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Thursday December 12^th 1861

The Council met. W. B. Machen President in the chair.

Josiah Pillsbury Auditor of State appeared and took the oath required by law.

The Council took up the bill entitled "An act for the benefit of common Schools and other purposes", the same having been made the special order of the day for 10 ¹/2 O'Clock A. M. to day —
Mr Crockett offerred the following amendment viz:
"Insert after the words "thereof" in the 11^th line of 2^nd section these words "or accruing interest thereon"-
And the question being taken on said amendment, it was decided in the affirmative

And then the Council took a recess until 2 O'Clock P. M.

Evening Session

On motion the Council went into secret Session-

A Message from the Governor by R. McKee Secretary of State
Mr President: I am directed to lay before this Council a Special message in writing:

Executive Office
Bowling Green Ky
December 11^th 1861

Hon^l. W. B. Machen President of the Council of the State of Kentucky

I herewith lay before the Council two despatches, received from

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H. C. Burnett, one of our Commissioners at Richmond, by which the gratifying intelligence is communicated of the unanimous and unconditional admission of the state of Kentucky, into the Government of the Confederate States of America-

It is considered important by our Commissioner, that Kentucky should be represented in the provisional Congress of the Confederate States now in Session at Richmond. In this Opinion I concur, and recommend the appointment of a suitable number of Delegates to the Provisional Congress.

I also recommend the election of two senators, and provision by law for the election of members of the House of Representatives, in the Congress of the Confederate States of America

very Respectfully
Your Obt Serv^t..
George W. Johnson

The despatches referred to read as follows

Richmond Dec^r. 11.^th 1861

To Hon^l. G. W Johnson.

Kentucky admitted — injunction of secresy removed — appoint at once delegates to the Provisional Congress — We need some one on the floor of the Congress now. Simms, Morris, Gen^l. Tom Johnson of Montgomery, Genl. Read and Judge Monroe are here- If you should appoint any of them, telegraph the fact so that they can take their seats

H. C. Burnett

Richmond Dec.' 11^th 1861
To George W. Johnson

Gen^l Thomas Johnson Ninth Kentucky Congressional District is here — Kentuckians want his appointment to Congress — answer to

H. C. Burnett

On motion said message and accompanying documents were to a select Committee.
whereupon the President constituted said committee as follows
Mess Crockett H. W. Bruce and P. B. Thompson, with instructions to report by bill or otherwise

There being no further business in Executive Session the Council resumed its general Session

The Council then resumed the consideration of the pending bill in reference to Common Schools.

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Mr Thompson in the Chair.

Mr Machen moved to strike out all that portion of the bill relating to the jury fund
The question being taken on the motion to strike out, it was decided in the negative-

Mr Bates moved to recommit said bill to the Committee On Common Schools- and the question being taken thereon it was decided in the affirmative

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

Attest
A Frank Brown Clerk