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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-THIRD DAY--FRIDAY, May 27, 1864.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Jeter.
Mr. Farrow moved to have the Journal of yesterday corrected, lie was recorded as having voted yea on the vote on the passage of the bill "to regulate the pay and mileage of members of Congress during the present session." He was not present when the vote was taken and did not vote at all.
The motion prevailed.
Mr. Echols presented the memorial of the Baptist convention of Georgia, asking a modification of the tax law; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Lester submitted the following resolution:
Whereas in some of the States the laws require both a receiver of tax returns and a collector of taxes in the collection of the taxes for the support of the State government; and
Whereas there is no provision made by any law of Congress for the discharge from military service of an officer or soldier of the Army of the Confederate States who may be elected by the people to the office of receiver of tax returns: Therefore,
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs consider the propriety of
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so amending the act of April second, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, as to require the discharge of a soldier or the acceptance of the resignation of an officer who may have been or who may be elected by the people to such office of receiver of tax returns;
which was adopted.
Mr. Lester presented the claim of John Y. Flowers, agent for the collection of tax in kind, asking relief from loss occasioned by the breaking open of an iron safe in which he had the funds of the Government deposited; which was referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. Anderson presented the memorial of the Macon and Brunswick Railroad Company, asking to be relieved from all taxes except the 5 per cent upon their capital; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Also, the memorial of members of the hospital staff at Macon, Ga., relative to officers' rations; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. J. M. Smith presented the memorial of citizens of Pike County, Ga., asking the establishment of a daily mail route from Griffin, Ga., to Zebulon, Pike County, Ga.; which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.
Mr. W. E. Smith presented the memorial of a convention of planters resident in Miller and Early counties, Ga., asking a construction of the tax act of February 17, 1864; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. W. E. Smith introduced
A bill "to encourage the production of provisions, and to allow compensation for tithes in certain cases;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. W. E. Smith submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of effecting at this or some future time the following changes in our military system:
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And if, in the opinion of said committee, such or any one or more of the foregoing propositions be required now by the public service, the chairman thereof is requested to report a bill to carry the same into effect;
which was adopted.
Mr. Moore submitted the following resolution:
Whereas information comes to us through our public journals, and from private sources, which leaves but little doubt our enemies are sending organized bands of raiders through the country, whose mission it is to murder in cold blood noncombatant citizens, unoffending women and children, to violate the persons of our females, and perpetrate other crimes and outrages disgraceful to humanity and practiced only by barbarians: Therefore,
Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary to inquire into the truth of these reports, and if true, to report a bill authorizing the infliction of such measures of retaliation as will effectually protect our people from these outrages;
which was adopted.
Mr. Perkins submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on the Medical Department to inquire and report if it be possible to effect an arrangement by which prisoners of war on each side shall be attended during captivity by surgeons of their own army, under such restrictions as will guard against abuse and secure proper medical attention;
which was adopted.
Mr. Conrad presented a communication from the Second Auditor relative to the records of deceased officers and soldiers; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Dupré introduced
A joint resolution "of thanks to Major-General Richard Taylor and the officers and men of his command;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Holder presented the memorial of citizens of a portion of Pontotoc County, Miss., praying relief from taxes in certain cases; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Barksdale introduced
A joint resolution "for the relief of Nathaniel Moore;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.
Mr. Barksdale submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of passing a law for the relief of postmasters whose business has been increased temporarily by the presence of large military forces;
which was adopted.
Mr. Barksdale presented the petition of Mrs. Ann E. Grymes, asking a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Claim.
Mr. Fuller presented the memorial of Government employees at the Fayetteville (N. C.) Arsenal, asking increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Fuller introduced
A bill "to provide for transfers from local and special service to the army in the field;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
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Also, a bill "to authorize the organization of a company of siege artillery from the Thirty-sixth Regiment North Carolina Troops;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Smith of North Carolina submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to report a bill legalizing the organization of a body of North Carolina troops known as Mallett's Battalion, with authority to enlarge the same to a regiment;
which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Gilmer presented, a memorial in behalf of Commander John Manning and others, of the Navy; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Also, the memorial of C. H. Wiley, superintendent of common schools in North Carolina, praying the passage of an act authorizing the disbursing officers of common schools to exchange bonds for the new currency; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Gilmer introduced
A bill "in relation to the four per cent Confederate bonds held by the disbursing officers of the common schools of North Carolina;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. J. T. Leach introduced
A joint resolution "declaring the supremacy of the civil over the military law;"
which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Witherspoon submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Moans to Inquire into the propriety of permitting persons who have failed to make a support of provisions during the past year to retain their tax in kind upon the proper showing being made that the same is required and essential for that purpose, and upon the payment of the prices fixed by the commissioners under the Impressment act;
which was adopted.
Mr. Simpson presented the memorial of the Columbia (S. C.) railroad convention, asking a modification of the tax law; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Ayer submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Ways and Means be instructed to inquire and report by bill or otherwise to this House on the propriety and expediency of forthwith levying an export duty on cotton, tobacco, and naval stores, the proceeds of which shall be pledged to the payment of the interest and principal of the six per cent bonds that are authorized to be issued by the act of Congress entitled "An act to reduce the currency and to authorize a new issue of notes and bonds," approved February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four;
which was adopted.
Mr. Miles submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of allowing by law to seamen and marines some increase of the privileges now enjoyed by them in the purchase of clothing and small stores;
which was adopted.
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Also, the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the exemption law so as to allow increased facilities to railroad companies in the transportation of Government freight;
which was adopted,
Mr. Atkins introduced
A bill "to authorize Confederate district judges to hold their courts out of their districts in certain cases;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Atkins submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the funeral expenses of Honorable John A. Wilcox, a member-elect of this Congress, be paid out of the contingent fund of this House, the same not having been paid out of the contingent fund of the House of Representatives of the last Congress, in accordance with a resolution adopted by the last House of Representatives;
which was adopted.
Mr. Atkins moved that he have leave to withdraw from the Committee on Claims the papers in the case of Harvey M. Watterson, subject to the rule of the House.
The motion prevailed.
Mr. McCallum introduced
A bill "to amend an act approved February sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, amending an act to regulate impressments, approved March twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, and to repeal an act amendatory thereof, approved April twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and sixty-four;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Impressments.
Also, a bill "to increase the pay of commissioned officers, noncommissioned officers, and privates in the Army of the Confederate States;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Murray introduced
A bill "to amend an act entitled 'An act to reduce the currency and to authorize a new issue of notes and bonds,'"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Foote submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of adopting some such preamble and resolution as the following, viz:
Whereas the Constitution of the Confederate States has intrusted Congress in a very special manner with the control and regulation of the currency; and
Whereas it will be impossible that Congress can perform this duty effectively unless the office of Secretary of the Treasury be occupied by some individual of unquestioned high ability as a financier, whose views in regard to important matters of finance, and especially in regard to the currency, are in harmony with those of Congress, and who shall be willing at all times to carry into prompt and efficient operation the deliberate enactments of Congress upon this important subject; and
Whereas the Secretary of the Treasury, for the reasons above suggested, has been made by the Constitution directly responsible to Congress; now, without claiming in the least degree a right to trench upon the undoubted prerogative of the Executive Department in matters of official appointment and removal
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from office, but with a sincere desire to harmonize with the President in all things appertaining to the public weal,
Be it resolved, That, without intending to call in question the honesty or patriotism of the present incumbent of the Treasury Department, it is the deliberate judgment of this House that the public welfare does demand that he should no longer be retained in said Department, but that some other individual of proper ability as a financier more likely to be successful in administering the affairs of said Department, and more likely to command the public confidence, should be appointed in his place.
Mr. Barksdale moved to lay the resolution on the table.
Mr. Foote demanded the yeas and nays thereon;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Akin, Ayer, Barksdale, Bell, Branch, Bridgers, Eli M. Bruce, Horatio W. Bruce, Chilton, Chrisman, Conrad, De Jarnette, Dickinson, Elliott, Farrow, Gholson, Johnston, Kenner, Lyon, Marshall, McCallum, Miles, Montague, Morgan, Perkins, Pugh, Rives, Russell, Sexton, Shewmake, Simpson, Singleton, J. M. Smith, Staples, Swan, Whitfield, and Witherspoon.
Nays: Anderson, Atkins, Baldwin, Baylor, Blandford, Bradley, Chambers, Clopton, Colyar, Cruikshank, Dupré, Echols, Ewing, Foote, Foster, Fuller, Funsten, Gaither, A. H. Garland, R. K. Garland, Gilmer, Goode, Hanly, Hartridge, Heiskell, Hilton, Hodge, Holder, Holliday, Keeble, Lamkin, J. M. Leach, J. T. Leach, Logan, Machen, McMullin, Menees, Murray, Orr, Ramsay, W. E. Smith, Triplett, Turner, Villeré, and Wright.
So the motion to lay the resolution on the table was lost.
On motion of Mr. Foote, the resolution was ordered to be printed.
Pending the question on the adoption of the resolution,
Mr. Rives, under a suspension of the rules, presented the petition of the Savings Bank of Lynchburg, asking the privilege of investing five-dollar notes of the old issue in 6 per cent bonds; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Sexton moved that the rules be suspended to enable him to introduce a joint resolution.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Akin moved that the rules be suspended to enable him to present a memorial.
The motion was lost.
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 they had had the subject referred to them under consideration, and had come to no conclusion thereon.
Mr. Marshall moved to reconsider the vote by which the Senate bill "to regulate the pay and mileage of members of Congress during the present session" was lost.
Mr. Miles moved that the House do now adjourn.
Mr. Chrisman demanded the yeas and nays thereon.
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Pending which,
The hour of 3 having arrived,
The House took a recess until 8 o'clock;
And having reassembled,
Yeas: Baldwin, Bridgers, Horatio W. Bruce, De Jarnette, Ewing, A. H. Garland, R. K. Garland, Gholson, Goode, Hodge, Keeble, McCallum, Miles, Miller, Montague, Moore, Perkins, Simpson, Triplett, and Witherspoon.
Nays: Akin, Anderson, Atkins, Baylor, Bell, Blandford, Branch, Chambers, Chilton, Chrisman, Clopton, Colyar, Conrad, Cruikshank, Dickinson, Echols, Elliott, Farrow, Foster, Fuller, Funsten, Gilmer, Hartridge, Hilton, Holder, Holliday, Kenner, Lamkin, J. M. Leach, J. T. Leach, Lester, Logan, Lyon, Machen, Marshall, McMullin, Morgan, Murray, Orr, Pugh, Ramsay, Russell, Sexton, Shewmake, Singleton, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Smith of Alabama, Staples, Swan, Villeré, Whitfield, and Wright.
So the House refused to adjourn.
The House then resolved itself into Committee of the Whole to consider the special order, Mr. Sexton in the Chair; and having spent some time therein, the committee rose and reported, through their Chairman, that they had had the bill to amend the tax law under consideration, and had come to no conclusion thereon.
On motion of Mr. Atkins,
The House adjourned.
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