17

Council Chamber

Bowling GreenKy
Tuesday November 26.^th 1861

The Council met pursuant to adjournment —

Hon^l.W. B. Machen President in the Chair

A. Frank Brown Clerk of the Council elect, and having been duly qualified as required by law entered upon the discharge of the duties of said office.

A communication from G. Malcom was received and read and on motion it was refered to the committee on Military affairs

The Committees to whom was refered a bill to fix the salaries of certain Officers- reported the same-

ByMr Crockett —
"An act to fix the salaries of certain Officers"
Which was read the first time- and ordered to be read a second time

The rules of the Council Constitutional provision and second and third readings having been dispensed with-

The question then being upon the passage of the bill, and being taken was decided in the affirmative- and so the bill passed

Ordered That the title be as reported.

Mr. H. W. Bruce from the Committee on the Judiciary reported a bill to amend the Execution and distribution laws- which bill reads as follows — Towit —

An Act to amend the Execution and distribution laws of Kentucky —

Be it enacted by the Council of the Provisional Government of the State of Kentucky That every citizen of said Commonwealth shall be entitled to hold as exempt from sale for any debt whatever except taxes, one slave and if said exempted slave be a female, the mother of infant children, the property also of the owners of said

18
female slave, said infant children, during their infancy shall in like manner be exempt from sale. Provided however that in the event of the death of the owner of any such exempted slave or slaves, the same shall descend as real Estate-"

Which was read the first time-

On motion the rules of the Council constitutional provision and second reading was dispensed with.

Mr Crockett moved the following amendment. Towit:-

"Amend by striking out the words "during their infancy" in the twelfth line and insert "until they attain the age of twelve years"
Said amendment was accepted-

On motion of Mr. Thompson said bill and amendment was re-committed to the committene reporting the same.

Mr H. W. Bruce moved the following resolution Towit:

"Resolved That that the Council now proceed to the election of a person to fill the office of Sergeant at arms, Door Keeper and Page whose duty it shall be to provide fuel for the Council chamber to Keep the same properly warmed and clean and to attend generally to the duties pertaining to said offices-

In pursuance of said resolution the council then proceeded to the election of sergeant at arms, door Keeper and page which resulted in the election ofJ. B. Thompson Jr.

Mr H. W. Bruce moved the following resolution Towit:
"Resolved That the TreasurerT. L. Burnett be and he is hereby authorized to purchase the necessary books and stationary for the use of this Council"
Which was adopted.

A message from the Governor was received and read as follows Towit:

Bowling Green Ky
Novr. 26.^th 1861

W. B. Machen Esq
President of the Council of Kentucky
Sir

I hereby nominate Robert McKee for the Office of Secretary of State

Very Respectfully
Your Ob^t Serv^t.
George W. Johnson

19

The council on motion went into executive Session

On motion the nomination by the Governor of R. M^cKee for Secretary of State was unanimously confirmed.

On motion the Council then adjourned to meet again at 2 O'Clock P. M.

Attest A Frank Brown

Evening Session

The Council met pursuant to adjournment- Hon^l. W. B. Machen President in the Chair.

Mr Crockett moved the following resolution
Resolved- That his Excellency the Governor of the Provisional Government be and he is hereby requested and instructed to require all the collecting officers of the State revenue in the State of Kentucky to pay all the revenue collected or uncollected in their respective Counties for the year 1861 or any previous year under existing revenue laws into the Treasury of this government and the Governor will communicate in writing to the Council the result of this requisition —
Which was adopted

Mr. Thompson from the Committee on Military Affairs presented the following report:

The Committee on Military affairs to whom was refered the communication of Rob^t M^cKee — Report That upon deliberation they have concluded that the request of said M^cKee should be granted, and that he be authorized to raise a regiment the same to be Officered and subject to all laws that may hereby be enacted relative to the army and militia of Kentucky

P. B. Thompson Chr^mn

And thereupon Mr Thompson moved the following resolution
Resolved That Robert M^cKee be authorized to raise a regiment to be Officered and subject to all laws that may hereafter be enacted relative to the Army and militia of Kentucky- Said Regiment when raised to serve for twelve months unless sooner discharged
Which was adopted

And then the Council adjourned until tomorrow at 10 O'Clock A. M.

Attest
A. Frank Brown Clerk