S*0844 Concurrent Resolution, By McConnell, Giese, Passailaigue and M.T. Rose
 A Concurrent Resolution memorializing the United States Congress to direct the
 General Services Administration to transfer ownership of the remains of the
 attack submarine the Hunley to the State of South Carolina for enshrinement at
 the Naval Marine Museum in Patriot's Point, South Carolina.

   05/16/95  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-8
   05/17/95  House  Introduced HJ-6
   05/17/95  House  Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial
                     Resolutions HJ-6
   05/23/95  House  Committee report: Favorable Invitations and
                     Memorial Resolutions HJ-117
   05/24/95  House  Amended and adopted HJ-64
   05/24/95  House  Returned to Senate with amendments HJ-66
   05/30/95  Senate Concurred in amendment SJ-51

(Doc Name L:\council\legis\amend\PFM\7529DW.95)

May 24, 1995

S. 844

Introduced by SENATORS McConnell, Passailaigue, Rose and Giese

S. Printed 5/23/95--H.

Read the first time May 17, 1995.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 844), memorializing the United States Congress to direct the General Services Administration to transfer ownership of the remains of the attack submarine, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

RICHARD M. QUINN, JR., for Committee.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

MEMORIALIZING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO DIRECT THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF THE REMAINS OF THE ATTACK SUBMARINE THE HUNLEY TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR ENSHRINEMENT AT THE NAVAL MARINE MUSEUM IN PATRIOT'S POINT, SOUTH CAROLINA.

Amend Title To Conform

Whereas, the Hunley, a Confederate submarine, was commissioned by private investors and built in Mobile, Alabama, for use in the Civil War; and

Whereas, the Hunley torpedoed and destroyed on February 17, 1864, the USS Housatonic, a Union warship blockading Charleston Harbor; and

Whereas, that attack made the Hunley the first submarine in history to sink a warship; and

Whereas, the sinking of the USS Housatonic was the only such action in the Civil War; and

Whereas, the Hunley's achievement would not be repeated until the closing months of the First World War; and

Whereas, the Hunley's success launched the era of submarine warfare; and

Whereas, the Hunley and her crew disappeared off the coast of Charleston the night she sank the Housatonic; and

Whereas, nine gallant Confederate soldiers went down with the submarine; and

Whereas, the Hunley is the single most important artifact in the history of submarine warfare; and

Whereas, the Hunley has just been discovered intact off the coast of Sullivan's Island, South Carolina; and

Whereas, under federal and state law, the State asserts ownership of this vessel; and

Whereas, the State of South Carolina desires to exercise its ownership and control of this piece of Southern history; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, declare their belief that this historic relic must be preserved and maintained for the benefit of future generations, and that the Hunley's history is inextricably tied to that of South Carolina's; and

Whereas, if subsequent events or proceedings should find and dictate that the State cannot legally assert ownership to this property, the State would want to pursue obtaining ownership from the entity found to own the ship, and if it is determined that ownership of the vessel belongs to the General Services Administration, the State requests transfer of ownership to the State. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the remains of the CSS Hunley, a Confederate attack submarine which sank off the coast of South Carolina on February 17, 1864, is the property of the State of South Carolina, the members of the General Assembly hereby memorialize the United States Congress to direct the General Services Administration to transfer any interest they may have in the wreckage of the Confederate submarine, the Hunley, to the State of South Carolina for enshrinement at the Naval Marine Museum at Patriot's Point, located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

Be it further resolved that a committee of nine members be appointed, three of whom must be members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker, three of who must be members of the Senate to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore, and three members to be appointed by the Governor. The committee shall make a study of the law regarding the rights to the salvage of the "Hunley," a Confederate submarine, and any claim that a person or entity may assert with regard to ownership or control of the vessel. The committee is authorized to direct the Attorney General on behalf of South Carolina to take appropriate steps to enforce and protect the rights of the State of South Carolina to the salvage of the Hunley and to defend the state against claims regarding this vessel and to make recommendations regarding the appropriate method of preservation of this historic vessel.

The committee members shall not receive the subsistence, mileage and per diem as may be provided by law for members of boards, committees and commissions.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States, the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and the members of South Carolina's Congressional Delegation.