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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 --ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST DAY--WEDNESDAY, March 8, 1865.
OPEN SESSION.
The Chair laid before the House a series of patriotic resolutions adopted at a meeting of the Forty-first Regiment of Virginia Infantry, and a series of patriotic resolutions adopted at a meeting of the Nineteenth Battalion Virginia Artillery; which were laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.
Also, a letter from the Clerk of the House, covering estimates for appropriations for the House of Representatives for the six months ending December 31, 1865; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The Speaker appointed Mr. Dickinson of Alabama manager on the part of the House at, the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the bill "for the relief of bonded agriculturists in certain cases," in place of Mr. Foster, absent.
On motion of Mr. Blandford, the House resolved itself into secret session; and after some time spent therein, resolved itself into open session.
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A message was received from the Senate. by Mr. Nash, their Secretary; which is as follows, viz:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed n bill of the following title, viz:
In which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
And they have passed a joint resolution and bills of the following titles, viz:
The two last with amendments; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
Mr. Baldwin, from the Special Committee on Impressments, reported
A bill "to amend an act entitled 'An act providing for the establishment and payment of claims for a certain description of property taken or informally impressed for the use of the Army,' approved fourteenth June, 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.
Mr. Hanly submitted the following amendment:
In section 2, after the word "actually," insert the words "and necessarily;"
which was agreed to.
Mr. Wickham submitted the following amendment:
Add at the end the following as an independent section:
"The said commissioners shall also receive and take proof in relation to timber, fuel, and materials taken or informally impressed, in like manner as is provided in the case of forage, etc., in the act of which this is an amendment;"
which was agreed to.
The bill was engrossed, read a third time, and passed, and the title was read and agreed to.
Mr. Dickinson moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.
The motion was last.
The following messages were received from the Senate, by Mr. Nash, their Secretary:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed the bill of this House (H. R. 367) to increase the military force of the Confederate States, with an amendment; in which they request the concurrence of this House.
And they have passed the resolution of this House fixing a day for the adjournment of the present session of Congress, with amendments; in which they request the concurrence of this House.
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have agreed to the report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the bill (H. R. 350) to diminish the number of exemptions and details.
The Senate have appointed Mr. Wigfall and Mr. Watson on the committee to prepare an address to the people of the Confederate States in the place of Mr. Walker and Mr. Graham, who have been excused from further service on said committee.
The President of the Confederate States has notified the Senate that he did, on the 4th instant, approve and sign the following acts and joint resolution:
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Mr. Baldwin, from the same committee, to whom had been referred a bill "relative to the impressment of slaves," 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 engrossed and read a third time.
The question being put,
Shall the bill pass?
Mr. Marshall demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Akin, Baldwin, Barksdale, Baylor, Bradley, Burnett, Chambers, Cluskey, Cruikshank, De Jarnette, Funsten, Gaither, Gray, Hartridge, Herbert, Holliday, Johnston, Keeble, Lyon, Machen, McCallum, McMullin, Perkins, Ramsay, Read, Rogers, Russell, Sexton, Simpson, Smith of North Carolina, Triplett, Wickham, and Wilkes.
Nays: Atkins, Batson, Blandford, Branch, Eli M. Bruce, Carroll, Chrisman, Clopton, Colyar, Conrad, Dupré, Elliott, Ewing, Farrow, Gholson, Goode, Hatcher, J. T. Leach, Logan, Marshall, Menees, Miles, Pugh, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Snead, Turner, Villeré, and Mr. Speaker.
So the bill was passed, and the title was read and agreed to.
The Chair laid before the House a Senate bill (S. 221) "for the relief of maimed soldiers;" which was read a first and second time.
On motion of Mr. Clopton, the rule was suspended requiring the bill to be referred to a committee.
The bill was read a third time and passed, and the title was read and agreed to.
The Chair laid before the House a resolution "upon the subject of adjournment," which had been returned from the Senate with the following amendments:
The first amendment of the Senate was agreed to.
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Mr. Baldwin moved that the further consideration of the resolution and amendments be had in secret session; which motion prevailed.
The Chair laid before the House the bill (H. R. 367) "to increase the military force of the Confederate States," which had been returned from the Senate with an amendment.
On motion of Mr. Barksdale, the bill was postponed until tomorrow and made the special order for 12 o'clock.
Mr. Lyon entered a motion to reconsider the vote by which the joint resolution "providing for donations to the Treasury of the Confederate States" was passed.
The following messages were received from the Senate, by Mr. Nash, their Secretary:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a joint resolution of this House (H. R. 22) in regard to the Cotton Bureau in the Trans-Mississippi Department, with amendments; in which amendments I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of the following title, viz:
In which I am requested to ask the concurrence of this House.
On motion of Mr. Blandford, the House resolved itself into secret session; after some time spent therein, resumed business in open session.
On motion,
The House adjourned to to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock.
SECRET SESSION.
The House being in secret session,
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 resolution of this House of the following titles, viz:
The Senate have concurred in the amendments of the House of Representatives to the bill (S. 105) to authorize the exportation of cotton by the several States in payment for army and other supplies and cotton and wool cards.
Mr. Blandford, by leave, offered the following resolution; which was adopted, viz:
Resolved (the Senate concurring), That the joint rule of the two Houses be suspended for the purpose herein named, and that the President be requested to return to this House the bill "to provide transportation for Senators, Representatives, and Delegates in Congress to their respective places of residence, and to increase, for a limited time, their salaries," and that the same be placed in the archives of this House.
Mr. Perkins, by leave, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, to whom had been referred the foreign correspondence of the Government, reported back the same with the recommendation that it do lie upon the table; which was agreed to.
The House resumed the consideration of the unfinished business, viz:
The bill "to amend an act to organize forces to serve during the war."
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Mr. Dupré moved to lay the bill on the table.
Mr. J. M. Smith demanded the yeas and nays thereon;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Batson, Bradley, Burnett, Clark, Clopton, Cluskey, Conrad, Conrow, Cruikshank, Dickinson, Dupré, Elliott, Funsten, Gaither, Gholson, Hartridge, Hatcher, Johnston, Keeble, Lyon, Machen, Marshall, McCallum, Menees, Miles, Perkins, Ramsay, Read, Simpson, Snead, Swan, Triplett, Villeré, Wilkes, and Witherspoon.
Nays: Anderson, Atkins, Baldwin, Blandford, Branch, Horatio W. Bruce, Carroll, Chambers, Colyar, Darden, Fuller, Godde, Hanly, Herbert, J. M. Leach, J. T. Leach, Logan, McMullin, Miller, Pugh, Rogers, J. M. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Staples, Turner, and Mr. Speaker.
So the bill was laid upon the table.
Mr. Clopton, by leave, introduced
A joint resolution "providing for the removal of the seat of government;"
which was read a first and second time.
On motion of Mr. Colyar, the rule was suspended requiring the joint resolution to be referred to a committee.
Mr. Swan submitted the following amendment:
Strike out the whole thereof, which reads as follows, viz:
"That in case of any public emergency which may, in the judgment of the President, render it impolitic for the seat of government to remain at Richmond, or in case of the evacuation of Richmond, the next session of Congress shall be held at, and that three members of Congress (consisting of two members of the House of Representatives and one member of the Senate) be appointed to make suitable arrangements for the accommodation of Congress and the Executive Departments in case of removal.
"Resolved further, That the President is hereby authorized, in the event of removal of the seat of government as provided in the foregoing resolution, to cause the several Executive Departments, with the archives thereof, to be removed to,"
and insert in lieu thereof the following, viz:
"That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized, at any time when in his judgment the exigencies of the country require it, to remove the several Executive Departments, with their archives and all other archives, to such point as he may deem the interests of the country and the safety of the archives may require."
Mr. Swan moved that the joint resolution and amendment be referred to a select committee of five.
Mr. Read moved to amend the motion of Mr. Swan by striking out "select committee of five" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "joint committee of five on the part of the House of Representatives and three on the part of the Senate."
The amendment of Mr. Read was rejected, and the motion of Mr. Swan prevailed.
Mr. Blandford, by leave, introduced
A bill "to provide transportation for Senators, Representatives, and Delegates in Congress to their respective places of residence, and to increase, for a limited time, their salaries;"
which was read a first and second time.
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Mr. Blandford moved to suspend the rule requiring the bill to be referred to a committee.
Mr. McMullin demanded the yeas and nays thereon; which were not ordered, and the rule was suspended.
Mr. McMullin moved that all further proceedings on the bill be had in open session.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Elliott called the question; which was ordered.
The bill was engrossed and read a third time.
Mr. Conrad moved that all further proceedings under the bill be had in open session.
Mr. Colyar demanded the yeas and nays thereon;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Anderson, Baldwin, Batson, Eli M. Bruce, Carroll, Clopton, Colyar, Conrad, Cruikshank, De Jarnette, Dickinson, Dupré, Ewing, Farrow, Gholson, Gilmer, Hatcher, Holliday, J. T. Leach, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McMullin, Miller, Perkins, Ramsay, Simpson, Smith of North Carolina, Staples, Triplett, Turner, Villeré, Wickham, and Mr. Speaker.
Nays: Atkins, Barksdale, Baylor, Blandford, Bradley, Branch, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Chambers, Chrisman, Clark, Cluskey, Conrow, Darden, Elliott, Funsten, Gaither, Gray, Hanly, Hartridge, Herbert, Johnston, Keeble, Machen, McCallum, Menees, Miles, Pugh, Read, Rogers, Sexton, J. M. Smith, Snead, Wilkes, and Witherspoon.
So the motion was lost.
The question being put,
Shall the bill pass?
Mr. Read demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Atkins, Barksdale, Baylor, Blandford, Bradley, Branch, Eli M. Bruce, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Chambers, Chrisman, Clark, Cluskey, Conrad, Darden, Elliott, Ewing, Gaither, Gray, Hanly, Hartridge, Herbert, Johnston, Keeble, Machen, McCallum, Menees, Miller, Pugh, Read, Rogers, Sexton, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Snead, Swan, Triplett, Villeré, and Wilkes.
Nays: Anderson, Baldwin, Batson, Carroll, Clopton, Colyar, Conrow, Cruikshank, De Jarnette, Dickinson, Dupré, Farrow, Fuller, Funsten, Gholson, Gilmer, Goode, Hatcher, Holliday, J. M. Leach, J. T. Leach, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McMullin, Miles, Perkins, Ramsay, Russell, Simpson, Smith of North Carolina, Staples, Turner, Wickham, Witherspoon, and Mr. Speaker.
So the bill was passed.
Mr. Swan moved to reconsider the vote just taken.
The motion was lost, and the title was read and agreed to.
The Chair appointed the select committee, to whom was referred the joint resolution "providing for the removal of the seat of government" as follows, viz:
Mr. Swan or Tennessee, Mr. Clopton of Alabama, Mr. Clark of Missouri, Mr. Gholson of Virginia, and Mr. Perkins of Louisiana.
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On motion of Mr. Perkins,
The House resolved itself into open session.
Being again in secret session,
The House proceeded to the consideration of the resolution "upon the subject of the adjournment of Congress."
The question being on the second amendment of the Senate, which is as follows, viz:
Strike out "Wednesday next, the eighth instant, at twelve o'clock meridian," and insert "Saturday, the eleventh instant, at two o'clock postmeridian,"
Mr. Baldwin submitted the following amendment:
Strike out "Saturday, the eleventh instant," and insert in lieu thereof "Saturday, the eighteenth instant."
Mr. J. M. Smith called the question.
Pending which,
Mr. Gilmer moved that the House adjourn.
The motion was lost.
The question was ordered, and the amendment of Mr. Baldwin was lost.
Mr. Machen moved to reconsider the vote by which the first amendment of the Senate was agreed to (which vote had been taken in open session).
Mr. Gilmer moved that the House adjourn; which motion was lost.
Mr. H. W. Bruce moved to lay the resolution and amendments on the table.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Carroll moved the previous question; which was ordered.
The question being on the motion to reconsider the vote by which the first amendment of the Senate was agreed to,
Mr. Conrad demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Baldwin, Branch, Horatio W. Bruce, Clark, Colyar, Conrad, Conrow, Ewing, Funsten, Gholson, Gilmer, Goode, Hatcher, Holliday, Johnston, Machen, McCallum, McMullin, Menees, Miles, Miller, Perkins, Read, Staples, Triplett, Turner, and Wickham.
Nays: Anderson, Atkins, Barksdale, Batson, Baylor, Blandford, Bradley, Burnett, Carroll, Chambers, Chrisman, Clopton, Cluskey, Darden, Dickinson, Dupré, Elliott, Farrow, Fuller, Gaither, Gray, Hartridge, Herbert, Keeble, J. M. Leach, J. T. Leach, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, Pugh, Ramsay, Russell, Sexton, Simpson, J. M. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Snead, Villeré, Wilkes, and Witherspoon.
So the motion to reconsider was lost.
The question recurring on the second amendment of the Senate,
Mr. Atkins demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Anderson, Batson, Baylor, Blandford, Bradley, Carroll, Chrisman, Clopton, Cluskey, Conrow, Darden, Dickinson, Dupré, Elliott, Ewing, Farrow, Fuller, Gaither, Gilmer, Gray, Hartridge, Herbert, J. M. Leach, J. T. Leach, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, Pugh,
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Ramsay, Russell, Sexton, Simpson, J. M. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Villeré, Wilkes, and Witherspoon.
Nays: Atkins, Baldwin, Barksdale, Branch, Horatio W. Bruce, Clark, Colyar, Conrad, Funsten, Gholson, Goode, Hatcher, Holliday, Johnston, Keeble, Machen, McCallum, McMullin, Menees, Miles, Miller, Perkins, Read, Snead, Staples, Triplett, Turner, Wickham, and Mr. Speaker.
So the amendment was agreed to.
Mr. Anderson moved to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to, and called the question; which was ordered.
Pending which,
Mr. Machen moved that the House resolve itself into open session.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Machen moved that the House adjourn.
The motion was lost.
The question recurring on the motion to reconsider,
It was decided in the negative.
On motion of Mr. Dupré,
The House adjourned until 11 o'clock to-morrow.
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