| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journal of the Confederate Congress --FIFTEENTH DAY--FRIDAY, November 25, 1864.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Hoge.
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the President; which was read as follows, viz:
Richmond, Va., November 24, 1864.
To the House of Representatives:
In response to your resolution of the 8th instant, I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of War relative to the special exchange of prisoners of war by the commissioner of exchange.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
On motion of Mr. Hanly, the communication and accompanying documents were laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury in response to a resolution on the subject of the exchange of the old issue of Treasury notes for the new; which, on motion of Mr. Kenner, was laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.
The Chair presented the petition of certain reserve troops of the State of Virginia, praying to be discharged from military service on grounds of public and private necessity; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Montague presented several communications from the adjutants of certain Virginia and North Carolina regiments, touching their position in the service and praying relief, etc.; which were referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a communication relative to the pay of ward matrons; which was referred to the Committee on the Medical Department.
Mr. De Jarnette presented the memorial of certain pilots in the James River Squadron, asking increase of pay; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Also, the memorial of the county court of Culpeper, asking to be relieved from the payment of taxes for the years 1863 and 1864; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Goode presented a communication from Capt. William M. Tredway, Company I, Fifty-third Regiment Virginia Infantry, relative to increase of pay of officers of the line; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Goode offered the following resolution; which was adopted:
Resolved, That a special committee of five be appointed by the Chair, whose duty it shall be to inquire and report what legislation is necessary to remedy existing evils and defects in the present system of conscription, and that said committee have power to report by bill or otherwise.
Mr. Wickham presented the memorial of certain ladies, employees in the Post-Office Department, asking increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Also, memorial of the Society of Friends, for the exemption of certain of its members who are held to military service; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Chilton offered the following resolution; which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments inquire into the expediency of so amending the existing statutes providing
Page 300 | Page image
for the establishment and payment of claims for property taken or informally impressed for the use of the Government, approved June fourteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, as to require such claims as are ascertained to be just to be paid, and extending the time for the expiration of the said statute so as to afford to claimants a reasonable opportunity of establishing their claims.
Also, the following resolution; which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs do inquire into the expediency and propriety of procuring for the use of the Government an adequate number of Carkeet's lamellar iron-wrought guns, and that said committee report by bill or otherwise.
Mr. Cruikshank presented the memorial of citizens of Shelby County, Ala., relative to details of blacksmiths, millers, shoemakers, and tanners for that county; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Hanly moved that the message of the President, in response to a resolution of the House of the 8th instant, relative to the act "to provide and organize a general staff," be taken up for consideration. The motion prevailed.
On motion of Mr. Foote, the message and accompanying documents were referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Lyon, from the Committee on Ways and Means, under a suspension of the rules, reported
A bill "to provide more effectually for the reduction and redemption of the currency;"
which was read a first and second time, postponed until Tuesday next, made the special order for that day, and from day to day until disposed of, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Hanly offered the following resolution; which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Ways and Means be, and they are hereby, instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the payment for all produce destroyed by the officers of the Government or by its owners in pursuance of the act in such case made and provided, and that they report by bill or otherwise.
Mr. McMullin, under a suspension of the rules, offered the following resolution; which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Speaker be empowered to enlarge the Committee on Public Buildings by the appointment of two additional members.
Mr. Hilton presented the memorial of matrons of Chimborazo Hospital, on the subject of hospital organization; which was referred to the Committee on Medical Department.
Also, the memorial of the judge of probate and president of the board of commissioners of Leon County, Fla., asking such legislation as may be necessary to secure to nonproducers the right of purchasing from bonded agriculturists; which was referred to the Committee on Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments.
Mr. Hartridge presented the memorial of certain adjutants in the Army relative to their positions in the service: which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Blandford offered the following resolution; which was adopted. viz:
Resolved, That the President be requested to furnish this House with a list of all commissioned officers attached to and employed in the different Departments and bureaus of the Government in the city of Richmond, showing their ages and how many are fit for field service.
Page 301 | Page image
Mr. Lester presented the memorial of the field and line officers of General Anderson's brigade, setting forth the great need of clothing that exists amongst the officers of that command, together with the difficulties in the way of obtaining an adequate supply, and appealing to Congress to afford them relief by appropriate legislation; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Marshall presented the petition of Flavel Belcher, of Louisiana, asserting a claim for property destroyed by the military authority; which was referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. Dupré offered the following resolution; which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire what legislation, if any, is necessary for assignment to duty of those officers who, having been retired under the late act "providing for an invalid corps," are relieved from disability, as provided for by that act.
Mr. Welsh offered the following resolution; which was adopted:
Resolved, That a committee of five members be appointed to investigate the management of Stewart Hospital, near this city, particularly directing their attention to the rations and diet supplied to the sick and convalescent patients of that hospital, and that they report the result of their investigation to this House.
On motion of Mr. Barksdale, leave was granted him to withdraw from the files of the House, on the usual terms, the papers in support of the claim of Nathaniel Moore and the city of Jackson, and to have them referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. Holder offered the following resolution; which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of so amending the act of Congress approved June fourteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, "providing for the establishment and payment of claims for a description of property taken or informally impressed for the use of the Army," or to authorize the commissioner appointed under said act to compel the attendance of witnesses and to continue investigations from day to day at his discretion.
Mr. Holder presented a letter from Charles T. Trutame on the same subject; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
On motion of Mr. Conrow, leave of absence was granted his colleague, Mr. Norton (detained from his seat by indisposition).
On motion of Mr. Herbert, leave of absence was granted his colleague, Mr. Sexton (detained from his seat by indisposition).
Mr. Bridgers presented the memorial of citizens of Beaufort County, N. C., asking to be relieved from the payment of taxes for the year 1864; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
On motion of Mr. Bridgers, leave was given him to withdraw from the files of the House the papers in support of the claim of Thomas A. Hill, for the purpose of having them referred to the Committee on Claims.
On motion of Mr. Smith of North Carolina, leave was granted him to withdraw from the files the papers in the case of John D. Southerland, commissary agent, and have them referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. J. T. Leach introduced
A joint resolution "in favor of liberty;"
which was read a first time.
Mr. Montague moved that the joint resolution be rejected.
Mr. Kenner called the question; which was ordered.
Page 302 | Page image
Mr. J. T. Leach demanded the yeas and nays thereon;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Atkins, Ayer, Baldwin, Barksdale, Batson, Bell, Blandford, Boyce, Bradley, Branch, Bridgers, Eli M. Bruce, Horatio W. Bruce, Burnett, Chambers, Chilton, Chrisman, Clark, Clopton, Cluskey, Conrow, Cruikshank, Darden, De Jarnette, Dickinson, Dupré, Ewing, Farrow, Foote, Fuller, Gaither, Garland, Gholson, Goode, Hanly, Hartridge, Hatcher, Herbert, Hilton, Holder, Holliday, Johnston, Keeble, Kenner, J. M. Leach, Lester, Lyon, Machen, Marshall, McCallum, McMullin, Menees, Miles, Miller, Montague, Moore, Orr, Perkins, Ramsay, Read, Rives, Rogers, Russell, Simpson, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Smith of Alabama, Smith of North Carolina, Snead, Staples, Swan, Triplett, Vest, Villeré Welsh, Wickham, Wilkes, Witherspoon, and Mr. Speaker.
Nays: J. T. Leach, Logan, and Turner.
So the joint resolution was rejected.
Mr. Chilton moved to reconsider the vote just taken, and to lay the motion to reconsider on the table; which latter motion prevailed.
A message was received from the Senate, by Mr. Nash, their Secretary, as follows, viz:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed bills of the following titles, viz:
In which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
The Chair laid before the House a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury in response to a resolution of this House of the 21st instant relative to requisitions for pay of the Army, etc.; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Also, a Senate bill (S. 111) "to authorize the President to appoint commissioners for the exchange of prisoners;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a Senate bill (S. 110) "to amend the twelfth section of the act 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 read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Also, a Senate bill (S. 104) "to extend the provisions of an act entitled 'An act m relation to the receipt of counterfeit Treasury notes by public officers,' approved May first, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, and the provisions of the fifth section of the act approved February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, entitled 'An act to amend the act for the assessment and collection of taxes, approved May first, eighteen hundred and sixty-three;'" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Page 303 | Page image
Also, a Senate bill (S. 99) "to continue in force 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 June fourteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Fuller moved that the rules be suspended to enable him to change his vote on the motion to reject the joint resolution "in favor of liberty," introduced this morning by his colleague, Mr. J. T. Leach.
The motion prevailed, and Mr. Fuller voted in the affirmative.
On motion of Mr. J. M. Leach and Mr. Ramsay, the rules were suspended to enable them to change their votes on the same proposition.
They voted in the affirmative.
On motion of Mr. Russell, the House resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, resolved itself into open session.
On motion of Mr. Holliday,
The House adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.
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 (S. 102) to authorize the exportation of produce and merchandise bought from the Government; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
The Chair laid before the House Senate bill (S. 102) "to authorize the exportation of produce and merchandise bought from the Government;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
The House resumed the consideration of the bill "to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in certain cases for a limited period."
Mr. McMullin called the question; which was not ordered.
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 (S. 105) to authorize the exportation of cotton by the several States in payment for Army and other supplies and cotton and wool cards: in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
The Chair laid before the House a Senate 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;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Mr. Kenner moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill (S. 102) "to authorize the exportation of produce and merchandise bought from the Government" was referred to the Committee on Commerce.
The motion prevailed, and the bill was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
On motion of Mr. Holliday,
The House resolved itself into open session.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |