<title type="main">Provisional Government of the State of Kentucky, Journal

110 Monday December 30th 1861

The Council met Jno. W. Crockett President Pro.tem in the chair.

Mr Crockett called Mr Burnside to the chair.

Mr Crockett moved the following resolution Towit:

Resolved That a committee of three be appointed by the Council to examine the condition of the Branch Bank of Kentucky at Bowling Green -- and the Peoples Bank. Said Committee are hereby invested with full power to summon persons before them and examine them on oath, touching any matter connected with said Banks, and shall also have full power all the papers of said Bank including its correspondence &c. Sdaid committee Shall continue its labors from day to day until completed, and report in writing &c. Said resolution was adopted.

The council in pursuance of said resolution placed on said committee- Messrs Crockett, E. M Bruce, and Thompson.

The committee to whom was referred the bill apportioning the State reported a substitute for the original bill entitled "An act to district the State and provide for the election of members of the House of Representatives of the Confederate States"

The question was upon the adoption of the substitute and being taken it was decided in the affirmative.

Ordered That said bill be read a third timeAnd said bill was then read a third time.

The question was then taken on the passage of the bill, and it was decided in the affirmativeAnd so the bill passed. Ordered that the title thereof be as reported.

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

Executive Office Bowling Green Ky December 30.th 1861 Gentlemen of the Council

Herewith I lay before you a communication from Honl. Thomas B. Monroe convering an act of the Congress of the Confederate States entitled -- "An

111 act to determine the number of Members the State of Kentucky shall be entitled to in the House of Representatives of the Confederate States &c &c"

George W. Johnson

The "act" referred to reads as follows: Towit "An act to determine the number of Members which the State of Kentucky shall be entitled to have in the House of Representatives of the Congress of the Confederate States, and in relation to the election and returns thereof The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact that the State of Kentucky shall be entitled to have in the House of Representatives of the Congress of the Confederate States twelve members These members shall be elected, in the manner, at the time and at the places which has been, or may be hereafter prescribed by the Legislature of the State subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Confederate States The persons elected shall be certified by the Governor.

A special Messsage in writing from the Governor was announced by Mr McKee Secretary of State: Mr President: I am directed by the Governor to lay before this Council a messsage in writing:

Executive Office Bowling Green Ky December 30.th 1862 Gentlemen of the Council of the State of Kentucky

I herewith inclose to you two letters from our Bank Commissioner at New Orleans, and a copy of an act of Congress of the Confederate States of America to assist our Commissioner -- It seems to me, that under this act; our Commissioner will not have any difficulty in securing the assets, except to lay before the Court, proof of the fact, of their loan to the United States, of which the State Government at Frankfort claim to be a part

George W. Johnson

The Communications referred to in the message, were signed by Jno. D. Morris- read and ordered to be filed -- The act of the Confederate Congress referred to reads as follows: "No 309. A resolution appointed John D. Morris of Kentucky. a receiver under the Act of Sequestration, approved August thirteenth Eighteen Hundred and and Sixty one. The congress of the Confederate States of America do resolve that Jnohn D. Morris appointed by the Government of Kentucky as their special Commissioner to secure the co-operation of the

112 Confederate States in the Sequestration of the property, effects, and credits of certain Banking corporations of said State, be hereby clothed with the powers of a receiver, under the act for the sequestration of the property of alien enemies approved thirtieth of August Eighteen hundred and sixty one -- throughout the Confederate States, and as such he alone be authorized, to ascertain, seize, and sequestrate the property effects and credits of all the banking Corporations of the said State, that may have made loans or extended pecuniary aid to the United States or the Government of Kentucky waging war against the Confederate States -- and when so sequestered -- instead of paying the same into the Treasury of the Confederate States, shall account for and pay over the same, under his Commission to the Government of Kentucky

Th. S. Bocock President of Congress Pro tempore

Approved Dec. 16. 1861 Jefferson Davis

A special messsage from the Governor by Mr McKee Secretary of State was announced: Mr President: I am directed by the Governor to lay before this council A Message in writing:

Executive Office Bowling Green Ky Dec. 29. 1861 Gentlemen of the Council of the State of Kentucky.

I hereby nominate S. B. Blackburn for the Offices of Circuit and County Court Clerk in the County of Warren. Also P. B. Dunn for the Office of Circuit and County Court Clerk in Simpson County. Also Clement Fisher for the Office of Justice of the Peace for the County of Simpson, in place of Samuel R Hope, in the first civil District. Also James H Bradshaw for the Office of Assessor for the County of Simpson in place of the former assessor -- Williams -- who has removed from the State-

Also James M. Lane for the Office of Jailor in the County of Simpson, in place of William M Johnson, who resigned.

George W. Johnson

The question then taken and the entire list of the nominations in the foregoing message unanimously confirmed.

Mr Bates asked and obtained the unanimous consent of the Council to introduce a bill creating the Office of Assistant Secretary of State -- Said leave was referred to a special Committee consisting of Messrs Bates and Moore.

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

113

Evening Session

The Council met- John W. Crockett Prest. Protempore in the chair.

The select committee to whom was referred the special leave to introduce a bill creating the Office of Assistant Secretary of State which bill was then read as follows. An act creating the Office of assistant Secretary of State. Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Council of the Provisional Government of the State of Kentucky, that there is hereby created and established the Office of Assistant Secretary of State. Sec. 2. The assistant Secretary of State shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the consent of the Council and shall for his services receive a salary of six hundred dollars per anum payable monthly.

On Motion the rule of the Council, constitutional provision and second reading were dispensed with.

Mr H W Bruce moved to strike out the word "six" an insert "five" where it occurs in the second section. Said amendment was voted on and lost Messrs H. W. Bruce and Bates- having demanded the ayes and noes thereon- and being called resulted as follows: Those who voted in the affirmative were Messrs Crockett, Burnside, H. W Bruce and Scott -- 4 -- Those who voted in the negative were Messrs Bates, Thompson, E. M. Bruce and Moore -- 4 --

On motion said bill was ordered to thise third reading The rules of the Council Constitutional provision and third reading were dispensed withThe question was then taken on the passage of the bill and it was decided in the affirmative -- and the bill passed Orderd that the title be as reported

The Committee on enrollments reported that they had examined the following enrolled bills Towit: An act entitled an act to raise and arm thirty regiments of volunteer infantry and Cavalry. An act to district the State and provide for the election of Members of the House of Representatives of the confederate States An act creating the Office of assistant Secretary of State. And that they had found the same truly enrolled -- Whereupon the President pro-tempore affixed his signature thereto.

114

A special Message from the Governor by Mr McKee secretary of State was announced Mr President: I am directed by the Governor to lay before this Council a message in writing:

Executive Office Bowling Green Ky Dec. 29.1861 Gentlemen of the Council of the State of Kentucky:

I hereby nominate General Henry E. Read as one of our Commissioners under an act directing the appointment of Commissioners, to visit officers and settle with Sheriffs and other collecting Officers

George W. Johnson

said nomination was unanimously confirmed by the Council.

The committee on claims reported as follows: Towit: "The Committee on claims having examined the accounts and vouchers of J. B. Thompson Jr. Sergeant at Arms find the same correct and that he has expended the sum of One-Hundred and ninety six 50/100 Dollars which they recommend be paid and offer the following resolution: Resolved That the Auditor draw a warrant on the Treasurer of the Provisional Government of Kentucky in favor of J. B. Thompson Jr. for the sum of one Hundred and Ninety six 50/100 Dollars in full of expenditures by him for this Government up to this date.

said report was accepted and said resolution adopted

The Committee on Banks reported a bill entitled "an act to amend an act entitled an act to empower the Governor to appoint a commissioner to the confederate States of America on the subject of Banks. Which was read a first time

On motion the rule of the council constitutional provision and second reading were dispensed with.

Mr H. W. Bruce offered the following amendment Towit "Amend by striking out wherever they occur the words "the Southern Bank and branches" and the question being put on the adoption of said amendment it was rejected. Messrs H. W. Bruce and Crockett having demanded the ayes and noes and being called resulted as follows.

115 Those who voted in the affirmative were Messrs Crockett, Burnside, H. W. Bruce and Scott -- 4 -- Those who voted in the negative were Messrs Bates Thompson, E. M. Bruce, and Moore -- 4 --

A message from the Governor by Mr McKee was received announcing that he had approved and signed the following bills -- Towit: An act to district the State and provide for the election of Members to the House of Representatives of the Confederate States. An act to raise and arm thirty Regiments of volunteer Infantry and Cavalry.

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

Attest A. Frank Brown Clerk