House of Representatives.
Wednesday, April 9, 1862.
The
House met at 12 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by
the Rev. Mr. Pettigrew. Journal of yesterday read.
The chair announced the following committee appointments to supply vacancies:--
Mr. Baldwin, of
Va., on Committee of Ways and Means, in place of
Mr. Garnett.
Mr. Garnett, on the Military Committee, in place of
Mr. Peyor, resigned.
Mr. Jones, of
Tenn., moved to suspend the rule for calling the States, to go through with the committees.
Motion prevailed.
Mr. Harris, of
Mo., from the Military Committee, reported back the bill for the appointment of drill masters for the Confederate army, and asked the committee to be discharged from the farther consideration of the bill.
Mr. Rugsell, of
Va., called up the bill reported from the Committee of Ways and Means, relative to the suspension of the collection of the war tax in certain States.
Mr. Keiskell, of
Tennessee, from the Judiciary Committee, reported back a bill to punish forgery and counterfeiting, and asked that the committee be discharged.
Mr. Curry, from the
Committee on Commerce, reported back a memorial for the suppression of whiskey distillation and the desecration of the Sabbath, and asked that the committee be discharged.
Also, a memorial on a new system of weights and coins, and asked that the same be referred to the commission upon the subject, raised under the act of the Provisional Congress; and it was so referred.
Also, a bill to be entitled ‘"an not to increase the facilities for the importation of goods, wares and merchandise into ports of the
Confederate States."’
Mr. Perkins, of
Louisiana, submitted an amendment in the form of a substitute, as follows:
The Congress of the Confederate States do enact, That it shall be lawful for vessels to unload their cargoes on any part of the coast of the
Confederate States, and that the laws requiring entry of vessels or discharge of cargoes at designated ports, and prescribing penalties for failure to do so, shall be, and the same are hereby, suspended.
This substitute was passed.
Mr. Curry also reported a bill in response to the resolution instructing the committee to inquire into the expediency of making
Augusta, Ga., a port of delivery for goods imported into
Charleston, South Carolina.
The bill was considered and passed.
Mr. Royston, of
Ark., from the
Committee on Post-Offices and Post- Roads, reported back sundry memorials, and stated that the committee was of the opinion that no legislation was necessary.
Mr. Chilton, of
Ala., from the same committee, reported a bill to establish certain post routes therein named, which was placed upon the calendar and ordered to be printed.
Also, a bill, referred to committee, relating to advertising in the Post-Office Department.
The committee are of opinion that the present law, requiring the advertising of that Department to be done in three newspapers, as sufficient, and asked that the committee be discharged.
Also, a bill to allow members of Congress to send newspapers through the mail without prepayment of postage, so that the postage may be paid at the office where received. --Postponed and placed upon the calendar.
Mr. Clarke, of
Mo., reported back a memorial relative to a stage route in
Georgia, and reports that it is not a matter of legislation.
Mr. Chilton reported a bill for the repeal of so much of the law as requires the mails to be carried, opened and delivered on Sunday.
Placed upon the calendar and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Clopton, of
Ala., from the
Committee on Claims, reported adversely on the memorial of certain citizens of the counties of
Frederick and
Morgan, Va., asking payment for property destroyed by Confederate troops.
Mr. Boteler moved that the memorial be referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary, with instructions to report a bill providing payment for these and all similar claims, when properly authenticated.
On this motion a debate arose in which
Messrs. Boteler,
Baldwin,
Smith of
Va.,
Garnett,
Conrad of
La., and others participated.
The motion of
Mr. Boteler was not agreed to.
Mr. Smith, of
Va., moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the motion of
Mr. Boteler was lost, and after discussing the matter at some length withdrew his motion without a vote.
Mr. Clopton reported a joint resolution to indemnify
Capt. Ben. Desha for expenses incurred by him in paying transportation of a company of soldiers from
Kentucky to
Abingdon, Va. Resolution taken up and passed.
Also, a memorial asking payment of expenses incurred in conveying the remains of
Hon. John Hemphill to
Texas, and asked that the committee be discharged from its further consideration.
Also, a joint resolution for the payment for stationery furnished for the use of the Provisional Congress.
Placed upon the calendar.
Also, a memorial of
Gen. Duff Green in relation to the extension of the
Western North Carolina Railroad, and a bill for adjusting the claims of the
State of North Carolina, and asked that the committee be discharged from its consideration.
The memorial was laid on the table, and the bill placed on the calendar.
Mr. Clapp, from the same committee, reported back sundry memorials asking compensation for horses purchased by Government agents, and asked that the committee be discharged.
Mr. Wilcox, of
Texas, from the Military Committee, reported back a bill entitled an act to promote the efficiency of the army, and asked that the committee be discharged from its further consideration.
Mr. Burnett, of
Ky., from the
Committee on Claims, reported back memorials of sundry citizens, asking compensation for taking the last general census, and said that the committee regarded no legislation as necessary.
Mr. Burnett, of
Ky., from the
Committee on Pay and Mileage, reported an act to amend an act to regulate the pay and compensation of members of Congress — providing for the monthly payment of members on the certificate of the
Speaker of the
House.
After considerable discussion of the bill,
Mr. McLean, of
N. C., called the question, and the bill was passed with a slight amendment.
A message was received from the
President, through the hands of his
Secretary, announcing that he had approved and signed the resolution passed by Congress returning thanks to
Gen. Jackson, his officers and men, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the
battle of Kernstown.
A number of Senate bills were read by their titles, and appropriately referred.
Mr. Gartrell, of
Ga., asked the
House to take up and consider the bill regulating the compensation and fees of
Clerks of Confederate Courts and Marshals Pending the consideration of the bill, an amendment was offered by
Mr. Chilton, of
Ala., when, upon a vote, it was found no quorum was present.
On motion, the
Mouse then adjourned.
