The Daily Dispatch: September 4, 1861., [Electronic resource]

---

---

First Congress
of the
Confederate States of America.
（called session.）

Congress assembled yesterday at 12 M., in obedience to a proclamation of President Davis. issued September 3d, 1861, convening said body for the purpose of taking action on a bill empowering the President to make appointment in the Army and Navy, which had failed to be reported to him during the late session.

Hon. Howell Cobb in the chair.

The session was opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Flynn,of Georgia.

The roll being called, the following named members were ascertained to be present:

From Alabama--Mr. Shorter.

From Arkansas--Mr. Johnson.

From Florida--Messrs. Moreton and Ward.

From Georgia--Messrs. Howell Cobb and Thos. R. R. Cobb.

From Louisiana--Mr. Declout.

From Mississippi--Mr. Harris.

From North Carolina--Mr. Craig.

From South Carolina--Mr. Miles.

From Texas--Messrs. Reagan, Hemphill, Waul, Oldham and Ochiltree.

From Tennessee--Mr. Hughes.

From Virginia--Messrs. Preston, Hunter, MacFarlan and Brockenbrough.

The President declared a quorum present.

On motion of Mr. Miles, a committee of three was appointed by the Chair to wait upon President Davis and inform him that Congress was ready to receive from him such communication as he might be pleased to make. The committee returning, reported they had discharged their duties, and the President would send in a communication in writing.

The following message from the President was reported to Congress by Mr. Joslyn, his Private Secretary:

Gentlemen of Congress.--The bill important to the public service being one to continue in office persons who had been appointed and nominated and whose nominations had not been acted upon, was, as I learned after your adjournment on the 31st ultimo, engrossed for my signature, but by some accident was not delivered to me, and thus failed to become a law; wherefore it has become necessary to convene you.

You may either make the provisions contemplated, or by acting upon the nominations, or otherwise as in your judgment may seem best, relieve the Government of the embarrassment to which otherwise it must be subjected.

Mr. Miles introduced a bill to authorize the President to continue the appointments already made by him in the military and naval service during the recesses of Congress, or at the last and the present session.

The bill was read three several times, and passed unanimously.

Mr. Reagan, on leave, introduced a bill supplemental and amendatory of a bill in relation to the pre-payment of postage, which was passed.

[The bill modifies the original act so as to require each newspaper or periodical sent through the mail or over the post roads to be endorsed by the postmaster of the office nearest the place from which they are sent, as prepaid, instead of the ‘"package. "’]

The above bills being reported as signed by the President,

On motion of Mr. Waul, Congress adjourned to meet on the third Monday in November unless sooner called together.