House of Representatives.
Monday, Sept. 1, 1862.
The
House met at 12 o'clock.
Mr. Dargan, of
Ala., offered a joint resolution in reference to retaliation, which was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Also, an act entitled ‘"An act further to protect the country, and to drive back the invaders"’--referred to the Military Committee.
Also, an act to regulate the mode by which sick soldiers shall be examined by the
Medical Board of Examiners at
Richmond — referred to Special Committee on Hospitals.
Mr. Clopton, of
Ala., introduced an act to amend an act with reference to the exemption of certain persons from military duties — referred.
Also, a joint resolution to prevent the escape of persons guilty of treason, and to provide for the removal of disloyal citizens — referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, a resolution instructing the
Committee on the Judiciary to inquire into the expediency of providing by legislation for the confiscation of property of persons guilty of treason, and appropriating the same to the benefit of persons despoiled of their property by the enemy.
Adopted.
Mr. Curry, of
Ala., offered a joint resolution of thanks to
Capt. Raphael Semmes, and the officers and crew of the steamer
Sumter, for gallant and meritorious conduct in inflicting injury upon the commerce of the enemy.
Adopted unanimously.
Mr. Hanley, of
Arkansas, introduced an act to provide for the payment of mail contractors for service performed by them after their States had seceded from the
United States, and before the Confederate Government took control of the service.
Referred to Committee on Post-Offices and Roads.
Mr. Royston, of
Arkansas, presented a memorial on the postal service, which was referred.
Also, the following resolution:
‘
Resolved, That the
President be respectfully requested to communicate to the House of Representatives whether it be true that
Maj. Gen'l Hindman, the
Commanding General of the Trans-Mississippi district, caused all cotton in said district to be seized, and the object for which such seizure was made; also, whether said
Commanding General refused to have substitutes received as soldiers in the army of the
Confederate States; also, whether said
Commanding General has placed said military district under martial law; also, whether said
Commanding General has caused to be organized into new companies and regiments the conscripts of said military district, and appointed officers to command the same; and if said acts, or any of them, have been done by said
Commanding General, that the
President be requested to communicate to this
House the authority or instructions under which said
Commanding General has taken this action.
Agreed to.
’
Mr. Wright, of
Ga., presented two memorials, which were appropriately referred.
Mr. Gartrell, of
Ga., presented a resolution that the
Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire whether the officers and men of the Provisional Army have been regularly paid; and if not, what legislation is necessary to insure their prompt payment.
Agreed to.
Mr. Trippe, of
Ga., introduced a memorial in reference to the property of the infant children of
Stephen A. Douglas.
Referred, without reading, to the
Committee on Claims.
Also, a resolution that the
Committee on Claims be instructed to inquire into the expediency of increasing the salary of clerks in the different Departments.
Agreed to.
Mr. Moore, of
Ky., introduced a resolution that it be referred to the Military Committee to inquire into the expediency of increasing the medical corps of the Provisional army of the
Confederate States.
Mr. Bruce, of
Ky., offered a resolution to refer it to the Committee of Ways and Means to inquire into the expediency of employing a complete corps of competent reporters and printers to publish substantially the debates and proceedings of this House.
Not agreed to.
Mr. Perkins, of
La., offered a resolution that the
Secretary of War be requested to communicate to this
House the result and finding of the court-martial convened in the case of
Quartermaster Hesse, and whether he is still in the pay of the
Confederate States; and if not, the date of his dismissal from the service.
Agreed to.
Mr. Dupre of
La., submitted a bill to amend the act with reference to the sequestration of the property of alien enemies.
Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Clapp of
Miss., offered a resolution, that the Judiciary Committee be instructed to inquire what legislation, if any, is necessary in regard to person residing within the limits of the
Confederate States who have taken the oath of allegiance to the
Government of the
United States since the commencement of the pending war.
Mr. Chambers, of
Miss., presented a bill for the relief of subscribers of cotton to the produce loan
in certain cases.
Referred to the
Committee on Commerce.
Mr. Vest of
Mo., introduced an act to provide for the payment of certain claims against the
Confederate States in the
State of Missouri.
Referred to Military Committee.
Mr. Lander, of
N. C., introduced an act to amend the act to exempt certain persons from enrollment for service in the armies of the
Confederate States.
Referred to Military Committee.
Mr. of
North Carolina, offered the following, which was referred to the Military Committee:
‘
Whereas, conflicting opinions exist as to the mode of filling vacancies in the offices of the regiments organized under the authority of the States and transferred to the Confederate Government, and still retaining their organization: Therefore,
Be it enacted by the Congress of the Confederate States, That where any such vacancies now exist, or may hereafter occur, the same shall be filled according to the laws of the respective States from which such regiments are received, applicable thereto.
’
Mr. Boyce, of S. C. presented a memorial from the Faculty of the Theological Seminary at
Columbia, S. C., for the exemption of theological students from conscription.
Referred to the Military Committee.
Mr. Ayer, of
S. C., offered a resolution that it be referred to the Military Committee to inquire and report on the expediency of authorizing the
Secretary of War to appoint an Adjutant for every independent battalion in the service of the Confederate Government.
Agreed to. Also, a resolution requesting the
President to communicate to the
House, at as early a day as convenient, whether the work is being prosecuted by the
Government, or in any other way, on the railroad for connecting the Richmond and Danville Railroad and the North Carolina Railroad, for which one million of dollars was appropriated by act approved February 10, 1862 and what has been accomplished, if anything, towards the completion of the same.
Adopted.
Mr. Foote, from the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred the resolution of
Mr. Hartridge, of
Ga., relating to the recall of our Commissioners from
Europe, and of suspending the functions of European Consuls in the
Confederate States, reported that the committee was without that information of our present relations with foreign nations, and of the number and character of our agents abroad, and of those of foreign nations residing in our midst, necessary to enable the committee to act intelligently on the subject, and they therefore ask the
House to adopt the following resolution in inquiry:
‘
Resolved, That the
President be respectfully requested, if not incompatible with the public interest, to communicate to the House of Representatives the number and names of all persons engaged in the service of the
Confederate States in foreign countries, either as diplomatic, consular or commercial agents, or in any other capacity, stating the places to which they have been sent, the date of their appointment, the salaries they receive, the duties they are expected to discharge, and how far they have been officially or otherwise recognized by any foreign Government; also, the number and character of foreign agents, whether consular, commercial, or other, known to our Government, representing in any capacity foreign Governments within the limits of the
Confederate States, and whether in communicating with this Government they do so under extenuator from our own Government or that of the
United States, and whether they are subordinate or subject to the control or direction in any way, and to what degree, of the
Ministers of their respective countries, accredited to an residing in the
United States.
’
The President is further respectfully requested to communicate such instructions as may have been given to our foreign agents, and such correspondence as may have been had with other Governments, either through the
Secretary of State or our Commissioners abroad, as will aid Congress in its legislation regarding foreign nations, and their citizens residing in our midst.
The report was agreed to.
Mr. Foote also presented a report from the
Committee on Foreign Affairs upon his resolutions concerning the future conduct of the war; which was laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Baldwin, of
Va., presented a resolution that the
Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of exempting from military duty the cadets of the Virginia Military Institute.
Referred. Also, a petition from citizens of
Rockingham county, asking that Confederate notes be made a legal tender.
Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Boteler, of
Va., presented a memorial from a citizen of
Hampshire county, asking pay for a horse lost in the public service.
Referred to Committee on Claims, without reading.
Mr. Chambliss introduced a bill to regulate the impressment of slaves by military commanders.--Referred to the Military Committee.
Mr. Miles, from the
Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill to provide for the filling up of existing companies, squadrons, battalions, and regiments, and to increase the Provisional army of the
Confederate States.
This bill provides for the extension of the Conscription act so as to embrace all persons between the ages of 35 and 45 years. He moved that it be laid on the table, printed, and made the special order of the day for Wednesday next at 1 o'clock. Agreed to.
The Chair laid before the
House a communication from the
President, submitting the report of the
Secretary of the Navy, in response to a resolution of inquiry in reference to the construction of the iron-clad gunboats
Arkansas and
Louisiana.--Laid on the table without action.
On motion of
Mr. Foote, the
House then adjourned.
