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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 --FOURTH DAY--THURSDAY, November 10, 1864.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Duncan.
Mr. Staples offered the following resolution; which was adopted, viz:
Resolved, That a special committee of three be appointed to inquire into the expediency of an appeal on the part of Congress to the several States of the Confederacy for a modification of their laws exempting State officers and employees from military service.
Mr. Anderson introduced
A bill "to amend the laws in relation to the receipt of counterfeit Treasury notes by public officers;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Lester offered the following resolution; which was adopted, viz:
Resolved, That the President be, and he is hereby, respectfully requested if not incompatible with the public interest, to cause the proper officer or officers to lay before this House a detailed statement of the tax in kind assessed and collected east of the Mississippi River during the year eighteen hundred and sixty-three, and also of the present year as far as returns have been made--that is to say, the number of bushels of wheat, corn, oats, rye, and buckwheat, the quantity of rice. Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, cured hay, and fodder; also, the number of pounds of bacon and sugar; also, the quantity of wool, cotton, and tobacco; also, the number of gallons of sirup and molasses, giving in the statement the quantity derived from each State.
Also, that he cause this House to be informed of how much of each of the articles before enumerated has been purchased by and for the use of the Government during the time aforesaid.
Also, that he cause the House to be informed of how much of said enumerated articles has been impressed during the time aforesaid.
And that this detailed information be given to the House at the earliest practicable day.
Also, the following resolution; which was adopted, viz:
Resolved, That the President be requested to cause the Secretary of War to furnish to this House the items or particulars which make up his estimate of four hundred and two million nine hundred and twelve thousand two hundred and six dollars and thirty-three cents necessary for his Department for the six months from first January to first July, eighteen hundred and sixty-five--that is to say, what sum is necessary to pay off the officers and soldiers of the Army? What is necessary to subsist the Army and forage its animals? What sum is necessary to clothe the Army? What sum is necessary to transport the
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Army? And so on, giving every item in detail; and that the President be requested to cause the Secretary to comply with this resolution as soon as practicable.
Mr. Marshall introduced
A bill "concerning the emoluments and pay of the clerk of the district court of the Confederate States of America for the eastern district of Virginia;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Farrow offered the following resolution; which was adopted, viz:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire whether any and what legislation may be proper to remedy the abuse of the practice of granting furloughs by generals in the field for recruits, so as to prevent said furloughs from being monopolized by purchase by a few individuals.
Also, the following resolution; which was adopted:
Resolved, That Senate bill numbered sixty-three, being a bill "for the relief of Mrs. Margaret A. Rice," be taken from the Calendar of the last session and placed upon the Calendar of the present session.
Mr. Murray introduced
A bill "to prevent malicious arrest of officers of the Army;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Foote offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That whilst prosecuting the pending war with all energy and earnestness, reasons of policy, justice, and humanity alike require that the President should be armed with adequate power to offer complete amnesty to all such of the citizens and residents of the Confederate States as heretofore, under delusion, or otherwise, have been hostile to our cause, but who are now willing to come forward and take upon themselves the obligation to support our Government as good and true citizens.
On motion of Mr. Foote, the consideration of the resolution was postponed until Wednesday next, and made the special order.
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the ]President; which was read as follows, viz:
Richmond. Va., November 9, 1864.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of War. covering copies of several reports of military operations during the present year. and renew my suggestion that all such papers are submitted for the information of Congress, and that it is not considered advisable to publish them at this time.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
On motion of Mr. Miles, the message and accompanying documents were referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The House then proceeded to the consideration of the special order, viz:
The resolution of Mr. Chambers that the valor, constancy, and endurance of our citizen soldiers, assisted by the steady cooperation of all classes of population not in the field, will continue a sufficient guaranty of the rights of the States and the independence of the Confederate States.
Pending which,
The House, on motion of Mr. Russell. resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, resolved itself into open session.
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Mr. Swan moved that the House take a recess until half past 7 o'clock.
Mr. Orr moved that the House adjourn; which latter motion prevailed, and
The Speaker announced that the House stood adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.
SECRET SESSION.
The House being in secret session,
Mr. Russell, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported
A bill "to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in certain cases for a limited period,"
with the recommendation that it do pass.
The bill 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:
Add as an independent section at the end of the bill the following, viz:
"This act shall not be construed to extend beyond New River eastward in the State of Virginia, nor south beyond Murphy, in Cherokee County, or east of the Blue Ridge, in the State of North Carolina, nor west beyond Chattanooga, nor north beyond the Kentucky line."
Mr. Baldwin submitted the following amendment to the amendment of Mr. Marshall:
Add at the end the following: "nor to any part or the Eleventh Congressional district of Virginia."
Pending which,
On motion of Mr. Staples,
The House resolved itself into open session.
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