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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 --FORTY-FIRST DAY--WEDNESDAY, December 28, 1864.
OPEN SESSION.
The House met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Minnigerode.
Mr. Chilton (in the chair) laid before the House a communication from the Hon. Thomas S. Bocock, Speaker of the House of Representatives: which was read as follows, viz:
Richmond, Va., December --, 1864.
Hon. Wm. P. Chilton,
Member of Congress from Alabama.
Dear Sir: The House of Representatives of the Confederate States has kindly authorized me to name some member to perform temporarily the duties of the Chair in that body for a period not exceeding five legislative days.
Should I not be present on Wednesday morning next I hereby authorize and request you to call the House to order and preside over its deliberations during
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my absence, provided it does not extend beyond the period fixed by the House for such substitution.
I beg through you to assure the House of Representatives that however urgent my private affairs nothing could have induced me to be absent at the present time if I had not been convinced that no important business could be transacted for some days to come.
I shall certainly return to my post at the earliest practicable moment.
With the highest respect, I am, very truly, yours,
TH. S. BOCOCK,
Speaker House of Representatives.
Mr. Gray, member from Louisiana (elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Hodge), appeared, was sworn to support the Constitution, and took his seat.
Mr. Machen moved that the rules be suspended to enable him to offer a resolution, and demanded the yeas and nays thereon;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Akin, Anderson, Atkins, Batson, Bell, Boyce Chilton, Chrisman, Clopton, Cluskey, Colyar, Cruikshank, Dickinson, Echols, Ewing, Foster, Garland, Gray, Hatcher, Herbert, Hilton, Holder, Keeble, Lester, Lyon, Machen, Marshall, McCallum, Menees, Orr, Pugh, Simpson, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Smith of Alabama, Snead, Triplett, Villeré, Wilkes, and Witherspoon.
Nays: Ayer, Baldwin, Barksdale, Eli M. Bruce, Clark, Conrad, Conrow, Dupré, Farrow, Gholson, Hanly, Holliday, Johnston, Kenner, Miles, Murray, Norton, Perkins, Read, Rives, Sexton, Shewmake, Vest, and Wickham.
Two-thirds not voting in the affirmative, the motion to suspend the rules was lost.
On motion of Mr. Cluskey, leave of absence was granted to Mr. De Jarnette.
On motion of Mr. Hilton, leave of absence was granted his colleague, Mr. Rogers.
Mr. Lyon moved that the rules be suspended to enable the Committee on Ways and Means to report.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Ayer submitted the following resolutions:
Mr. Machen moved that the second resolution be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The motion was lost.
Mr. Hilton moved to refer both resolutions to the Special Committee on the Pay of Soldiers; which latter motion prevailed.
Mr. Ayer introduced joint resolutions on the subject of adjournment, as follows, viz:
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Houses at two o'clock postmeridian, on Tuesday, the twenty-fourth day of January, proximo.
On motion of Mr. Marshall, the resolutions were laid upon the table.
Mr. Witherspoon offered the following resolution; which was adopted:
Resolved, That in order to facilitate the correspondence and communication between the citizens of the Confederate States and our prisoners in the hands of the enemy, it be referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads to inquire into the propriety of authorizing the Postmaster-General to purchase a sufficient supply of United States postage stamps, and distribute the same to the different postmasters; also, that said committee inquire into the propriety of extending the franking privilege to our prisoners during their captivity; that said committee report by bill or otherwise.
Mr. Miles introduced
A bill "authorizing hospital accommodation for treatment, including subsistence, to certain officers and soldiers resigned, retired, or discharged;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Medical Department.
Also, a bill "to allow army missionaries to purchase rations and forage;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Miles presented the petition of adjutants in Kershaw's division, asking increase of rank and pay; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Miles offered the following resolution; which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments be instructed to inquire into the expediency of allowing assessors under the tax law the privilege of purchasing from the quartermasters charged with the collection of the tax in kind corn and forage for the support of one horse.
Mr. Boyce called up the resolution offered by him some days ago; which is as follows, viz:
Resolved, That during the remainder of the present session no member shall speak more than once nor longer than twenty minutes on any question that may arise in the progress of the proceedings of this House.
Mr. Boyce moved to amend the resolution by striking out the word "twenty" and inserting in lieu thereof the word "thirty."
The amendment was agreed to.
The question recurring on the adoption of the resolution,
Mr. Hilton called the question; which was ordered.
Mr. Marshall demanded the yeas and nays thereon;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Akin, Atkins, Ayer, Batson, Bell, Boyce, Clopton, Cluskey, Conrow, Cruikshank, Dickinson, Ewing, Farrow, Foster, Garland, Hatcher, Herbert, Hilton, Holder, Lester, Lyon, Machen, McCallum,
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Menees, Norton, Orr, Pugh, W. E. Smith, Smith of Alabama, Snead, Triplett, Vest, Wilkes, and Witherspoon.
Nays: Anderson, Baldwin, Barksdale, Eli M. Bruce, Horatio W. Bruce, Chilton, Chrisman, Clark, Dupré, Gholson, Gray, Hanly, Holliday, Johnston, Kenner, Marshall, Miles, Murray, Perkins, Read, Sexton, Shewmake, Simpson, J. M. Smith, Villeré, and Wickham.
Two-thirds not voting in the affirmative, the resolution was lost.
Mr. Clark moved to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was lost.
The motion to reconsider was lost.
A message was received from the Senate, by Mr. Nash, their Secretary; which is as follows, viz:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed, without amendment, a bill of this House (H. R. 261.) to amend an act of the Provisional Congress entitled "An act relating to the prepayment of postage in certain cases," approved July 29, 1861.
They have passed bills of the following titles, viz:
In which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.
Mr. McCallum introduced
A bill "to amend an act to reduce the currency and to authorize a new issue of Treasury notes, 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.
Mr. Murray introduced
A bill "to increase the pay of officers, noncommissioned officers, and privates of the Army of the Confederate States;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Cluskey presented a communication from Lieut. S. A. Taylor relative to the consolidation of regiments; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a communication from J. S. Wheless, suggesting that the grade of assistant paymaster in the Confederate States Navy be abolished; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. Menees offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That on and after Monday next the hour for the meeting of the House of Representatives shall be eleven o'clock antemeridian daily during the continuance of the present session of Congress.
Mr. Colyar submitted the following amendment to the resolution:
Strike out the whole of the same and insert in lieu thereof the following, viz:
"Resolved, That after to-day the hour of meeting for this House shall be eleven o'clock antemeridian, and the time of adjournment shall be ten o'clock postmeridian, the House taking a recess from three o'clock postmeridian to eight o'clock postmeridian."
Pending which,
The morning hour having expired,
On motion of Mr. Gholson, the consideration of the Calendar was postponed until the call of the States was completed.
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The question recurring on the amendment of Mr. Colyar to the resolution offered by Mr. Menees,
Mr. Colyar demanded the yeas and nays thereon;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Akin, Anderson, Batson, Bell, Boyce, Horatio W. Bruce, Chilton, Chrisman, Clopton, Cluskey, Colyar, Cruikshank, Dickinson, Ewing, Foster, Garland, Hatchery Hilton, Holder, Keeble, Lester, Lyon, McCallum, Menees, Norton, Orr, Pugh, Shewmake, Simpson, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Smith of Alabama, Snead, Vest, Villeré, Wilkes, and Witherspoon.
Nays: Atkins, Ayer, Baldwin, Barksdale, Eli M. Bruce, Clark, Conrad, Conrow, Dupré, Farrow, Gholson, Gray, Hanly, Herbert, Holliday, Johnston, Kenner, Machen, Marshall, Miles, Murray, Perkins, Read, Sexton, Triplett, and Wickham.
So the amendment was agreed to.
The question recurring on the adoption of the resolution as amended,
Mr. Anderson called the question; which was ordered.
Mr. Lester demanded the yeas and nays thereon;
Which were ordered,
Yeas: Akin, Anderson, Batson, Bell, Boyce, Horatio W. Bruce, Chilton, Chrisman, Clopton, Cluskey, Colyar, Cruikshank, Dickinson, Ewing, Foster, Garland, Hatcher, Hilton, Holder, Lester, Lyon, Machen, McCallum, Menees, Norton, Orr, Pugh, Simpson, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Smith of Alabama, Snead, Triplett, Villeré, Wilkes, and Witherspoon.
Nays: Ayer, Baldwin, Eli M. Bruce, Clark, Conrad, Conrow, Dupré, Farrow, Gholson, Gray, Hanly, Herbert, Holliday, Johnston, Kenner, Marshall, Miles, Murray, Perkins, Read, Sexton, Shewmake, Vest, and Wickham.
So the resolution as amended was adopted.
Mr. Colyar presented the petition of the adjutants of Maj. Gen. B. R. Johnson's division, asking to be placed in the line of promotion and for increased rank: which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Herbert introduced
A bill "for the relief of Señor Marcos Radisch;"
which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. Hilton moved to reconsider the vote by which the resolution offered by Mr. Menees relative to the hour of meeting of the House was adopted.
Mr. Baldwin offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the attention of the President be respectfully called to the following resolutions heretofore adopted by this House and to which no response has yet been made:
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Mr. Barksdale moved that the resolution be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The motion was lost, and the resolution was adopted.
Mr. Gholson offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That there is no purpose on the part of this House to introduce negro troops into our Army.
Resolved, That while this House has unshaken confidence in the integrity. patriotism, and capacity of our Chief Magistrate, yet it can not approve the recommendation contained in his last message to Congress, that the Government purchase such slaves as may be needed for "teamsters, cooks, to work upon fortifications, or in the Government workshops, or in hospitals, and other similar duties," and engage "to liberate them on their discharge after service faithfully rendered."
On motion of Mr. Clark, the resolution was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Wickham offered the following resolution; which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Claims inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the payment of damages inflicted on citizens of the Confederate States by reason of the destruction of their property, by fire or otherwise, growing out of the occupancy of such property by the troops of the Confederate States.
Mr. Wickham also offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Clerk be directed to cause the Journal of this House, commencing with the first day of this session, to be printed from time to time for the use of the members;
which, on motion of Mr. Hilton, was referred to the Committee on Printing.
Mr. Gholson offered the following resolution; which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs inquire into the justice and expediency of giving to officers of the Navy of the United States who resigned and were received into the service of the Confederate States, whether they were received into the Army or Navy, the benefit of the nineteenth section of an act "for the establishment and organization of the Army of the Confederate States of America," passed March sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, and report by bill or otherwise.
Mr. Gholson presented the petition of midshipmen of the Confederate States Navy, asking permission to purchase supplies, clothing, etc., from the Government; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
On motion of Mr. Baldwin, the House resolved itself into secret session; and having spent some time therein, resolved itself into open session.
On motion of Mr. Ayer,
The House adjourned until 11 o'clock a. m. to-morrow.
SECRET SESSION.
The House being in secret session,
On motion of Mr. Baldwin, the consideration of the Calendar was postponed.
Mr. Baldwin submitted the following resolution:
Joint resolution for a committee to inquire into our present and future means of public defense.
There being reason to apprehend that a crisis in our public affairs is impending, for which no adequate provision may have been made: Therefore,
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Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States, That a committee be appointed, to Consist of three Senators and five Representatives, whose duty it shall be, by conference with the President and by such other means as they shall deem proper, to ascertain what are our reliable means of public defense, present and prospective; and to report thereon without delay, with such suggestions as they may deem to be required by the public interests.
Mr. Conrad submitted the following amendment to the resolution:
Strike out all after the word "ascertain" and insert in lieu thereof the following, viz: "whether there be any deficiency or any danger of a deficiency of supplies for the Army of Virginia, and if yea, to report the cause of such deficiency, and whether any and what action can be taken by Congress to assist the Government in procuring said supplies."
Mr. Machen submitted the following amendment to the resolution of Mr. Baldwin (in the nature of a substitute):
Strike out the whole of the same and insert in lieu thereof the following:
"Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States, That a committee of three from the Senate and five from the House of Representatives be appointed to confer with the President and the heads of the proper Departments in relation to the supplies of provisions for the Army of Virginia under General Lee, and if there is a deficiency, to ascertain what means, if any, can be adopted to remedy the evil; and that the committee report to the Congress as early as practicable the result of their conferences and such measures as they may deem proper in the premises."
Mr. Atkins moved the previous question; which was ordered. The question being on the amendment of Mr. Conrad,
It was decided in the negative.
The question recurring on the amendment of Mr. Machen,
It was decided in the negative.
The question recurring on the adoption of the resolution,
It was decided in the affirmative.
The Chair appointed as the committee on the part of the House:
On motion of Mr. Sexton.
The House resolved itself into open session.
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