House of Representatives.
Wednesday, August 27, 1862.
The
House met at 12 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by
Rev. Dr. Selley.
Mr. Davis, of
Miss, offered a resolution, that each member of the
House appropriate his per diem for the next two days for the benefit of the sick and wounded in the hospitals in and around this city.
Mr. Gartrell, of
Ga., moved to amend by adding, ‘"and the fund so raised be deposited with the
Speaker, to be equitably distributed to the several hospitals. "’
The resolution was rejected.
Mr. Chambers, of
Miss, offered a bill to be entitled an act to amend an act to authorize the suspension of the writ of
habeas corpus in certain cases.
Referred to Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Barksdale, of
Miss., offered a resolution, that the
Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill increasing the pay of those engaged in the naval service of the
Government, with a view to promoting enlistments.
Agreed to.
Mr. Vest, of
Mo., offered a joint resolution of thanks to Com
Montgomery, and the officers and men under his command, for gallant and meritorious conduct on the
Mississippi.
Agreed to.
Mr. Bonham, of
S. C., offered a resolution that it be referred to the
Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads to inquire whether the force in the Post-Office in this city is sufficient for the prompt distribution of the mail matter daily arriving.
Agreed to.
Mr. Miles, of
S. C., offered a bill to ‘"provide for horses killed in action."’ Referred to the Military Committee.
Also, that the
Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the expediency of separating between the Pay and Quartermaster Departments of the army.
Mr. Conrad, of
La., moved to amend by adding, ‘"and also into the expediency of creating a separate department on clothing."’ Agreed to.
Mr. Foote, of
Tenn., called up the resolutions offered by him some days ago, on the future policy of the war. The resolutions having been taken up,
Mr. Foote offered the following amendment:
‘
Resolved, That it be further recommended to the
President that he will also (if consistent with his own views of propriety) embody in said proclamation an assurance that if the people of the
North western States shall conclude to desist, as before mentioned, from further participation in the pending war, the
Confederate States of America will enter into a reciprocity commercial treaty with them, opening at once, upon the most liberal and equitable terms, the markets of the
South to such of said States as shall enter into this arrangement;
Provided, however, That no State of the present
United States lying east of the eastern boundary line of the
State of Ohio shall be allowed to participate in the advantages which may be reasonably expected to accrue from said commercial treaty.--Referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Also, a resolution for raising a committee, to consist of one from each State, to examine into the condition of the Departments of the
Quartermaster and
Commissary Generals.
Referred to the select committee announced this morning.
Also, a resolution that
Hon. S. R. Mallory, as
Secretary of the Navy, doe not possess the confidence of Congress or the country.
Mr. Kenan, of
Georgia, moved that the resolution be postponed indefinitely.
Mr. Swann, of Tenn, moved to lay the resolution on the tables and on this motion the ayes and noes were called, and the vote being taken resulted as follows; Ayes 47, noes 41.
Mr. Foote then offered a resolution that a committee of one from each State be appointed, whose duty it shall be thoroughly to investigate affairs in the Navy Department.
’
Mr. Barksdale, of
Miss., offered a joint resolution as a substitute, as follows:
‘
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives, That a joint select committee, to consist of — on the part of the Senate and five on the part of the
House, be appointed to investigate the affairs of the Navy Department, under its present head, with power to send for persons and papers, and report the same to the two Houses respectively.
Mr. Barksdale called the question on his substitute, and the vote being taken, it was adopted.
Mr. Jones, of
Tenn., moved to reconsider the vote just taken, and to lay the motion to reconsider on the table.
After some discussion on the motion, it was withdrawn by
Mr. Jones, when it was renewed by
Mr. Conrad, of
La., who expressed himself at some length with reference to the conduct of the Navy Department, and concluded by withdrawing his motion.
Mr. Foote renewed the motion, and spoke at length upon the question.
Mr. Barksdale said he did not wish to appear as the partisan or champion of
Mr. Mallory, but desired that justice should be done, and it was in this spirit that he offered the resolution.
The question recurring upon the motion of
Mr. Conrad to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was adopted, the motion was not agreed to.
On motion, the
House adjourned.
’
