Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-24

We do not know where our army % tas is, or
what is the position of the army Of the enemy.
Mr.. SMITH, of Virginia The President will give US
that information.
Mr. F00TE. He may or may not His message may have
beeu drawn I'D for time and would probably nottm-
brace late information in respect to this matter may
,urn out that this city is not in perfect state OF defenc.
and that immediate legislation may be necessary 10 rem
der Il So he Mr. F hoped his friend would not con-
slider Il dsrespectul the President or his Cabinet SIM
nj, 70 propose that committee of inquiry should be ap
pointed whose duty it shall be to obtain information
mon the subjects referred to and report TO this House
Mr. HARRIS of No. Does the gentleman expect the
committee to call upon the Secretary Of War and obtain
the necessary information before Monday
Mr. Fo0TE-certsinly. The committee could walt
upon the Secretary todsy ard having the information
in their possession they would have ten or twelve hours
70 deliberate upon IT, and report on Monday, and thus
enable US in cooperation with the Executive, 70 take
some steps for the defence Of the country The oss OF
two DAYS may produce great deal OF mischief, aud in
view of the fact that the proposed Involves no
disresnect TO the President or bis Cabinet while our
condition demands the promptes action be thought 1t
was the duty OF the House take the steps proposed by
the resolution. he Mr.. dill not come here TO Idle
away his time and be felt bound to say that there was
torpidty in the public mind which 70 him was omin-
Gus not alarming He thought that they ought TO do
what they had to do Immediately. He thought II
committee properly constituted-upon which, however,
he mr. f. could not account OF the course ne
thought It necessary to pursue here-was appointed Tor
the purpose of respectfully waiting on the Secretary OF
War; and obtaining information in regard to the condi
lion of our defsnces that BY Monday might be able
to act undefs.andingy upon this subject IL was 10 that
view that he (Nr F) offered the resolution, but be
had much respect for the gentleman from virginia,
(Mr Smith, and so much conhdsnce In his wisdom and
good sense that after having thrown out the reasons
which Influenced him 10 submitting this proposition, he
would IL the gentleman still thought Il would be impo
tic 10 adopt the resolution, withdraw it at once.
Mr. CONRAD of La, said thst perhaps it may not be
smss 10 inform those members who not In the Pro.
yisiona Congress- that far appropriations are con-
cerned there is no immediate necessity for action ON
the part of the House. The Provisional Congress made
ample appropriations for every Department. appropra-
tons e1tendiug several months beyond the present pc
Rod II therefore, the Executive has not taken the me-
csssSry steps for the defence Of this place or any 9th
portion Of the COnederacy il certainly is not for want
of the necessary appropriations for that purpose.
So far as regards the particular information which the
gentleman desired to obtain, be wouli submit whether
il would be 10 accordance with military practice or usage
to give publicity all the information which be says ir
Is the object Of the resolution to OBJ ain from the Secre-
tary Of War. and Secretary Of the Navy.
Mr. FOOTE said the information which might be com.
municated could be considered II necessary, in secret
ses on he thought the House might safely b. trusted
with any information that the Secretary might think pro-
psr 70 communicate
M. CONRAD thought it would be more prudent for
tbi. resolution in secret instead Of opsn session.
Mr. F0OTE said If the gentleman from Virginia, Mr..
Smith, aud the gentleman from La Mr. Conrad whose
wisdom and good sense he highly appreciated were un'
wiling upon the resolution at the present time, ne
mr. would agree TO allow the resolution to lie on the
tatls; and il the President should communicate 10 the
House the information necessary, all will be well. II,
however he failed to do'so, the subject can again be
t.ken up and acted upon
He Nr. FL would nov move to l,y the resolution up
on the table.
the gentienan frot Tennessee, Mr. Fooe) to the de-
fences of the city Of Richmond deemed it proper to
state that he (hr P) had had consultation with the
the Secretary OF War upon that subject, and that the
Secretary informed him that be had made the most e1
psdisnt and ample preparations Tor ia Defence nsomuch
that il is utterly impossible that the enemy could APP
proach 10 the city without considerable length OF time
"a length Of time sufficient to enable him TO concen-
trste large force this point for its proper defence
He (Mr. Pryor) thought 1t necessary to make that
flcs puoic.
Rs,cIvsd That 900 copies OF the inaugural Of the
President be published fo- the use OF the members. He
called the previous question but withdrew 1t at the re-
quest of Mr. Curry; Mr.. G. Promising 10 renew it.
Mr. CURRY OF Alabama said that the inaugural was
not eommuniol alton TO the House II was mere stump
speech, and was no more communication to Congress
han the speech delivered by the Speaker on taking the
chair He would therefore object to its being printed
He called the previous question: in accordance with his
promise 10 Mr.. Garand
Mr. JONES, Of Tennessee, said he supposed il would
be printed by sons of the Press in the city, aud that
every vember woui have opportunity OF providing
himself with copy Of the message
Mr.. GARLAND said be would withdraw the rcsou'
,iop He not did think the inaugural Of the President
would be designated a stump speech.
The SPEAKER remarked that it was not competent
~. IN xilhdraW the resolution the
Gus question being called L. could only be done by gen
eral consent.
There being no objection, the resolution was with
drawn
Ca motion of Mr. SMITH. OF Va, the House then ad
iourned until IL o'clock on Monday.