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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 --FIFTH DAY--FRIDAY, May 6, 1864.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Duncan.
On motion of Mr. Colyar, leave of absence was granted his colleague, Mr. Atkins (detained from his seat by indisposition).
The Hon. Thos. J. Foster, member from Alabama, 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 communication from the President; which was read as follows, viz:
Richmond, May 5, 1864.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit for your consideration two communications from the Secretary of the Treasury, submitting estimates of additional appropriations required for the support of the Government.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed.
Also, the following communication from the President:
Richmond, May 4, 1864.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I herewith transmit a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, and invite your attention to his request for an early consideration of it.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Also, a Senate "joint resolution of thanks (S. 1) to Major-General Hoke and Commander Cooke and the officers and men under their command for the brilliant victory over the enemy at Plymouth, North Carolina;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a Senate "joint resolution (S. 2) of thanks to General Finegan and the officers and men of his command;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The Chair announced the appointment of the Standing Committee on Pay and Mileage as follows, viz:
Mr. Burnett of Kentucky, Mr. Hanly of Arkansas, and Mr. Echols of Georgia.
Mr. Gilmer submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means to inquire into the propriety of so amending the law as to confine the penalty of five hundred per cent for the nondelivery of tithes to such articles as by law were required to be delivered after the passage of the law creating such penalty; and that they report by bill or otherwise;
which was adopted.
Mr. Hartridge presented the memorial of the banking institutions of the city of Savannah, Ga., on the subject of the tax act of February 17, 1864; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
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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 a bill of the following title, viz:
In which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
Mr. Russell presented the petition of William S. Thaw, clerk of the military court of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina, asking for increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. H. W. Bruce submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That when the rules for the House shall be printed, there shall also be printed in the same pamphlet the Constitution of the Confederate States;
which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Officers of the House.
Mr. Conrad presented the memorial of the Virginia Volunteer Navy Company, praying for exemption from taxation; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Also, the memorial of the Virginia Volunteer Navy Company, praying for officers and men; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
The House then resumed the consideration of the unfinished business of yesterday; which was the resolution of Mr. Foote to change the rule of the House relating to secret, sessions.
The question being on the motion of Mr. Perkins to refer the resolution to the Committee on Rules and Officers of the House,
Mr. Heiskell called the question; which was ordered, and the motion to refer prevailed.
Mr. Hanly introduced
A bill "providing for the consolidation of regiments reduced below the legal standard of numbers, and prescribing the manner in which supernumerary officers may be retired;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. A. H. Garland introduced
A bill "to establish the court for the investigation of claims against the Confederate States;"
which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Hilton introduced
A bill "to increase the rank and pay of adjutants of regiments and independent battalions;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Lester introduced
A bill "to amend the law of the Confederate States regulating impressments;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Bell introduced
A bill "to compensate the owners of slaves in certain eases therein mentioned;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Claims.
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Mr. Anderson submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means to inquire into the expediency of providing by law that when officers and soldiers in the military service of the Confederate States have been paid off between the seventeenth day of February and the first day of April. eighteen hundred and sixty-four, in Treasury notes of a higher denomination than five dollars, or since the said first day of April in Treasury notes of the old issue of the denomination of five dollars, such officer and soldier shall be entitled to receive in the new currency an amount equal to one-third of the same so paid them, and that said committee report by bill or otherwise;
which was adopted.
Mr. Perkins submitted the following resolution:
Whereas an impartial publication of the debates in Congress, stating accurately their legislative measures and the reasons urged for and against them, is a desirable object, inasmuch as it may aid the Executive in administering the Government, the judiciary in expounding the laws, the governors and citizens in the several States in forming a judgment of the conduct of their Representatives, and Congress themselves in reversing and amending their legislative proceedings; and
Whereas from the want of proper arrangements such publication has not been accomplished:
Resolved, That a committee of five members be appointed by the Speaker to inquire and report if suitable persons, skilled in stenography, can be secured to make accurate and impartial reports of the subjects submitted to the consideration of this House, and the debates thereon;
which was adopted.
Mr. Chambers introduced
A bill "to amend an act entitled 'An act to regulate impressments,' approved March twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, and an act amendatory thereof, approved February sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four;"
which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Orr introduced
A bill "to amend an act entitled 'An act to increase the efficiency of the Army by the employment of free negroes and slaves in certain capacities.' approved February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, and to repeal an act for the enlistment of cooks in the Army, approved April twenty-first, eighteen hundred and sixty-two;"
which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Barksdale introduced
A bill "to amend an 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 and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Farrow submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the papers relating to the claim of Mrs. M. A. Rice be allowed to be withdrawn from the files of this House and referred to the Committee on Claims;
which was adopted.
Mr. Witherspoon submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means to inquire into and report upon the propriety of authorizing the sale of so much of the
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tax in kind as may be necessary for the support of the families of soldiers and the necessitous nonproducer; the same to be sold at the prices fixed by the commissioners under the impressment;
which was adopted.
Mr. Foote presented the memorial of N. Carroll, military and civil engineer, touching the defenses of Richmond; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a communication from Beverly Kennon relative to prize money; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. Heiskell introduced
A bill "to provide for holding elections in case of vacancy in the representation of any State in the Congress of the Confederate States;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Also, "a bill to amend an act to provide for holding elections of Representatives in the Congress of the Confederate States from the State of Tennessee;" which was read first and second times and referred to the Committee on Elections.
Mr. Smith of North Carolina moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill introduced by Mr. Heiskell, "to provide for holding elections in case of vacancy in the representation of any State in the Congress of the Confederate States," was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The motion prevailed.
The question being on the motion to refer the bill to the Committee on the Judiciary,
It was decided in the negative, and, on motion of Mr. Smith of North Carolina, it was referred to the Committee on Elections.
Mr. Foote moved that a special committee of three be appointed to confer with the executive of the State of Virginia, for the purpose of securing exemptions from service in the State militia [for] a sufficient number of printers to do the necessary printing of Congress.
The motion prevailed, and
The Chair appointed Messrs. Foote of Tennessee, Baldwin of Virginia, and Chambers of Mississippi.
Mr. Baldwin introduced
A bill "to establish a department of inspection;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Montague introduced the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into and report upon the expediency of exempting and releasing from import duties machinery and material for repairing the same imported during the existing war by railroad companies;
which was adopted.
Also, the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Ways and Means be instructed to inquire and report what amendments, if any, should be made to the act to levy additional taxes for the common defense and support of the Government, passed February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, in relation to the taxes imposed upon the property and stock of railroad companies;
which was adopted.
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Mr. Staples submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the expedient, of reporting a bill so amending the act entitled "An act to provide an invalid corps," so as to embrace within the provisions of said act officers and private who have heretofore resigned or been discharged from the service in consequence of wounds received or disease contracted in the service of the Confederate States;
which was adopted.
Mr. Gholson presented the memorial of Thos. North Middleton, praying relief for moneys charged against him as acting quarter master, but not actually drawn from the Treasury;
which was referred to the Committee on Claims, without being read.
Mr. Funsten introduced
A bill "to amend an act entitled 'An act to organize military courts to attend the Army of the Confederate States in the field, and to define the powers of said courts;'" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a bill "to amend an act to allow commissioned officers of the Army rations and the privilege of purchasing clothing from the Quartermaster's Department, approved February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four;" which was read a first and second time.
Mr. Funsten moved that the rules be suspended requiring the bill to be referred to a committee; which motion was lost, and the bill was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The Chair laid before the House a communication of Geo. P. Evans, asserting a claim for printing for a committee; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Also, a Senate bill (S. 8) "to appropriate money for the payment of certain printing done by the authority of Congress;" which, on motion of Mr. Heiskell, was laid upon the table.
Mr. Foote, from the committee to wait upon the governor of Virginia, reported that the committee had performed their duty. and that the governor had informed them that he had already made arrangements to exempt the printers for the purpose indicated.
And the House, on motion of Mr. Russell, adjourned.
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