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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:

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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R. M. Smith (3)
A. H. Foote (3)
Curry (3)
Crockett (3)
Barksdale (3)
Jones (2)
Hunter (2)
Alexander H. Stephens (1)
Sparrow (1)
Russell (1)
Perkins (1)
Orr (1)
Miles (1)
Lewis (1)
G. W. Lay (1)
Kenner (1)
S. K. Jackson (1)
Garland (1)
Foster (1)
Elliott (1)
James A. Duncan (1)
Jefferson Davis (1)
William J. Clark (1)
Chilton (1)
Chambers (1)
Burnett (1)
Boteles (1)
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February 19th, 1862 AD (1)
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