The Daily Dispatch: March 22, 1862., [Electronic resource]

House of Representatives.

The States were called alphabetically for memorials, resolutions, &c.

Mr. Hanley, of Ark, introduced a bill to be entitled an act to define and punish forgery and counterfeiting in certain cases. Referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. Reyston, of Ark., presented a memorial with reference to the increase of the pay of volunteers; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Wright, of Ga., called up the following resolution; which was offered by him several days ago:

‘ Resolved, That there shall be added to the rules of the House an additional rule, as follows: "No member having made a speech shall, at the conclusion thereof, call the question or previous question, nor shall any member offering a resolution, or motion, or amendment, call the question thereon when as offering it."

’ Mr. Wright said that his object in offering this additional rule was to protect the rights of the modest members of the House, of which, he wished it distinctly understood, he did not claim to be one. This matter of calling the question had been abused. It was generally called by the speaking members, after they had delivered themselves on a question More particularly had it been abused since the adoption of the rule limiting each member to one speech on the same question. The speaking members, after they had been heard themselves, generally called the question, with a view to cutting off further debate. Why this was done he did not know, unless it was to hurry through with one measure so as to be heard upon another. He desired the rules to be so amended that every member who desired to speak might be heard, and that the modest men of the House could have an equal chance. With this view he had presented the resolution.

Mr. Foote, of Tenn, returned his thanks to the gentleman from Georgia for his noble vindication of the rights of the modest men on the floor, of which he claimed to be one of the chief. He would support with great pleasure the resolution of his friend, and concluded by calling the question.

Mr. Jones, of Tenn., moved the vote be taken by ayes and noes, which was ordered, with the following result — ayes, 40; noes, 35. So the resolution was defeated, it requiring a two-third vote to change a rule of the House.

Mr. Garland, of Ark, submitted the report of the joint committee of the two Houses of Congress, for the purpose of fixing upon a compromise on the bill for the pay and mileage of members. The report fixes the pay of members at $2,760--the House receding from its amendment striking out $3,000 and inserting $2,500, and the Senate receding from its original provision of $5,000. This was the only material change in the bill.

Mr. Foster, of Ala., opposed the report of the committee, and was unwilling to vote far, any such amount. He moved that the report be laid upon the tables which motion was not agreed to.

The question then recurred upon the adoption of the report, when Mr. Foote demanded an aye, and no vote, which resulted — ayes, 57; noes, 27.

Mr. Read, of Ky., submitted the following resolution; which, under the rules, lies over for two days.

Resolved, That the rules of the House be so amended that the Speaker shall appoint a committee of five, in whose power the calling of the question and previous question shall be exclusively given, and that it shall be a privilege question to be exercised at any time when deemed proper by said committee, a majority thereof concurring.

Mr. Macken, of Ky., introduced the following resolution; which was agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into and report the propriety of having as many rifle guns of the most simple, but effective pattern, distributed among the smith of the various States of the Confederacy as will serve as patterns for domestic manufacture of that fire arm by all such smithe as will undertake to assist, by their own forges, to make up the deficiency; and if deemed practicable and advisable, that said committee be also requested to report upon the practicability of supplying to all smithe who will undertake the manufacture aforesaid, gun scalps, or iron suited for said manufacture, under such regulations as the Department of War may deem sufficient to secure the object contemplated. The committee to report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. Chambers, of Miss, introduced the following resolution; which was adopted:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be requested to inform this House at what dates prior to the 30th of June, 1862, payments of interest will be due on the existing public debt, and also what amount of interest will be due at each period of its maturity.

Mr. Barksdale, of Miss, submitted a memorial from citizens of Clarke county, Miss., praying the imposition of a tax of $25 to $50 per bale on all cotton the growth of the present year. Mr. Barksdale desired simply to say that in presenting the memorial for the consideration of the House, he would waive any remark upon the constitutional principle involved in the prayer of the petitioners. It is the utterance of a large and intelligent body of constituents, and is worthy of special consideration as a demonstration of their patriotism and their readiness to sustain the government in any and all measures deemed necessary to the successful prosecution of the war. He moved its reference to the Committee on Military Affairs, and it was so referred.

Mr. Ayer, of South Carolina offered the following resolution; which was appropriately referred:

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary to inquire and report, by bill or otherwise, on the expediency of increasing the penalties now imposed by law on all Government officials, arents, and employees, who may be found guilty of practicing fraud and peculation on the Government; and especially to report on the propriety of punishing every such offender with severe flogging on the bared back.

Mr. Farsow, of South Carolina, submitted the annexed resolution; which was agreed to:

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on Rules to consider and report upon the expediency of so amending the rules of this House as to require that no bill or joint resolution shall be put upon its passage until the same shall have been printed and distributed, except by a two-third vote.

Referred to the Committee on Rules.

Mr. Heiskell, of Tenn., introduced a resolution to provide for the prompt payment of the claims of deceased soldiers. Referred to the Military Committee.

Mr. Adkins, of Tenn., arose to a personal explanation. His attention had been called to a card published in a Memphis paper, and signed by the members of the Tennessee Legislature, denying a statement attributed to him in some remarks he had made in the House, on the conduct of Gen. A. S. Johnston, to the effect that a petition had been signed by nearly every member of that Legislature, praying the removal of Gen. Johnston. He had never made any such statement. He had said in those remarks that nearly every member of the Tennessee delegation in Congress had signed such a paper.

Mr. Chambliss, of Va., introduced a joint resolution for the relief of Mrs. Julia Tyler, Executrix, of Hon. John Tyler. The resolution related to the pay due Mr. Tyler as a member of Congress at the time of his death.

The rules were suspended, and the House adopted the resolution.

Mr. Russell, of Va., offered the following resolution; which was agreed to:

‘ Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the expediency of amending the law relating to the organization of the militia, when called into the service of the Confederate States.

’ Mr. Bothler, of Va., presented two memorials, one from Brig. Gen. Carson, and the other from Brig. Gen. Meem, on the subject of the day of militia; which were referred.

Mr. Baldwin of Va., offered the following resolution; which was referred to the Judiciary Committee:

Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary inquire late and report to this House; 1st. As to the expediency of defining by law the extent of the power to declare martial law, and of ascertaining what is martial law when duly declared, 3d. As to the expediency of regulating by law the whole subject of arrest and imprisonment "for reasons of State," so as to secure the rights of the public and of individuals, without a general suspension of the habeas corpus.

Also, a communication from a gentleman from Rockingham county, on the subject of making Treasury notes a legal tender. Referred to the Judiciary Committee.

On motion, the House then went into secret session.