time.
Mr. Chambers moved that the rule be suspended requiring the joint resolution to be referred to a committee.
The motion prevailed.
Mr. Heiskell moved that the joint resolution be referred to the Committee on Rules.
Mr. Foote called the question; which was ordered, and the motion to refer was lost.
The joint resolution was then engrossed, read a third time, and passed, and the title was read and agreed to.
A message was received from the Senate, by Mr. Nash, their Secretary, as follows:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed bills of the following titles, viz:
Mr. Smith of North Carolina introduced
A bill "to repeal an act regulating the granting of furloughs and discharges in hospitals, approved May, first, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, and for other purposes;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Medical Department.
Mr. Miles introduced
A bill "to provide for the speedy adjustment of the accounts of disbursing officers and agents who are charged with checks alleged to be forged or erroneously paid;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, accompanied by sundry papers relating to that subject.
Mr. Miles presented the memorial of the officers of the First Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, asking that the law allowing, officers to draw rations be amended; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Miles introduced
A bill "to provide uniform rates of compensation for mechanics
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and laborers employed by the various Executive Departments of the Government;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Foote presented the memorial of R. S. Parham and W. S. Wilkinson, of Tennessee, asking increase of compensation for detailed soldiers performing clerical duty in the Departments at Richmond; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Heiskell introduced
A joint resolution "directory to the Postmaster-General of the Confederate States;"which was read a first and second time.
Mr. Heiskell moved that the rule be suspended requiring it to be referred to a committee.
The motion was lost, and the joint resolution was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads,
Mr. Heiskell submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That a select committee be appointed, to consist of three members of this House, to inquire into and report upon the manner in which the laws authorizing impressments have been executed in the Department of East Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia, and whether any, and what, abuses have been committed under color of such laws;
which was adopted.
Mr. Sexton introduced
A bill "to extend the time for funding Treasury notes west of the Mississippi River;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Baldwin submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the President be respectfully requested to take such steps as may be necessary to insure the regular transmission and delivery of the correspondence of this city and of Congress, now represented to be delayed in the Richmond post-office.
Mr. Smith of North Carolina moved to lay the resolution on the table.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Sexton moved that the resolution be referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.
The motion was lost, and the resolution was adopted.
Mr. McMullin submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Commissary and Quartermaster's Departments be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing effectually by law that persons in the employment of the two departments aforesaid shall not be allowed hereafter to receive any pecuniary recompense for official services until they shall have satisfactorily shown that they are not within the conscript ages or have been disabled in war for the active performance of military duties in the field, and report by bill or otherwise;
which was adopted.
Mr. McMullin also presented several communications on the same subject; which were referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Perkins introduced
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A bill "to facilitate the settlement of claims of deceased officers and soldiers;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to a special committee on deceased soldiers' claims.
Mr. Foster introduced
A bill "for the relief of the taxpayers of the First Congressional district of Alabama;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Swan moved that the House take a recess until 8 o'clock p. m.
Pending which,
The House, on motion of Mr. Boyce,
Adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.
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