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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 --TWENTY-FIRST DAY--WEDNESDAY, May 25, 1864.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Jeter.
Mr. Baylor, member from Texas, Mr. Kenner and Mr. Hedge, members from Louisiana, appeared, were sworn to support the Constitution of the Confederate States, and took their seats in the House.
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the President; which was read as follows, viz:
Richmond, Va., May 24, 1864.
To the House of Representatives:
In response to your resolution of the 10th instant, I herewith transmit for your information a communication from the Postmaster-General relative to the steps taken to secure the transmission and delivery of the mails from the post-office in this city during the past two weeks.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The communication and accompanying documents were referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.
The Chair laid before the House a Senate bill (S. 23) "to provide for the appointment of additional military storekeepers in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a Senate bill (S. 24) "to authorize the appointment of additional officers of artillery for ordnance duties;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a Senate bill (S. 37) "to amend an act entitled 'An act to impose regulations upon the foreign commerce of the Confederate States to provide for the public defense,' approved February sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, and for other purposes;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Also, a communication from Doctor Thackston and Doctor Tate, asking the exemption of dental surgeons; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Ramsay presented a communication from the same parties on the same subject; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Russell moved that the resolution offered by him on the 18th instant, to rescind the resolution of Congress to adjourn on the 31st instant, be taken up for consideration; which motion prevailed.
Mr. Welsh called the question; which was not ordered.
Mr. Akin moved that the consideration of the resolution be postponed until Saturday morning; which motion prevailed.
Mr. Russell submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the President be respectfully requested to inform the House whether the tobacco ration has been furnished to the Army; and, if not, whether additional legislation on the subject is necessary:
which was adopted.
Mr. Staples presented the memorial of Henry Miller, of Greenbrier County, Va., asking compensation for property destroyed by
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Confederate forces at the battle of White Sulphur; which was referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. Whitfield submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Quartermaster's Department inquire into the expediency of providing for the speedy payment of all sums due the officers and soldiers who may be confined in hospitals or on furlough in consequence of wounds or sickness;
which was adopted.
Mr. Foster submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be requested to inquire into the expediency of amending an act entitled "An act to amend an act approved March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, entitled 'An act to provide for the organization of the Navy,' so as to embrace naval storekeepers within the provisions of said act;"
which was adopted.
Mr. Dickinson introduced
A bill "for the relief of the (Mobile) Pelham Cadets;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Dickinson presented a memorial on the same subject; which was also referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Cruikshank introduced
A bill "to authorize volunteer chaplains in the Army to draw rations;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Pugh introduced
A bill "to prevent and punish frauds and larcenies upon the Government of the Confederate States;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Lyon presented the petition of sundry citizens of Pickens County, Ala., praying that provision be made for payment for horses and mules impressed for cavalry under the command of Major-General Lee; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Chilton presented the memorial of route agents, asking increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.
Also, the memorial of Cox, Otis & Co., asking the exemption from military service of the crews of steamboats; which was referred to (he Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Chilton submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Accounts be. and are hereby, directed to allow the Doorkeeper of this House, R. H. Wynne, a credit of eighteen hundred dollars, being the amount of the public money abstracted from him without his fault;
which was referred to the Committee on Accounts.
Also, the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire whether officers who are required to fill positions superior to their rank for a considerable time--say, six months consecutively--should not be entitled by law to receive the compensation due to the positions they respectively fill for the time they have so filled them, and that said committee report by bill or otherwise;
which was adopted.
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Mr. Clopton submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be directed to inquire into the expediency of providing for the payment to our officers and soldiers who are prisoners of war of a part of the pay due them in gold, or other available currency, for the purpose of relieving their necessities whilst in prison;
which was adopted.
Mr. Hilton submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of repealing so much of the fourth clause of the ninth section of "An act to organize forces to serve during the war," approved February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, as requires as a condition for the exemption of an overseer, on a farm or plantation, that he shall have been overseer on such farm or plantation on the first day of January last;
which was adopted.
Also, the following resolution:
Resolved, That until otherwise ordered, this House will take a daily recess at three o'clock, postmeridian, and meet again at eight o'clock, postmeridian.
Mr. Hilton called the question; which was ordered, and the resolution was adopted.
Mr. Hartridge introduced
A bill "to fix the compensation of certain officers of the Treasury;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The House then proceeded to the consideration of the special order, viz:
The bill to amend the tax laws,
And resolved itself into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Sexton in the Chair; and having spent some time therein, the committee rose and reported, through their Chairman, that the committee had had the subject referred to them under consideration, and had come to no conclusion thereon.
A message was received from the President, by Mr. Harrison, his Private Secretary; which is as follows, viz:
Mr. Speaker: The President yesterday approved and signed an act entitled
A message was received from the Senate, by Mr. Nash, their Secretary; which is as follows, viz:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have rejected a joint resolution (H. R. 7) of this House, to prevent restrictions upon the right of members of Congress to visit sick and wounded officers and soldiers in hospitals.
They have passed a bill and joint resolution of the following titles, viz:
In which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
The President of the Confederate States has notified the Senate that he did, on the 23d instant, approve and sign acts and a joint resolution of the following titles, viz:
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Mr. Baldwin moved that the House do now adjourn.
Mr. Hilton demanded the yeas and nays thereon;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Ayer, Baldwin, Boyce, Branch, Horatio W. Bruce, Conrad, R. K. Garland, Gholson, Gilmer, Hanly, Heiskell, Hodge, Kenner, Lamkin, J. M. Leach, J. T. Leach, Logan, McMullin, Miles, Miller, Montague, Moore, Morgan, Murray, Perkins, Sexton, Simpson, Triplett, and Witherspoon.
Nays: Akin, Anderson, Atkins, Bell, Blandford, Bradley, Bridgers, Eli M. Bruce, Chilton, Chrisman, Clopton, Colyar, Cruikshank, Dickinson, Dupré, Echols, Farrow, Foote, Foster, Fuller, Funsten, A. H. Garland, Goode, Hartridge, Hilton, Holder, Holliday, Lester, Lyon, Machen, Menees, Orr, Pugh, Ramsay, Russell, Shewmake, Singleton, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Smith of Alabama, Staples, Swan, Turner, Villeré, and Welsh.
So the motion to adjourn was lost.
The hour having arrived,
The House took a recess until 8 o'clock;
And having reassembled,
Mr. Moore moved that the House do now adjourn.
Upon which motion Mr. Hilton demanded the yeas and nays;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Hartridge, Johnston, J. T. Leach, Miller, Montague, Moore, Simpson, and Welsh.
Nays: Atkins, Blandford, Branch, Bridgers, Chilton, Chrisman, Clopton, Colyar, Dickinson, Ewing, Farrow, A. H. Garland, R. K. Garland, Hilton, Holder, Holliday, Keeble, Kenner, Lamkin, Machen, Morgan, Murray, Perkins, Ramsay, Russell, Singleton, J. M. Smith, W. L. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Smith of Alabama, Triplett, Turner, and Villeré.
No quorum being present,
Mr. Chilton moved a call of the House.
The motion prevailed.
Upon a call of the roll the following members answered to their names:
Messrs. Anderson, Atkins, Baylor, Blandford, Boyce, Branch, Bridgers, Chilton, Chrisman, Clopton, Colyar, Dickinson, Ewing, Farrow, Fuller, A. H, Garland, R. K. Garland, Gholson, Gilmer, Hartridge, Hilton, Holder, Holliday, Johnston, Keeble, Kenner, Lamkin, J. T. Leach, Logan, Lyon, Machen, Miller, Montague, Moore, Morgan, Murray, Perkins, Ramsay, Russell, Sexton, Shewmake, Simpson, Singleton, J. M; Smith, W. E. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Smith of Alabama, Triplett, Turner, Villeré, Welsh, Whitfield, Witherspoon, and Mr. Speaker.
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A quorum having voted,
Mr. Russell moved that all further proceedings under the call be dispensed with.
The motion prevailed, and
The House again resolved itself into Committee of the Whole to consider the special order, viz:
The bill to amend the tax laws;
And having spent some time therein, the committee rose and reported, through their Chairman, that they had had the subject referred to them under consideration, and had come to no conclusion thereon.
Hon. John V. Wright, member from Tennessee, appeared, was sworn to support the Constitution of the Confederate States, and took his seat in the House.
The Chair laid before the House a Senate bill (S. 15) "to furnish transportation to officers of the Army and Navy while traveling under orders;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a Senate joint resolution (S. 8) "directing the settlement of the claim of Zedekiah McDaniel and Francis M. Ewing for destroying the Federal gunboat Cairo by means of a torpedo;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. Hilton moved that the House do now adjourn; which motion was lost.
Mr. Foote, under a suspension of the rules, introduced
A bill "to punish frauds by the disbursing officers of the Government;"
which was read a first, and second time and referred to the Committee on the Commissary and Quartermaster's Departments.
Mr. E. M. Bruce moved that the rules be suspended to enable him to present a memorial.
The motion was lost.
And the House, on motion of Mr. McMullin,
Adjourned until 11 o'clock to-morrow.
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