House of Representatives.
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1862.
The
House convened at 12 o'clock, and was called to order by the
Speaker.
Prayer by
Rev. James A. Duncan.
After the reading of the Journal of yesterday,
Messrs. Foster, of Ala.;
Chambers, of Miss.;
Burnett, of Ky.; and
Smith, of
N. C., presented themselves at the desk of the
Speaker and were duly sworn in.
Mr. Jones, of
Tenn., moved a reconsideration of the resolution adopted yesterday, informing the Senate of the readiness of the
House to proceed to count the vote for
President and
Vice President of the
Confederate States, which being agreed to, the following resolutions were offered as a substitute:
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Resolved, That the
Speaker of the
House appoint two tellers, to be associated with such as shall be appointed on the part of the Senate, to superintend the counting of the vote for
President and
Vice President, and that the Senate be advised of this appointment.
Resolved, That a message be sent to the Senate to inform that body that the
House will be ready at 1 o'clock to-day to receive them in this chamber, for the purpose of executing the law requiring Congress to count the votes for
President and
Vice-President, to-day.
These resolutions were adopted, and the
Speaker appointed
Messrs. Barksdale of
Miss., and Miles of
South Carolina, tellers on the part of the
House.
The resolution of
Mr. Elliott, of
Ky., that the office of Sergeant-at-Arms be and is hereby created, was called up, when
Mr. Curry, of
Alabama, moved that it be laid upon the table.
The motion was carried.
Mr. Chilton, of
Alabama, offered a resolution that stenographers and reporters of the press be allowed seats within the bar of the
House, except when it shall be deemed necessary for the
House to sit with closed doors.
This resolution was adopted.
Mr. Foote, of
Tennessee, submitted a resolution, asking for a committee to investigate the causes of the disasters which have befallen our arms in
North Carolina,
Kentucky, and
Tennessee, and moved that it be printed.
Mr. Crockett, of
Kentucky, opposed this motion upon the ground that the matters embraced in the resolution of the gentleman from
Tennessee might require to be considered in secret session, and moved the resolution be laid upon the table without being printed.
Mr. Foote sustained his motion with great earnestness.
Mr. Crockett refrained from discussing the question, for the same reasons that prompted him to oppose the motion of
Mr. Foote.
The motion of
Mr. Crockett was adopted, and the resolution was laid upon the table.
The
House was about to take a recess until 1 o'clock, when a message from the Senate informed them that
Messrs. Clark of
Missouri, and
Barnwell of
South Carolina, were appointed upon the part of the Senate to wait upon the
President and inform him of the organization of Congress.
Mr. Garland, of
Arkansas, offered a resolution instructing the
Clerk to purchase $500 worth of stationery for the use of the
House, and that he be instructed to draw his warrant upon the
House for the payment of the same out of the contingent fund.
Mr. Smith, of
Virginia, moved to lay the resolution upon the table.
Motion agreed to.
The Chair announced the names of the following gentlemen, who compose the
Committee on Rules:
Messrs. Curry of
Alabama,
Lewis of
Georgia,
Perkins of
La., and
Jones of Tenn.
The hour having arrived for the two Houses to go into joint session, the
Senators were supplied seats upon the floor of the
House, and the
President,
pro tem., Mr. Hunter, announced that in pursuance of an act of the Provisional Congress fixing this day, that Congress would now proceed to count the votes for
President and
Vice-President of the
Confederate States of America--
Messrs. Orr of
South Carolina, and
Sparrow of
La., on the part of the Senate, and
Messrs. Barksdale and Miles, on the part of the
House, acting as tellers.
The States were called alphabetically, commencing with the
State of Alabama and ending with the
State of Virginia.
The result showed that
one hundred and nine electoral votes had been cast, and that for the office of
President of the
Confederate States,
Jefferson Davis, of
Miss., had received 109; and for
Vice-President,
Alexander H. Stephens, of
Ga., had received 109 votes.
The result; was then announced by
Mr. Hunter as stated above.
A motion was made that a committee of three be appointed by the
Speaker, to act in conjunction with a similar committee appointed by the Senate, to notify the
President and
Vice-President elect of the result of the vote.
The Chair appointed
Messrs. Kenner,
Barksdale, and
Miles said committee.
Mr. Russell, of
Virginia, offered a resolution to the effect, that until further ordered, the printing of the
House be done by
R. M. Smith, the printer of the Provisional Congress, under the rules prescribed by that body.
Resolution adopted.
Mr. Boteles, of
Virginia, offered a resolution requesting the
President to communicate to the House of Representatives the report of
Major-General Jackson respecting the recent operation of the army under his command in the valley district of
Virginia; also the report of
Col. G. W. Lay,
inspector General of the Army of Western Virginia, in reference to the condition of the command in the valley district of
Virginia.
Lain on
...
referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs, when appointed.
Mr. Curry, of
Alabama, moved that the regular hour for the meeting of the
House be fixed at twelve o'clock. Agreed to.
A resolution that the Doorkeeper be allowed an assistant and four pages, was referred to the
Committee on Rules.
On motion, the
House adjourned to meet at twelve o'clock to-morrow.
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