EXECUTIVE SESSION.

The Congress having gone into executive session, the following communication was received from the President:

Hon. HOWELL COBB,

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Montgomery, Ala., May 9, 1861.

President of the Congress.

SIR: I herewith transmit for the advice and consent of the Congress the following nominations, to wit:

William Pinkney Hill, of Texas, to be judge of the district of Texas, in the place of the Hon. John Hemphill, who has declined the appointment.

Alexander M. Clayton, of Mississippi, to be judge of the district of Mississippi, in the place of the Hon. William L. Harris, who has declined the appointment. JEFFERSON DAVIS.

The question being,

Will the Congress advise and consent to the nominations above communicated?

On motion of Mr. Harris, they were referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

The committee immediately reported back the nominations with a recommendation that they be confirmed; and the Congress did unanimously advise and consent to the nominations.

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1861.

OPEN SESSION.

Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Mr. Morton presented resolutions passed by the convention of the State of Florida; which were ordered to be spread on the Journal, and are as follows:

Resolved, That while the people of the State of Florida heartily approve in the main of the Constitution of the Confederate States of America, and have given evidence of that approbation by the unanimous vote of this convention on its ratification, yet there are certain parts thereof which, in the opinion of this convention, should at an early day be amended. With a view, therefore, of giving a proper expression of the sentiments of the people of this State, it is hereby suggested that the said Constitution would be greatly improved by the following amendments, to wit:

That the third clause of the second section of the first article should be altered by striking out, after the word "determined," in the fourth line, to the word "slaves,' inclusive, and inserting the words "by the whole number of inhabitants within the States."

That the first clause of the third section of article four should be amended by inserting, after the word "States," in the third line, the words "but no State shall be admitted into this Confederacy unless the institution of slavery shall be distinctly and clearly recognized in its constitution and in actual operation under its laws," and by striking out the word "but" next following in the same line.

That the seventh clause of the eighth section of the first article should be amended by striking out the remainder of the clause, after the word "routes," in the first line. Done in open convention at the capitol, in the city of Tallahassee, Saturday, the 27th day of April, A. D. 1861.

Attest:

JOHN C. McGEHEE,
President of the Convention.

WM. S. HARRIS, Secretary.

Mr. Conrad presented a claim against the Government of the United States; which was referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. Ochiltree offered the following resolution; which was agreed to, viz:

Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the Committee on Indian Affairs be instructed to inquire into and report upon the propriety of this Government taking cognizance of and making provision for the Indians located upon the "reserves" situate in the State of Texas which were under the control of the late Government of the United States, and that they report upon the same at the earliest date, by bill or otherwise.

Mr. Shorter, from the Committee to Arrange for Government Buildings, reported the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be authorized and directed to employ a sufficient night watch to guard the executive buildings. Also that he be directed to report estimates of appropriations which may be found needful to defray the expenses of the same, and also to pay for gaslights in the executive buildings.

The report was agreed to.

Mr. Barnwell moved that an additional member be added to the Committee on Finance.

On motion of Mr. Stephens, the motion was amended so as to include the Committees on Judiciary and Military Affairs.

The motion prevailed, and whereupon the Chair appointed Mr. Hunter on the Committee on Finance, Mr. Brockenbrough on the Committee on Judiciary, and Mr. Staples on the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Brooke, from the Committee on Patents, reported

A bill to establish a patent office, and to provide for the granting and issuance of patents for new and useful discoveries, inventions, improvements, and designs;

which was ordered to be printed and placed on the Calendar.

Congress went into secret session; and after remaining some time therein, adjourned until 12 o'clock to-morrow.

SECRET SESSION.

Congress being in secret session,

Mr. Staples announced the arrival of Mr. Robert M. T. Hunter, one of the Delegates from the State of Virginia, who appeared, was qualified, and took his seat.

Mr. Ward presented a communication from Joseph Sierra, collector at the port of Pensacola, inclosing two communications from Lewis Cruger, Comptroller in the Treasury Department; which were referred, without being read, to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. Barry offered the following resolutions, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of forbidding by law, with adequate penalties, the shipping of cotton or any Southern produce or the sending of any money to any of the United States occupied by the troops of or acknowledging their allegiance to said Government, and also to prevent the importation of all goods from the United States into the Confederate States or the payment for such by money or otherwise, except such as are enumerated in an act passed at the last session of this Congress entitled "An act to exempt from duty certain commodities therein named, and for other purposes,' approved February eighteen, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, and further to provide that the collection in the courts of the Confederate States of money due for the purchase of any of the articles enumerated in the above-mentioned act shall not be delayed or embarrassed by any plea or defense arising out of the existence of a state of war between the Confederate States and the United States, and to report by bill or otherwise.

Resolved, That the said committee be also instructed to inquire into the expediency of requiring those citizens of the Confederate States who are indebted to citizens of the United States to pay the amount of such indebtedness into the Treasury of the Confederacy, and the assumption of the payment of such debts by the Confederate States after the termination of the existing war, and the entire and absolute discharge of the debtor from the payment of such debts;

which were agreed to.

Mr. Barry also presented a memorial from R. O. Davidson in reference to an act designed for "aerial locomotion of man;" which was referred, without being read, to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Boyce reported

A bill to prevent the payment of debts to Northern creditors; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Hemphill reported

A bill to amend an act for the establishment and organization of the Army of the Confederate States of America, approved March 6, 1861; which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Hemphill also reported

A bill to amend an act to modify the navigation laws, and repeal all discriminating duties on ships and vessels;

which was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. Josselyn, the Private Secretary of the President, presented to Congress the following communication in writing, viz:

To the Congress of the Confederate States of America:

It is with sincere pleasure that I inform you that the government of North Carolina has accredited the Hon. Thomas L. Clingman as commissioner to represent that Commonwealth near the Government of the Confederate States.

Mr. Clingman presented to me this day his letters of credence, and I received him in a manner corresponding to his station and the high purpose of his mission.

It afforded me much gratification to receive from Mr. Clingman the assurance, which he was instructed by his government to convey to me, of the determination of his State "to link her fortune with those of the Confederate States and to draw the sword in defense of our common liberties."

This proof of North Carolina's sympathy and this promise of her early union with the Confederate States are the more signal because conveyed by one of such high station and reputation as Mr. Clingman.

MONTGOMERY, May 10, 1861.

Mr. Keitt offered the following resolution, viz:

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Resolved, That the Hon. Thomas L. Clingman, a commissioner from the State of North Carolina, have the privileges of the floor in secret as well as public session, and be invited to participate in the discussions and deliberations of Congress. •

On motion, the injunction of secrecy was removed from the message and resolution, and subsequently Mr. Thomas L. Clingman appeared and took his seat.

Mr. Hunter presented a resolution adopted by the State convention of Virginia on the 27th of April, 1861, viz:

Resolved by this convention, That the President of the Confederate States and the constituted authorities of the Confederacy be, and they are hereby, cordially and respectfully invited, whenever in their opinion the public interest or convenience may require it, to make the city of Richmond or some other place in this State the seat of government of this Confederacy.

Mr. Shorter presented two accounts against the Executive Department of the Confederate States of America in favor of W. B. and A. R. Bell & Co.; which were referred to the Committee on Accounts.

Mr. Shorter, from the Committee on Engrossment, reported as correctly engrossed and enrolled

An act relative to telegraph lines in the Confederate States; and A resolution in regard to military expenditures made by the State of South Carolina.

Mr. Rhett, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred the President's message and resolutions offered by Mr. Cobb on yesterday relating to the affairs between the Confederate and United States, made a report; which was laid on the table and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Rhett, from the same committee, to whom was referred the message of the President in relation to the subject-matter of the mission of Messrs. Crawford, Forsyth, and Roman to the United States and the "intermediary" mentioned in his first message at this session of Congress, together with the statement of said "intermediary,” viz, Mr. John A. Campbell, in reference to said mission, reported the same back to Congress and recommended the printing thereof, and that the injunction of secrecy be removed therefrom.

The report was agreed to.

Congress took up for consideration the bill in relation to the Confederate loan.

On motion of Mr. Toombs, the last clause of the last section was amended; which is as follows, viz:

and the Treasurer of the Confederate States is authorized to draw checks or warrants yon said banks on renewal of said deposits, payable either in coin or its equivalent, as the Secretary of the Treasury may direct,

by inserting after the words "or its equivalent" the words "or in current bank notes."

The bill as amended was engrossed, read a third time, and passed. Mr. Smith reported

A bill to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for the public defense." approved March 6, 1861;

which was read the first and second times.

Mr. Barnwell moved to refer the same to the Committee on Military Affairs.

The motion was lost.

The bill was engrossed, read a third time, and passed.

Mr. Crawford, from the Committee on Commercial Affairs, to whom was referred a bill to define the limits of the port of New Orleans, and for other purposes, reported the same back without amendment and recommended its passage.

The bill was ordered to be placed on the Calendar.

Congress took up for consideration

A bill to make appropriations for buying 200 rifle cannon, 5 small steam propellers, and for providing sufficient crews and munitions for the same.

Mr. Chesnut, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, moved to amend the same by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following, viz:

A bill authorizing an agent to be sent abroad to purchase vessels [and] arms; and making an appropriation therefor.

The Congress of the Confederate States do cact, That to enable the Navy Department to send an agent abroad to purchase six steam propellers in addition to those hereto

fore authorized, together with rifled cannon, small arms, and other ordnance stores and munitions of war, the sum of one million of dollars is hereby appropriated out of the Treasury of the Confederate States.

The motion prevailed.

The bill as amended was engrossed, read a third time, and passed. Congress took up for consideration

A bill to authorize the purchase or construction of certain vessels of war.

Mr. Conrad, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, moved to amend the same by striking out all after the enacting clause and substituting in lieu thereof the following, viz:

That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause to be purchased, if possible, otherwise to be constructed, with the least possible delay, in France or England, one or two war steamers of the most modern and improved description, with a powerful armament and fully equipped for service.

SEC. 2. The Congress do further enact, That the sum of two millions of dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated to carry the foregoing section into effect. The motion prevailed.

The bill as amended was engrossed, read a third time, and passed. Mr. Bartow, at the instance of the State of Georgia, moved to reconsider the vote on agreeing to the resolution conferring certain powers on the Secretary of War, under the direction of the President, in relation to arms and materials for making gunpowder.

The motion prevailed, and on motion of Mr. Bartow the resolution was recommitted to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Sparrow, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the communication of Col. R. A. Hunter, proposing to sell to the Confederate States the Bellville Iron Works, near New Orleans, reported a description of the same, and recommended that the communication and report thereon be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

The report was agreed to.

Mr. Gregg offered the following resolution, viz:

Resolved, That the flag which was used at Fort Moultrie on the occasion of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and which has been sent by the President to the Congress for disposition, be placed in the Congress Hall, to remain during the present session in some conspicuous place; and that the Secretary of War be instructed to take charge of the same for safe-keeping after adjournment;

which was agreed to.

Mr. Campbell, from the Committee on Pay and Mileage, reported a bill to amend an act to fix the pay of the members of Congress of the Confederate States of America, approved 11th March, 1861; which was read the first and second times.

Mr. Hill moved to amend the same by striking out all after the enacting clause and substituting in lieu thereof the following, to wit: That the pay of members of Congress of the Confederate States of America shall be the same as the pay of members of Congress of the United States.

The motion was lost.

Mr. Bartow offered the following resolution, viz:

Resolved, That the efficient protection of the State of Virginia from the invasion with which she is now threatened and the vigorous prosecution of military operations upon which depend the safety of all the States, render necessary the presence of the Commander in Chief and the Government in the State of Virginia.

Mr. Barnwell moved to postpone the consideration of the same until to-morrow; and at the instance of the State of Alabama the yeas and