A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journal of the Confederate Congress --NINETY-NINTH DAY--MONDAY, March 6, 1865.
Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, 1861-1865 [Volume 7]
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Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, 1861-1865 [Volume 7]
NINETY-NINTH DAY--MONDAY, March 6, 1865.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Read.
A message was received from the Senate, by Mr. Nash, their Secretary, as follows, viz:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill (S. 220) to increase the salary of the assistant treasurer at Charleston, S. C.; in which they request the concurrence of this House.
And they have passed bills of this House of the following titles, to wit:
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H. R. 347. An act to authorize and regulate the allowances of naval storekeepers; and
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H. R. 379. An act to levy additional taxes for the year 1865 for the support of the Government.
The bill last named with an amendment; in which they request the concurrence of this House.
The Chair laid before the House the bill (H. R. 379) "to levy additional taxes for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five for the support of the Government," which had been returned from the Senate with an amendment.
Mr Lyon moved that the bill and amendment be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Moore called the question; which was ordered.
Mr. Keeble demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
And are recorded as follows, viz:
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Yeas ... 27
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Nays ... 36 [37]
Yeas: Atkins, Baldwin, Bradley, Branch, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Clark, Cluskey, Conrad, Conrow, Dickinson, Gilmer, Goode, Hanly, Hartridge, Hatcher, Herbert, Johnston, Keeble, Lyon, McCallum, Menees, Perkins, Rogers, Staples, Wickham, and Mr. Speaker.
Nays: Anderson, Barksdale, Batson, Blandford, Boyce, Carroll, Chambers, Chrisman, Clopton, Cruikshank, Darden, De Jarnette, Dupré, Ewing, Farrow, Foster, Funsten, Gholson, Gray, J. M. Leach, J. T. Leach, Logan, McMullin, Miller, Moore, Pugh, Ramsay, Sexton, Simpson, J. M, Smith, W. E. Smith, Snead, Triplett, Turner, Villeré, Wilkes, and Witherspoon.
So the motion to refer was lost.
The amendment having been read as follows, viz:
That in addition to the taxes levied by the act approved February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to lay taxes for the common defense and carry on the Government of the Confederate States,' approved twenty-fourth April, eighteen hundred and sixty-three," there shall be levied for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five on the subjects of taxation hereinafter mentioned, and collected from every person, copartnership, association, or corporation liable thereto, taxes as follows to wit:
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I. Upon the value of all property, real, personal, or mixed, of every kind and description not hereinafter exempted or taxed at a different rate, one-fourth of one per cent. The value of the property taxed under this section
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shall be assessed on the basis of the market value of the same or similar property of the neighborhood where assessed in the year eighteen hundred and sixty; and it is hereby declared that all the property and assets of corporations, associations, or joint stock companies, whether incorporated or not, shall be assessed and taxed in the same manner and to the same extent as the property and assets of individuals. The tax on such property and assets to be assessed against and paid by such corporations, associations, or joint stock companies: Provided, That no bank or banking company shall be liable to pay a tax on deposits of money to the credit of and subject to the checks of others: And provided further, That the stock or shares representing property or assets in corporations, associations, or joint stock companies shall not be assessed or taxed as property under this act; but the dividends derived therefrom shall be subject to be taxed as income under existing laws.
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II. Upon the amount of all gold or silver coin, and upon the amount of all moneys held abroad, or bills of exchange drawn therefor, promissory notes, rights, credits, and securities, payable in foreign countries, and upon the value of all gold dust or gold and silver bullion, valued in specie, one per cent; and upon the value of gold and silver wares, plate, jewels, jewelry, and watches, valued on the basis of the value of such property in the year eighteen hundred and sixty, one-half of one per cent.
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III. Upon the amount of all moneys, except those mentioned in paragraph two, bank bills, Treasury notes, and other paper issued as currency, on hand or on deposit on the day of the approval of this act, two per cent.
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IV. Upon the amount of all solvent credits, except those mentioned in paragraph two, two per cent: Provided, That all the stocks and bonds issued by the Confederate States, or by any State, and all loans to the Government of the Confederate States, shall be exempt from taxation, except as to the interest payable thereon, which shall be taxed as income under existing laws: Provided further, That the interest on the bonds, stocks, or obligations of the Confederate States, or of any State, shall not be taxed as income in cases where the acts under which they were issued contain a stipulation that the interest thereon shall be exempt from taxation.
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V. Upon profits made by buying and selling merchandise, effects, or property of any description, or money, gold, silver, stocks, credits, or obligations of any kind, at any time between January first, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, and January first, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, ten per cent in addition to the tax on such profits as income; said profits to be ascertained by the difference between the price paid in Confederate Treasury notes, including all costs and charges, and the price realized in the same currency: Provided, That if the objects of sale were purchased at any time since January first, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, this additional tax shall attach on the profits realized on the sale thereof during the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five.
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VI. Upon the amount of profits exceeding twenty-five per cent made during the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five by any bank or banking company, insurance, canal, navigation, importing or exporting, telegraph, express, railroad, manufacturing, mining, dry dock, or other joint stock companies, of any description; whether incorporated or not, twenty-five per cent: Provided, That this tax shall apply to individuals and partnerships engaged in trade or in any business or employment enumerated in this paragraph, as well as to corporations or joint stock companies: Provided further, That individuals and partnerships who have not been assessed or have not paid for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-four the tax imposed on the excess of profits over twenty-five per cent for that year shall be assessed and required to pay, during the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five, twenty-five per cent tax on the excess of profits over twenty-five per cent realized during the year eighteen hundred and sixty-four.
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Sec. 2. That the property, the income, and moneys of hospitals, asylums, churches, schools, colleges, and charitable institutions shall be exempt from taxation under the provisions of this act or any other law. All property within the lines of the enemy shall be exempt from taxation so long as it remains within such lines, but any income derived therefrom shall be taxed as income under existing laws. The exemptions enumerated in paragraphs one, two, and three of section five of the act entitled "An act to levy additional taxes for the common defense and support of the Government," approved seventeenth February, eighteen hundred and sixty four, are hereby reenacted. Household furniture, where the value does not exceed three hundred dollars on the basis of the value thereof in the year eighteen hundred and sixty; wearing apparel;
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goods manufactured by any person for the use and consumption of his family, including slaves; poultry, fruit, and the products of gardens, when said poultry, fruit, and products are raised for the family of the producer, and not for sale; corn, bacon, and other agricultural products which were produced in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-four, and necessary for the taxpayer's family, including slaves, during the present year, and in his possession on the day of the approval of this act, shall be exempt from taxation.
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Sec. 3. That when property, real or personal, has been injured or destroyed by the enemy, or the owner thereof has been temporarily deprived of the use thereof, or, in the case of real estate, of the means of cultivating the same, by reason of the possession or proximity of the enemy, the assessment on such property may be reduced in proportion to the damage sustained by the owner, or the tax assessed thereon may be reduced in the same ratio by the district collector, on satisfactory evidence submitted to him by the owner or assessor: Provided, That the families of soldiers in the Army and those soldiers discharged or retired from active service in the field on account of physical disability, and whose families are composed entirely of white members, whose farms are cultivated by their families, shall not be liable to any tax in kind.
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Sec. 4. That the taxes on property for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five, imposed by this act, shall be assessed as on the day of the approval of this act, and be due and collected on the first day of June next, or as soon thereafter as practicable. The additional taxes on profits for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five shall be assessed and collected according to the provisions of existing laws in regard to the assessment and collection of taxes on income.
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Sec. 5: That the taxes levied by paragraphs one and two of the first section of this act shall be paid in Confederate States Treasury notes of the new issue, and certificates of indebtedness authorized by the act entitled "An act to reduce the currency and to authorize a new issue of notes and bonds," approved seventeenth February, eighteen hundred and sixty-four: but said Treasury notes and certificates shall be received by the collectors in payment of said taxes only at their market value in specie, to be ascertained, assessed, and declared from time to time as hereinafter mentioned: Provided, That at least one-half of said taxes shall be paid in Treasury notes. And it is hereby enacted that the certificates of indebtedness authorized by the said act of seventeenth February, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, may be issued for debts contracted prior to the passage of said act, and that the agent of the Treasury for the Trans-Mississippi Department be, and he is hereby, authorized to issue, under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, the certificates of indebtedness provided for in said act of seventeenth February, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, for debts contracted in the Trans-Mississippi Department prior or subsequent to the passage of said act of seventeenth February, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, and that all the certificates above mentioned shall be received in payment of said taxes at their market value in specie as aforesaid, subject, however, to the condition above mentioned, that one half of said taxes are to be paid in Treasury notes.
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Sec. 6. That the taxes mentioned in paragraphs three, four, five, and six of section one of this act, and all the money taxes imposed by the act of seventeenth February, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to lay taxes for the common defense and carry, on the Government of the Confederate States.' approved April twenty-fourth, eighteen hundred and sixty-three," shall be paid in Confederate States Treasury notes of the new issue, only at par.
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Sec. 7. That the State collector of taxes of each State shall, immediately after the passage of this act, appoint three discreet persons in each Congressional district in his State, who shall take and subscribe an oath before some officer authorized to administer the same, for the true and faithful performance of their duties under this act (which oath shall be deposited with such collector), and who shall meet on the fifth day preceding the first day of June next, at such places in their district as they or any two of them may agree upon, and shall ascertain and declare the market value in specie of Confederate Treasury notes and certificates of indebtedness, and shall immediately make out a written declaration of the same, and transmit a cony of the same to the collector of each county, parish, or district in their Congressional district, and also a copy to the State collector, on or before the first day of June; and thereafter said persons shall, on the fifth day, before the expiration of each succeeding month, again meet and ascertain and declare the values aforesaid, and make out and
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transmit copies of the same as aforesaid; and the values so ascertained and declared shall be the rate at which the said evidences of Government indebtedness and Treasury notes shall be receivable by collectors in payment of taxes during the month immediately succeeding such declaration: Provided, That the governor of any State may appoint one of the three persons in each Congressional district as above mentioned, in case he make such appointment on or before the first day of May next.
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Sec. 8. That the act approved seventeenth February, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, entitled "An act to levy additional taxes for the common defense and support of the Government," in so far as the same can be construed as imposing taxes for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five, or any other than the year eighteen hundred and sixty-four, is hereby repealed,
Mr. Sexton submitted the following amendment:
In third line of first clause of first section strike out "one-fourth" and insert "one-half;"
which was not agreed to.
Mr. Barksdale submitted the following amendment:
Strike out the whole of the Senate amendment and insert in lieu thereof the following, viz:
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"Section 1. Except as hereinafter exempted, a tax of two and one-half per centum shall be levied and collected upon the value, estimated in Confederate Treasury notes, of all the property, real, personal, and mixed; all goods, wares, and merchandise, all gold and silver ware, plate, jewels, jewelry, and watches: all promissory notes, credits, securities, open accounts, choses in action, and all other property of every kind and description whatsoever, owned, held, possessed, or claimed by any person, either in his own right or in right of another as parent, guardian, executor, administrator, agent, trustee, or in any other character whatever.
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"Sec. 2. A tax of ten per centum shall be levied on the amount of all gold and silver coin, gold dust, gold and silver bullion, bank bills, foreign exchange and money held abroad, which tax shall be paid in kind or in the coupons of the six per centrum nontaxable bonds authorized by the act approved February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, entitled 'An act to reduce the currency and to authorize a new issue of notes and bonds,' hereafter to be issued.
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"Sec. 3. In addition to the tax imposed by the preceding section, a tax of ten per centum shall be levied on the gross annual income, whether in money or other thing, and from whatever source derived, of every person doing or carrying on any kind of business in the Confederate States, or residing therein, which income shall be valued and collected in Confederate Treasury notes, except where directed by this act to be collected in kind.
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"Sec. 4. All the property, assets, and gross income of corporations, joint stock companies, partnerships, and associations of every description, whether incorporated or not, shall be assessed and taxed in the same manner, at the same rate, and to the same extent, as the property and income of individuals; the tax on such property, assets, and income to be assessed against and paid by the corporation, joint stock company, partnership, or association: Provided, That the stock, shares, or interest representing property or assets in corporations, joint stock companies, partnerships, and associations shall not be taxed except on the income derived therefrom: And provided further, That no bank or banking company shall be liable to pay tax on deposits of money to the credit of and subject to the checks of others.
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"Sec. 5. The tax on that part of the gross income of farmers, planters. graziers, and others who slaughter hogs, consisting of corn, wheat, rye, oats, buckwheat, rice, Irish potatoes, cured hay and fodder, sugar, molasses made of cane or sorghum, peas, beans, ground peas, cotton, wool, pork, and tobacco, shall be paid in kind, and shall be estimated, assessed, collected, and disposed of at the times and in the manner now prescribed by law.
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"Sec. 6. The value of all property, other than income, subject to taxation under the provisions of this act shall be estimated and assessed as of the seventeenth day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-five.
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"Sec. 7. From the tax on the value of property employed in agriculture shall be deducted the value of the tax in kind derived therefrom during the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five, as assessed under the law imposing it, and delivered to the Government, whether delivered during the year or afterwards,
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including the bacon deliverable after and not prior to the assessment of the tax on the property so employed; and the collection of the tax on such property shall be suspended, after assessment, under the order of the Secretary of the Treasury, until the value of the tithe to be deducted can be ascertained, and when so ascertained, it shall be the duty of the post quartermaster to certify, and of the district collector to deduct, the value of such tithe, provided that no credit shall be allowed beyond three and one-fourth per centum. The terms 'property employed in agriculture' shall include the entire plantation on which the tithe is produced, if it does not comprise more land than twice the quantity actually cultivated during the year, and also all the negroes on the plantation except those exclusively employed in other duties than the cultivation of the soil. In all cases where a tax is levied on income derived from property not employed in agriculture, on the value of which an ad valorem tax is laid the ad valorem tax shall be deducted from the income tax. provided that in no case shall less be paid than the ad valorem tax.
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"Sec. 8. In addition to the means now provided by law for securing a correct return of taxable property, the tax assessor shall administer to each taxpayer, at the time of assessing his property, the following oath, to wit: 'You do solemnly swear that the list or return which you now make is a just, true, full, and complete return or list of all the taxable property which you owned, held, possessed, or claimed on the seventeenth day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, either in your own right or in right of another, or which was owned, held, possessed, or claimed by the corporation, partnership, joint stock company, or association which you represent; that you have concealed nothing, and that you will make true answers to all questions propounded to you concerning the same: So help you God.' And at the time of assessing incomes the assessor shall administer to each taxpayer the following oath: 'You do solemnly swear that the account which you now render is a just, true, full, and complete account of your gross income from all sources, whether in money or other thing, realized during the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five; that you have kept nothing back; that you have resorted to no shift, subterfuge, or device to avoid paying the full amount of the tax levied by law upon incomes; that such income is not worth more in Confederate currency than the valuation which you now affix thereto, and that you will answer truly every question which may be asked you touching the same: So help you God.'
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"Sec. 9. The tax levied by this act upon incomes shall be due and payable on the thirty-first day of December, eighteen hundred and sixty-five.
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"Sec. 10. The following exemptions from taxation shall be allowed, to wit:
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"I. The amount or value of all bonds and certificates of loans or indebtedness issued or to be issued by the Confederate States: Provided, That the dividends or interest on such bonds or certificates shall be taxed like income derived from other sources, except where the dividends or interest are specially exempted by law from taxation.
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"II. The principal and interest of all loans made to the Confederate States upon the hypothecation of the bonds of said Confederate States. whereof the principal and interest are exempted from taxation by law.
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"III. The property, effects, and income of all schools, colleges, churches. hospitals, asylums, and other charitable institutions.
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"IV. Property of each head of a family to the value of five thousand dollars, estimated in Confederate Treasury notes, if all the property owned by Such person, exclusive of household furniture, is not worth more than that sum.
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"V. Gross income of each head of a family, amounting in value to three thousand dollars, estimated in Confederate Treasury notes, if such income does not exceed that sum.
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"VI. The wearing apparel of each taxpayer, and his or her family, not including jewelry and watches.
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"VII. All Treasury notes of the Confederate States.
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"VIII. The property of companies formed under the act entitled 'An act to establish a volunteer navy,' provided that the gross income of such companies shall be taxed.
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"IX. The corn, bacon, wheat, and other agricultural products, including cotton, which were produced in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-four, and in the producer's possession on the seventeenth of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-five and necessary for the support of himself, his family, slaves, and stock during the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five and from or on which the taxes in kind have been deducted and delivered or paid.
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"X. All property within the lines of the enemy so long as it remains there.
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"XI. The products of gardens intended only for the use of the owner's family, and fruits raised for domestic use and not for sale.
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"XII. Articles of subsistence, including fuel, in the possession of the consumer on the seventeenth of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, intended and actually necessary for the support of himself and family during the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five.
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"XIII. The salaries and pay received from the Government by persons in the military and naval service.
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"Sec. 11. The first section of 'An act for the relief of taxpayers in certain cases,' approved February thirteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, and the act amendatory thereof, approved June tenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, are hereby reenacted.
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"Sec. 12. Where property has been injured, taken, or destroyed by the enemy or by troops of the Confederate States, or the owner has been deprived temporarily of the use or occupancy of the same or of the means of cultivating it by reason of the presence or proximity of the enemy, the assessment on such property may be reduced in proportion to the damage sustained by the owner, or the tax thereon may be reduced in the same ratio by the district collector on satisfactory evidence submitted to him by the owner or assessor.
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"Sec. 13. Where crops or other property subject to a tax in kind may be destroyed, in whole or in part, by fire or other accidental cause, or may be taken or destroyed by the enemy or by troops of the Confederate States, if before assessment the assessor shall regard the part of the crop or property not taken or destroyed as all that was produced by the owner; if after assessment, and the loss be satisfactorily proven, the post quartermaster shall also regard the portion of the crop or property not taken or destroyed as all that was produced, and the proof relieving the producer shall entitle the quartermaster to a credit on his return for the property thus lost.
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"Sec. 14. Where the quantity of corn reserved from the tax in kind is not sufficient to supply the actual wants of the producer, without any default on his part, the Secretary of War may, on satisfactory proof of the fact, allow the money value to be paid for the tithe to the extent thus required.
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"Sec. 15. All laws levying direct or internal taxes not continued in force by this act and all laws conflicting with this act are hereby repealed."
The amendment of Mr. Barksdale was rejected.
The question being put,
Shall the House concur in the amendment of the Senate?
Mr. Sexton demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
And recorded as follows, viz:
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Yeas ... 22
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Nays ... 40
Yeas: Atkins, Baldwin, Boyce, Branch, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Carroll, Chrisman, Clark, Colyar, Conrow, Darden, Funsten, Gray, Menees, Moore, Murray, Sexton, Snead, Triplett, Villeré, and Wilkes.
Nays: Anderson, Batson, Blandford, Bradley, Chambers, Clopton, Cluskey, Conrad, Cruikshank, De Jarnette, Dickinson, Ewing, Farrow, Gaither, Gholson, Gilmer, Hanly, Hartridge, Hatcher, Johnston, J. M. Leach, J. T. Leach, Logan, Lyon, McMullin, Miles, Miller, Pugh, Ramsay, Rogers, Russell, Simpson, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Staples, Turner, Wickham, Witherspoon, and Mr. Speaker.
So the House refused to concur in the amendment.
Mr. Gilmer moved that the House disagree to the amendment of the Senate.
The motion prevailed.
Mr. Gilmer moved that a committee of conference be tendered to the Senate on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses.
The motion prevailed.
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The Chair laid before the House a Senate bill (S. 220) "to increase the salary of the assistant treasurer at Charleston, South Carolina;" which was read a first and second time.
The rule having been suspended, on motion of Mr. Farrow, requiring the bill to be referred to a committee, it was read a third time and passed, and the title was read and agreed to.
Mr. Lyon moved that the rule be suspended to enable him to report from the Committee on Ways and Means.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Turner offered the following resolutions:
Whereas General John S. Preston, Superintendent of Conscription, reports twenty-one thousand three hundred and forty-eight conscripts from North Carolina and only eighty-one from Louisiana, three hundred and sixty-two from Florida, five thousand two hundred from Tennessee, eight thousand six hundred and sixty-one from Mississippi, fourteen thousand eight hundred and seventy-five from Alabama, eight thousand nine hundred and ninety-three from Georgia, nine thousand one hundred and twenty from South Carolina, thirteen thousand nine hundred and thirty-three from Virginia, and not one from Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, or Kentucky: Therefore,
Resolved, That such a weak, partial, and unjust execution of the law was injurious and hurtful to the cause for which the country bleeds, and was especially unjust, cruel, and oppressive toward the citizens of North Carolina.
Resolved, That whilst the citizens of North Carolina were grievously wronged by the nonexecution of the conscript law in other States they are now wronged in three particulars in General Preston's report--
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First. The State has more conscripts than he reports;
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Secondly. She has more quasi volunteers (as he calls them) than he reports; and
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Thirdly. She has not resisted the execution of the conscript law or any other law of the Confederate States.
Mr. McMullin moved to postpone the consideration of the resolutions until 2 o'clock to-day.
The motion was lost.
The morning hour having expired,
Mr. Ramsay moved that the Calendar be postponed until the call of the States be completed.
Mr. Gray moved to amend the motion of Mr. Ramsay by striking out the "call of the States" and inserting "pending matter."
The amendment was not agreed to.
The question recurring on the motion of Mr. Ramsay,
Mr. Anderson demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
And recorded as follows:
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Yeas ... 26
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Nays ... 87
Yeas: Barksdale, Batson, Boyce, Carroll, Colyar, Conrad, Cruikshank, Farrow, Funsten, J. M. Leach, J. T. Leach, Logan, McMullin, Menees, Miles, Miller, Perkins, Ramsay, W. E. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Snead, Staples, Turner, Villeré, Wickham, and Witherspoon.
Nays: Anderson, Atkins, Baylor, Blandford, Bradley, Branch, Burnett, Chairman, Clopton, Cluskey, Conrow, Darden, De Jarnette, Dickinson, Ewing, Foster, Gaither, Gholson, Gilmer, Goode, Gray, Hanly, Hartridge, Hatcher, Johnston, Keeble, Lyon, Machen, Marshall, McCallum, Moore, Pugh, Rogers, Russell, J. M. Smith, Triplett, and Wilkes.
So the motion was lost.
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On motion of Mr. Clark,
The Speaker was authorized to appoint a manager on the part of the House at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the bill "to amend an act entitled 'An act to organize a general staff,'" in place of a manager now absent from the city.
Mr. Lyon moved that the unfinished business be postponed to enable him to move to suspend the rules, in order to report from the Committee on Ways and Means; which motion prevailed.
The rules were suspended, and Mr. Lyon, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported
A bill "making an appropriation to Supply a deficiency in the War Department during the fiscal period ending December thirty-first, eighteen hundred and sixty-four;"
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.
On motion of Mr. Lyon, the rule was suspended requiring the bill to be considered in Committee of the Whole, and the bill was engrossed, read a third time, and passed, and the title was read and agreed to.
Mr. Lyon moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Lyon, from the same committee, reported
A bill "making an additional appropriation for the redemption of a temporary loan, made in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-one, of sundry banks in the Confederate States, to supply funds to the Treasury;"
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.
On motion, the rule was suspended requiring the bill to be considered in Committee of the Whole, and the bill was engrossed, read a third time, and passed, and the title was read and agreed to.
Mr. Lyon moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Lyon, from the same committee, reported
A bill "to increase the compensation of two of the tax collectors in the city of Richmond;"
which was read a first and second time.
The question being on postponing the bill,
It was decided in the negative.
Mr. Gholson submitted the following amendment:
After the word "Richmond" insert the words "and the tax collector for the city of Petersburg;"
which was agreed to.
Mr. Funsten submitted the following amendment as an independent section:
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Sec. 2. That the compensation of assessors in the city of Richmond and the city of Petersburg from and after the passage of this act shall be increased fifty per cent on the compensation now received by them.
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Mr. Colyar demanded the yeas and nays thereon;
Which were ordered,
And recorded as follows, viz:
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Yeas ... 36
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Nays ... 19
Yeas: Anderson, Atkins, Barksdale, Blandford, Branch, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Carroll, Chambers, Chrisman, Colyar, Darden, De Jarnette, Ewing, Farrow, Funsten, Gaither, Gholson, Hartridge, Holliday, Johnston, Keeble, J. T. Leach, Machen, McMullin, Menees, Miles, Miller, Moore, Perkins, Pugh, Ramsay, Russell, W. E. Smith, Wickham, and Wilkes.
Nays: Baldwin, Batson, Clopton, Conrow, Dickinson, Dupré, Gray, Hatcher, J. M. Leach, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McCallum, Rogers, J. M. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Triplett, Villeré, and Witherspoon.
So the amendment was agreed to.
The bill was engrossed and read a third time.
The question being put,
Shall the bill pass?
Mr. Carroll demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
And recorded as follows, viz:
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Yeas ... 38
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Nays ... 19
Yeas: Anderson, Atkins, Barksdale, Baylor, Blandford, Branch, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Chambers, Chrisman, Cluskey, Colyar, Conrad, Cruikshank, De Jarnette, Ewing, Farrow, Funsten, Gaither, Gholson, Goode, Hartridge, Hatcher, Herbert, Holliday, Johnston, Keeble, J. T. Leach, Lyon, Machen, Marshall, Miles, Miller, Moore, Pugh, Russell, Wickham, and Wilkes.
Nays: Batson, Carroll, Clopton, Conrow, Dupré, Gray, J. M. Leach, McCallum, McMullin, Perkins, Ramsay, Rogers, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Triplett, Turner, Villeré, and Witherspoon.
So the bill was passed.
Mr. Gholson moved to amend the title by striking out the whole thereof and inserting the following, viz:
A bill to increase the compensation of tax collectors and assessors in the cities of Richmond and Petersburg.
The amendment was agreed to, and the title as amended was read and agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Lyon, the unfinished business was again postponed, the rules were suspended, and the special order, viz:
The bill "making additional appropriations for the support of the Government of the Confederate States of America from January first to June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-five," was taken up for consideration.
The rule having been suspended requiring the bill to be considered in Committee of the Whole,
Mr. Lyon, from the Committee on Ways and Means, submitted the following amendments; which were agreed to, viz:
Add the following:
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"For the erection of additional buildings at Drewry's Bluff for the accommodation of acting midshipmen, six thousand dollars.
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"For the engineer service, five million dollars.
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"For salaries of three commissioners under the sequestration act, for clerk hire, and for incidental and contingent expenses of the board, five thousand dollars.
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"For traveling expenses incurred in carrying election returns of the Army of Tennessee to Arkansas in pursuance of authority contained in the act approved February seventeenth, eighteen hundred an sixty-four, entitled 'An act to provide for holding elections for Representatives in the Congress of the Confederate States of America from the State of Arkansas,' five thousand dollars.
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"For compensation of the Secretary of War, Assistant secretary, chief of bureau, clerks, and messengers (to supply deficiency caused by increase of pay from February twenty-second to June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-five), one hundred and sixty-five thousand-three hundred dollars."
The bill was engrossed, read a third time, and passed, and the title was read and agreed to.
Mr. Lyon moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.
The motion was lost.
On motion of Mr. Lyon, the unfinished business was again postponed, the rules were suspended, and the special order, viz:
The bill "authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to borrow specie to be applied to the reduction and redemption of the currency," was taken up for consideration.
Mr. Lyon moved to amend the bill by striking out all after the third section; which reads as follows, viz:
The amendment was agreed to.
The bill was engrossed and read a third time.
The question being put,
Shall the bill pass?
Mr. Marshall demanded the yeas and nays; which were not ordered.
The bill was passed, and the title was read and agreed to.
Mr. Marshall moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.
The motion was lost.
The Speaker appointed Mr. Holliday of Virginia manager on the part, of the House at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on t e bill "to amend an act entitled 'An act to organize a general staff.'"
He also appointed Mr. Gilmer of North Carolina, Mr. Lyon of Alabama, Mr. Russell of Virginia, Mr. Anderson of Georgia, and Mr. Hanly of Arkansas managers on the part of the House at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the bill "to levy additional taxes for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five for the support of the Government."
On motion of Mr. Conrad, the unfinished [business] was again postponed, the rules were suspended, and Mr. Conrad, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported
A bill "to amend an act entitled 'An act to regulate the destruction of property under military necessity, and to provide for the indemnity thereof,' approved March seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two;"
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. Marshall submitted the following amendment:
Strike out the proviso: which reads as follows, viz: "Provided, That, in case the President should find that any property of either of the kinds above enumerated in districts invaded or threatened with immediate invasion may be sold with the privilege of exporting the same, he is hereby authorized in his discretion to direct that such sale be made in the same manner as if the said property had been purchased by the Government, the proceeds of such sale to be deposited in the Treasury of the Confederate States."
Pending which,
A message was received from the Senate, by Mr. Nash, their Secretary, as follows, viz:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate insist on their amendment, disagreed to by the House of Representatives, to the bill (H. R. 379) to levy additional taxes for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five for the support of the Government, agree to the conference asked by the House of Representatives on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses thereon, and have appointed Mr. Semmes. Mr. Oldham, and Mr. Graham managers at said conference on their part.
Mr. Cruikshank, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported as correctly enrolled
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H. R. 389. An act to amend an act to authorize the appointment of assistants to the Register in signing bonds and certificates, approved February 14, 1863;
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H. R. 399. An act to authorize the Secretary of War to purchase a percussion-cap pressing machine; and
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S. 191. An act to abolish the office of all officers engaged in discharging the duties of provost-marshal, except within the lines of an army in the field.
And the Speaker signed the same.
A message was received from the President, by Mr. Harrison, his Private Secretary, notifying the House that on the 28th ultimo [he] approved and signed the following acts and joint resolution:
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H. R. 373. An act to provide for the more efficient transportation of troops, supplies, and munitions of war upon the railroads, steamboats, and canals in the Confederate States, and to control telegraph lines employed by Government;
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H. R. 375. An act authorizing proof to be received of the loss or destruction of vouchers necessary in the settlement of accounts; and
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H. R. 27. Joint resolution for the relief of the legal representatives of John R. Cardwell.
That on the 1st instant he approved and signed the following acts:
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H. R. 325. An act to make appropriations for the support of the Government of the Confederate States of America from the first day of January to the thirtieth day of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-five;
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H. R. 377. An act to establish an arsenal and foundry in the valley of Deep River, in the State of North Carolina; and
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H. R. 382. An act to amend the fourteenth section of an act entitled "An act to reduce the currency and to authorize a new issue of notes and bonds."
That on the 2d instant he approved and signed the following acts:
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H. R. 348. An act to increase the compensation of marshals, criers, jurors, and witnesses;
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H. R. 371. An act to relieve agriculturists exempted and detailed under the act of February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, in certain cases;
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H. R. 381. An act to provide for the redemption of the old issue of Treasury notes held by certain Indian tribes; and
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H. R. 383. An act to require noncommissioned officers and privates held as prisoners of war to be paid upon their individual certificates, supported by oath.
Mr. Blandford called the question; which was ordered.
The question being on the amendment of Mr. Marshall,
Mr. Marshall demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
And recorded as follows, viz:
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Yeas ... 20 [21]
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Nays ... 33
Yeas: Atkins, Clark, Colyar, Conrow, Cruikshank, Darden, Gaither, J. T, Leach, Logan, Machen, Marshall, McCallum, Miller, Perkins, Read, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Triplett, Villeré, and Witherspoon.
Nays: Anderson, Baldwin, Barksdale, Batson, Baylor, Blandford, Boyce, Eli M. Bruce, Carroll, Chambers, Clopton, Cluskey, Conrad, Dickinson. Dupré, Farrow, Gholson, Gilmer, Goods, Gray, Hartridge, Hatcher, Herbert, Holliday, Johnston, Lyon, McMullin, Ramsay, Snead, Swan, Wickham, Wilkes, and Mr. Speaker.
No quorum voting,
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Mr. Hatcher moved that the House adjourn.
The motion was lost.
A quorum having been found to be present on the division of the House on the motion to adjourn,
The yeas and nays are again recorded.
And are as follows, viz:
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Yeas ... 22
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Nays ... 35 [34]
Yeas: Atkins, Chambers, Chrisman, Clark, Colyar, Conrow, Cruikshank, Darden, Gaither, Keeble, J. T. Leach, Logan, Machen, Marshall, McCallum, Miller, Ramsay, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Triplett, and Witherspoon.
Nays: Anderson, Baldwin, Barksdale, Batson, Baylor, Blandford, Boyce, Eli M. Bruce, Horatio W. Bruce, Carroll, Clopton, Cluskey, Conrad, Dickinson, Dupré, Ewing, Farrow, Gholson. Gilmer, Gray, Hartridge, Hatcher, Herbert, Holliday, Johnston, Lyon, McMullin, Read, Snead, Swan, Villeré, Wickham, Wilkes, and Mr. Speaker.
So the amendment of Mr. Marshall was rejected.
Mr. Blandford moved that the House take a recess until half past 7 o'clock to-night.
Pending which,
On motion of Mr. J. M. Smith,
The House adjourned until 11 o'clock to-morrow.
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