Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-05

special order Tor O'CLOCK tooay.
call for the yeas and nay, upon the amendment.
TIE House refused sustain the call for the ye. and
The question vas then taken BY count on the amend
nsnt, and resulted ayes 30; no vote taken in the
| negative.
Mr.. JONES of Tenn, called the question on the mo.
| tion Of Mr.. Dupre.
The csll sustained. and the question being put
was decided in the negative
| The question then REQUIRED on the adoption OF the
resolution.
Mr.. GRAY OF Texas called for the yeas and nays.
The call sustained, and the question bsing put,
| resuted yeas 20, nays S.
Mr. WELOH of Miss asked leave Of absence for
| his colleague, Mr.. CHANBkRs, who was called home BY
sickness in bis family.
kr. SMITH, of N O., tsfed leave to record his vote
Ia the b native the resolution offered by Mr.. RAILS
on yesterday. 1t was granted.
| The ROANOKE IsLAsD DISASTER.
| M. MCDOWELL, Of n. c. Introduced resolution
requesting tie President furnish the House copss
Of reports Of The battle Of Roanoke IIand, il not Deem
| ed incompatible with the public interests.
| The resolution Was adopted.
DEsTRUcrIos OF COTTON &c.
Mr. B0NHAA of 8. O., introduced bill to regulate
the destruction Of property under military necessity.
Mr. B-I think this ought to bs referred to a joint
| committee
Mr. MILES Of g. C.-I will state that this sub act hiss
been referrd to the Committee Military Affairs who
Il
| take the earli 8. occasion to do so.
M. B0NHAh.-Then ask that the resolution be re-
| ferred 10 the Military Committee.
TRAssPoRrATJoS or ARMS, &c.
Mr. MILES introduced bill to organize transport
| train for arms
| Also a resolution instructng the Committee on Com.
merce inquire into the eIpedeDey OF making Augusta,
Georgia port of entry and delivery for goods that
may be imported TO Charleston, which was adopted.
| Mr.. B0NHAA introduced joiIt resolution appoint
hTsix ha If
HOus confer with the Presiden: and ascertain from
him what Congress adopt to aid him in
tain duties connected with 4 successful prosecution Of
the war; which read frat and second time and or
dered DO engrossod then read third time and passed
SECRET sEtsloS,
Mr.. F00TE offered resolution 20 the eject that here.
after oneh OF the members present should be requr-
Ell to second A mo ion 10 90 into secret session.
Mr.. JONES, of Tenn. IL seems to that If We are
to have session at all the rule Ia about right.
would be will ng myself, II any gentleman upon this
ho:r would rise and say he had q Communication TO
make which, in his opinion should be considered in
cre session, or had speech to make which be believed
ought TO be made public to vote at once to 20 into
secret sssson IT, when the House resolved Itself into
secret session. il found not to require secresy in its
consideration would be competent Tor the majority to
order the doors to be opened.
Mr.. 'F00TE. Ny cole que who is known to be .
very frugal and economical 10 matters appertapipg
to the public expenditures, must that according 70
| bis own view OF this question we might be occupied
constantly upon the very point which he has indicated
Upon the motion Of single lber the House would
20 into session. and then il would be competent
for majority Immediately after 70 go out of secret
son Then, sgain, another member may rise and move
to 20 into session. and SO this thing could be con
| tnued intermnsbly
think VIC disgrace ourselves by the present condition
oil things Il Is sready minated out OF doors that We
dare not expose to the public gaze. feel my
self hsgraced Is public man, by having our proceed.
ing shut out from public fcrutiny assure the House
that when ascertain that t Is their intention 10 sit In
,ncave shall 20 home Others may do they please.
This OF things is u1endurAble, aud so far an
concerned, shall do all Ia my power TO change t.
Tbis proposition Is moderate 10 is terms l. only de-
mands that one.fth OF the members pr sent shsl DO
qured to second motion 10 into secret sesson, and
does seem to me that the House should not hesitate to
| consent 10 it.
Mr. CROCKETT. I offer the following amendment.
provided that debate shall be In order 70 go into
| secret sesson."
Mr. KENNER-At the early stage Of our sessions,
| vie for instance we met at Montgomery there was
good reason why're should meet in secret session. Thls
reason, however no longer exists, and should now
endeavor much possible 10 give publicity TO our
| proceedings, aud avoid secret sessions.
| What arc the reasons that are now given why we
ought to 20 into session. Gentlemen say il OBJ
| yiates too much deba'e. Had not better have too
much than debate all The very basis upon which
our Government stands s enlightened public opinion,
and how can have that unless meet in public and
|
will rot stand for months much less for years. unless
| cnlighten public opinion.
Gentlemen tay that parties likely to arts and
consequences that division will folloS should be sorry
TO the time that parties should no exist Parties are
necessary the preservation OF the purity OF dur Gov
errment, and instead Of rising up now under the inhl
snce OF events as they really raUspre they growing
up 10 the dark and necessarily from the influence of mig
conceptions which result from want Of enlightenment
regarding the which pass the public councils Of
| ,h. IL III q Of viii
ed the Provisional Congress to torfe. the oDfiepce Of
the psopls of the Confederate States. Such OF
policy il adopted BY this Congress- will fail 70 bring
Il into similar dsepute ard therefore trust the House
will Sdopt the resolution OF the gentleman from Tennss
| see Mr.. Fooe
Mr. 30 JOCK -(Nr. CHIFFON, OF Ala, In the Chair y
| Mr. SOsaksr-Hsving been charged By the House with
the duty OF aiding and drawing rules for govsrc
meat House, pave, OF course, given much atten.
| zion TO this suit ct
The question Is, what ia best for the public good
care not for any other consdf ration.
1t seems to that the whole purpose OF secret scs
| sioas mas been misunders God. The gentleman from
Louis aEa (Nr. KENNEL has stated that the alleged
purpose was to prevent long speeches make no such
pretenson know, too we'll that they 10 not prevent
tho evil He has argued too that they do no. prevent
| the springing up Of party feeling.
| LEI il be admitted, party feeling, at time like
this Is great evil and ought 10 be avoided il possible.
But there is higher and moro important end sill be
accomplished do no fear our own psople aud would
keep nothing from them So all the argument on that
point in my view, Weighs nothing. The great purpose
Of secret sessions has the arguments Of the opponents
OF toe policy been utterly ignored What desire is, TO
| keep some of action from the enemy. WHAT we
DO and say 10 public goes of course Into the uswsps
psrs We get the newspapers OF the North and, OF
course they get Besides, they have keen and
tive sad vigant spies in midst ready TO send them
every item Of information they got hold Of VIVA.
e do aud say in public do and cay In the very pre-
seree Of our enemies Nov, ask OF gentlemen, would
they be wiling that all we have said aud done this
| sion should b, known to tho enemy
II We have weak points in our dstsncs shal we pro
claim them 20 the world and invite A.scA' II We have
had errors of policy in the past, mus: We tell them
abroad? If we have differences OF opinion among cur.
selves must We invite enemy to act as umpirel No
sir repeat it. / would not guard against our own
n,op'e but would guard diligently against the enemy.