First Congress
of the
Confederate States of America.
（adjourned session.）
Tuesday, July 23, 1861.
Congress met at 12 M., pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Moses D. Hoge, of the Presbyterian church.--Hon. Howell Cobe in the chair.
The Journal of the preceding day was read and approved.
On motion of Mr. Brockenerough, Messrs. Thomas S. Bocock, of Virginia, and Burton Craigh, of North Carolina, newly elected members from their respective States, presented their credentials and took the oath of office.
The President announced the order of business to be the reception of
Petitions, Memorials, &c.
Mr. Parkings, of Louisiana, presented a memorial in relation to the resources of the South, which, on motion, was referred to the Committee on Finance.
By the same.--The following resolution of inquiry, which was adopted:
Whereas, the Government of the United States is exerting all its energies and employing its army and navy, and every agency within its power, to prevent the exportation of our great staples, cotton, tobacco, &c., to any other country, except through its own ports or by its permission, thereby securing the complete commercial subjugation of the Confederate States, and causing the industrial and manufacturing interests of all other countries sustained by these products to be dependent upon them for their supply: Therefore, be it
Resolved. That the Committee on Finance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of at once conferring upon the Government of the Confederate States the power to control the Cotton and Tobacco crops of the country by receiving whatever supplies in kind or by purchase from individuals, at a price fixed, or by such an advance upon their value in Treasury, Notes or Confederate bonds, as may enable the Government to make their possession the basis of credit and negotiation abroad.
Mr. Harris, of Mississippi, presented a communication in relation to the disposition of the Cotton already subscribed to the Confederate loan, which was received and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. Ochiltree, of Texas, offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Finance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of collecting all duties imposed by the laws now in force on goods, wares, merchandize and commodities of every description whatsoever imported into these Confederate States during the existence of the present war, and that they report at an early day by bill or otherwise.
Mr. Rives, of Virginia, submitted the petition of Lieut. Col. Jones, late of the United States army, but now in the Confederate service, asking that the wages due him by the United States Government be paid out of the funds lately belonging to the United States, but now in possession of the Confederate States.
Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Congress then went into secret session. 