First Confederate Congress

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Confederate States Capitol (1865)

The First Confederate Congress was the first regular term of the legislature of the Confederate States of America. Members of the First Confederate Congress were chosen in elections mostly held on November 6, 1861.[1]

Sessions

The Provisional Confederate Congress fixed the date of the inaugural meeting of the First Confederate Congress. As a result, the two-year congressional term ran from February 18, 1862 until February 18, 1864.

All sessions of the First Confederate Congress met in the Confederacy's capital of Richmond, Virginia.

  • 1st Session - February 18, 1862 to April 21, 1862
  • 2nd Session - August 18, 1862 to October 13, 1862
  • 3rd Session - January 12, 1863 to May 1, 1863
  • 4th Session - December 7, 1863 to February 18, 1864

Leadership

Senate

House

Members

Senate

Confederate States Senators were elected by the state legislatures, or appointed by state Governors to fill casual vacancies until the legislature elected a new Senator. It was intended that one-third of the Senate would begin new six-year terms with each Congress after the first.

Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their terms. In this Congress, all Senators were newly elected. Senators of Class 1 served a two-year term, expiring at the end of this Congress, requiring a new election for the 1864-1870 term. Class 2 Senators served what was intended to be a four-year term, due to end on the expiry of the next Congress in 1866. Class 3 Senators were meant to serve a six-year term, due to expire at the end of the Third Confederate Congress in 1868. As the Confederate Congress lasted less than four full years, the distinction between classes 2 and 3 was ultimately academic.

The members of the classes were selected by the drawing of lots, which was done during the meeting of the Senate on February 21, 1862.[2]

Alabama

Arkansas

Florida

Georgia

Kentucky

Louisiana

Mississippi

Missouri

  • 1. John Bullock Clark, Sr.
  • 2. Robert Ludwell Yates Peyton (died September 3, 1863)
    • Waldo Porter Johnson (took his seat on December 24, 1863 - Appointed to fill vacancy)

North Carolina

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

  • 3. Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter
  • 2. William Ballard Preston (died November 16, 1862)
    • Allen Taylor Caperton (took his seat on January 22, 1864 - Elected to fill vacancy)

House of Representatives

X: Originally member of the Provisional Confederate Congress

The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers.

Alabama

Arkansas

Florida

Georgia

Kentucky

Louisiana

Mississippi

Missouri

In Confederate law, the people of Missouri were entitled to elect thirteen representatives. The state never implemented the reapportionment and continued to use its existing seven districts. Pending an election, the appointed members of the delegation to the Provisional Congress were assigned to serve in the First Congress. No election was held, so the appointed members served throughout the Congress.[5]

North Carolina

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

Delegates

Non voting members of the House of Representatives.

Arizona Territory

Cherokee Nation

Choctaw Nation

See also

References

  • The Historical Atlas of the Congresses of the Confederate States of America: 1861-1865, by Kenneth C. Martis (Simon and Schuster 1994)
  1. ↑ Historical Atlas ..., pp. 131-134
  2. ↑ Permanent Constitution of the Confederate States and Confederate Senate Journal
  3. ↑ Historical Atlas ..., p. 132
  4. ↑ Historical Atlas ..., p. 132
  5. ↑ Historical Atlas ... pp. 20 and 62-63
  6. ↑ Historical Atlas ..., p. 133
  7. ↑ Historical Atlas ..., p. 134 and note p. 139
  8. ↑ Historical Atlas ..., p. 134

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