Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-25
coSGREss
op rH CoNyEpER ATE STATES oP AMERICA.
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SENATE.
Tbs Senate was called to order at IL o'clock by Vice
President STEPHENS. Prayer by Rev. n. D. Hoge, Of
the Prest sriAn Church.
RULES or oRDER.
Mr. ORR, of South Carolina, from the COMMITTEES to
prepare rules for the Of the Senate present
Cd report which after being read, adopted, and
ordered TO be printed.
TAX on COTTON.
Mr. BROWN, Of hils., presented bill to levy war
tax cotton produced during the year 1862. which
read and placed upon the calendar. Mr. BRowS gave
notice that he would press early consideration Of the
bill The folloWing il copy Of the bill
/. b il enacted H., that It shall be lawful for each
head OF fasy in the Confederate States Of America,
in Ihe year 1852 produce free Of tax three bales Of
cotton clear OF ssed weighing four hundred pounds
lA,b and in addition, one bale Of four hundred pounds
for every hand actually employed in the cultivation ard
gathering Of cotton and for every additional bale OF four
hundred pounds or less produced and gathered by any
head of family there shall be as,essed and collected
AZ other war taxes assessed and collected the OF
$50.
2. That the head Of family shall DO construed to
mean man or single woman, having the actual direc-
ton OF plantation farm, but when two more per-
sons have the direction Of the farm plantation,
they shall be construed one, and hand shall be con-
strued 10 q person, whether white or black be-
the ayes Of fourteen and sixty, actually employed
in the cultivation OF cotton and who shall have labored
N the nel more lnAn Ouo-nhL tlLno IOh A5i
1852, to Sept lst Of the same year.
INDIAN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Ark, presented bill to provide
for the organization of the Arkansas and Red River Su
perntendencies Of Indan Afars which, on his motion
vas laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed
RESOLUTIONS PREsESrED.
Mr.. PHELAN, Of Mrs, presented resolutions adopt
ed by the Legislature of Mississippi in relation the
e1Dertation Of cotton.
~ ~ 4
BIZ the Convention Of North Carolina in relation 10 the
re-eulistment Of volunteers
Mr.. HUNTER presented resolution adopted by the
Legislature of Virginia. in relation to the pay of
commissioned officers.
aod at his quest the Senators remained in the cham
bsr confer informally upon the appointment Of the
standing committees.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House assembled at IL oclook
Prayer bv the Rgv Dr.. Ford of Kentucky.
Mr.. CURRY Of Ala, from joint committee submit
ted the following report
Resolved that the Speaker appoint the following Com
tees act with ike Committees the part of the
Senate:
Committee on Printing to consist Of members Of the
House.
Committee on Buildings for u'e Of Government to
consist Of members OF this House.
Committee on Flag aud Seal of the Coniederacy to
consist Of members Of the House.
Mr.. SWAMI, of Tenn-I rise, with some difidence,
- make motion say di6iience, for the that
have never before been member Of any parliament.
ary BODY believe sir, that the eXigeDcies Of the times
are sue require that the discussions which take
place here in respect to the condition OF our country
should be conducted IN secret session. believe that,
whenever any matter is presented here which, in the
Judgment OF this body should not so forth to the coun
nv the House, upon the motion Of any member, may
solve itself into s,eet sion Such being the views
I hat tha itaall
oto secret session | call tie previous qu6s ion.
Mr. FOOTE, Of Tenn trust that no gGglaW will be
Administered 10 u1 here.
Mr. SWANS.-It seems to me tho gentleman Is out
Of order.
Mr. FOOTE-I UT Qusstionably occupied the floor be-
fore she gentleman lled the previous question.
Mr. SWAMI had not yi'lisd the door when tie
gentleman rose TO address the Chair.
The SPEAkER.-The gentleman Ia correct he had
not yeld he floor.
Nc FUUTE Il was up, and addressed the chair just
a. the gentleman Concluded hS remarks, and before he
called the previous question.
The SPEAKER.-Tao chair had not Recognized the
gentleman.
M EOOTE is not the call Of the previous question
debatable'
The sPEAKER-Ulder the 9th rule adopted BY the
Provisional Congress- the chair Is OF opinion that InU.
uon 10 70 uo secret session. seconded by any member,
r, quires that the House shall so resolve itself.
The rule reads:
"On motion made and seconded BY another, to close
the doors on the discussion Of any business which may,
N the opinion OF member require secresy, the Presi
deaf shall direct the dOor3 to be closed and the gallery
cleared ard during the discussion OF such question, no
one shall be permitted remain upon the e9or but the
members OF the body and its officers"
Some member seconded the motion to go into secret
session.
Mr. FOOTE-It cannot be denied thatI had the Il Dor
before the moo1 was seconded.
The SPEAKER-The Chair agrees with the gentle.
nd daridaa that he ia entitled the noOr
M FOOrE-l am astounded, mortified, agoniEsd be-
yond description at this motion made by a colleague OF
mine, without CONSOLATION with his colleAgues-mA
in manner calculated 10 surprise even those RssociG-
ted with him here, in regard to matter vital to the
yeIfars OF this country vital as | conceive to every
thing No hold dear connected with revolutionary
struggle.
And what Is the proposition The proposition is to
90 in'o secret session for the purpose Of discussing
question which, in the opinion of single member re-
quires that secret that dark consultation that Is now
proposed
do 10. undertake to assign motives to my colleague.
shall treat him with perfect courtesy aud assign Ill
motives to him. Blu, if he were man occupying
suspicious attitude aud one habitualy inclined TO
bow 10 submission to high tfi,ial authority, should
then suspect what Go not suspect that this mo-
tol made for the purpose OF shutting out from our
deliberations, the wholesome inhu nee OF the popular
mind and popular sentiment upon our deliberations.
undertake say, that there Is not member OF this
oo1l tht mere IL not au ihtelBcnt man IN tnls OOl-
federacy any where that docs feel yea know that
the debates which have already taken place herein
which have been but humble and feeble partici
pInt-so far they have evoked expression of pub
lie sentiment in the country, are matters OF high mo-
mont and po5tery, and have already been Of
Indispensable value TO in the prosecution Of this
for independence. | don't know how it may be Wi:n
Others but have full col fience 10 the deliberate
jud gment OF the sovereign people of this ConiedeAcy
trust | have becoming confidence In our present
rulers. / am sure l have evincsd no dstrus; in
them, aud am { &c TO fay-and wish to be under
s,ooi as mRkiog the declaration with ell Sincerity
and emphssis-that have such abiding conf
dcucs in the discretion, the energy and the pa
tfotsm OF our present Executive Chief tina, provided
Is hope will be cise-Ee shall associate with himself
10 the various Cabinet DepartD nts Of ike sense,
aud capacity with himself for the performances Of the
high functions connected with their Departments;
say, in this event. have abiding hope that the coun