Confederate Congress.
first session.
Yesterday along before the hour arrived, a large crowd had assembled at the
Capitol to witness the inauguration of the
Permanent Government of the
Confederate States, in the convocation and organization of the new Congress.
The hall of the House of Representatives, for half an hour previous to the tap of the
Speaker's gavel, was a complete jam, the crowd consisting of the members elect, the members of the Virginia Legislature, citizens, and last, though not least, a considerable number of ladies — all anxious to witness the proceedings incident to an occasion so interesting, and yet so solemn and impressive.
Dense as was the throng, and meagre as the accommodations were, there was not the slightest demonstration of disorder, and everything passed off quietly.
Senate.
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 1862.
The Senate convened at noon. The
Vice President elect of the
Confederate States,
Hon. A. H.
Stephens, in the Chair.
The
Vice President, under the authority of the
Constitution, formally opened the session of the Senate.
He called the attention of
Senators to the published acts passed by the Provisional Congress, and caused the temporary clerk to read the last clause of the permanent Constitution; also, the act of the Provisional Congress putting in operation the permanent Government of the
Confederate States, and the act supplemental to the same.
The roll being called, the following
Senators answered to their names:
Nineteen
Senators being present, (a quorum,) the oath to support the
Constitution was then administered.
The
Senators taking the oath in parties of four at a time.
The
Vice President announced that the first business before the Senate was the election of a President of the Senate
pro tempore.
Mr. Davis, of
North Carolina, moved that the Hon. R. M. T.
Hunter, of
Virginia, be unanimously chosen
President of the Senate
pro tempore. Carried.
The election of a Secretary of the Senate being in order, the following nominations were made:
Mr. Sparrow, of
Louisiana, nominated
Richard Charles Downs, of
Louisiana.
Mr. Clark, of
Missouri, nominated
Andrew H. H. Dawson, of
Alabama.
Mr. Oldham, of
Texas, nominated
J. Johnson Hooper, of
Alabama.
Mr. Preston, of
Virginia, nominated
Jno L
Eubank, of
Virginia.
Mr. Barnwell, of
South Carolina, nominated
James H. Nash, of
South Carolina.
The first ballot resulted as follows:
Dawson, 6;
Nash, 4;
Hooper, 4;
Eubank, 2;
Downs, 2;
Montague, 1.
No candidate having a majority.
Four additional ballots were had without an election.
The following was the result of the sixth and last ballot, in detail.
For
Mr. Nash.--
Messrs. Barnwell,
Baker,
Brown,
Clark,
Haynes,
Henry,
Hill,
Hunter,
Orr,
Preston, and
Simms--11.
For
Mr. Hooper--
Messrs. Davis.
Maxwell,
Mitchell,
Oldham,
Peyton, and
Sparrow--6.
For
Mr. Dawson--
Messrs. Johnson and
Dortch--2.
James H. Nash, of
South Carolina, having a majority of the votes cast, was declared the
Secretary of the Senate, and came forward and was duly qualified.
On motion of
Mr. Orr, the Senate proceeded to the election of a Doorkeeper.
Two ballots were had, the last resulting in the election of
Mr. James Page, of
North Carolina.
During the balloting
Mr. Winfall, the
Senator from
Texas, appeared in his seat and subsequently took the oath.
On motion of
Mr. Orr, the daily hour for the meeting of the Senate was fixed at 12 o'clock, M.
The Senate then adjourned.
