Confederate Congress.
first session.
Senate. Monday, April 7, 1862.
The Georgia vacancy.
Mr. Hill, of
Georgia, introduced to the Senate the Hon
John W. Lewis who there upon presented his credentials from the
Governor of the
State of Georgia as an accredited and duly appointed
Senator to supply the vacancy occasioned by the non-acceptance of
Hon Robert Toombs,
Senator elect.
Mr. Lewis was duly affirmed and took his seat.
Mr. Semmes of
La., presented a communication from the New Orleans Committee of Public Safety, relating to the existing war and the formation of similar associations in the different cities of the
Confederacy.--It was referred, without being read, to the Military Committee.
Mr. Phelan, of
Miss., introduced a bill to authorize the issue of Confederate Treasury notes under the denomination of five dollars. The bill provides that the
Secretary of the Treasury shall issue — amount of notes of the denomination of one dollar, one fifty, two, two fifty, three and three fifty, &c.
The bill was read and referred to the Finance Committee.
Reports of committees.
Mr. Sparrow from the Military Committee, reported back, favorably, a bill for the appointment of a Board of Officers to develop and work beds in the
Confederacy; also, reported a substitute for the bill regulating the Medical Department of the army.
Mr. Hill, from the Judiciary Committee, reported a bill regulating the salaries of the
Judges of the
District Courts of the
Confederate States.
On motion of
Mr. Clay, the bill was laid on the table.
The Clerk announced a message from the House of Representatives embodying resolutions adopted by that body.
[See
House proceedings]
Mr. Henry, of Tenn, said he hoped the resolutions would prove premature.
From the dispatch that had been received, and from conversation with the
President he was disposed to hope that
General Johns on was not killed, but badly wounded.
The dispatch was send off just at the close of the fight, and it was probable that
General Johnston and been wounded, and, as in often the case, had been reported dead.
At all events, it would be well to wait until we are well informed, or until the first dispatch was corroborated.
Mr. Davis, of
North Carolina, stated that he dispatch announcing the death of
General Johnston was sent to the
Adjutant General by
General Beauregard.
It was emphatic.
Mr. Wigfall replied that was so, but
Gen. Van-
Dorn had also telegraphed on a former occasion that
Col. Robert had been killed in battle, when he afterwards turned up alive and is yet alive.
In the excitement of a battle-field nothing can be known with positive certainty.
On account of the uncertainty, the resolutions were not on at the time.
The Texas frontier.
Mr. Oldham, of
Texas, called up the bill reported upon adversely by the Military Committee, to receive into the
Confederate States service one regiment of
Texas volunteers, for the protection of the
Texas frontier; which, on motion, was recommitted.
Defence Appropriations.
Mr. Henry, of
Tenn., offered a bill appropriating $500,000, to be laid out as the
President and
Secretary of War may direct, for the erection, at such places as he may indicate, of furnaces, &c., for smelling from, &c.; appropriating $100,000 to be expended by them in the erection of rolling mills for making plates and bars for iron clad gunboats; also appropriating $100,000 for repairing and enlarging the foundries where they are already located, and to select such as he may wish for this purpose.
Mr. Burnett interrupted the reading of this bill, and reminded the Senate that under the 49th rule all such matters are to be considered in secret session.
In this opinion the Senate acquiesced.
