The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

SATURDAT, Feb %, 1862.
The House met at ut o'clock, the sr ,Aksa
can.
The CLERK read the Journal Of yesterday,
which WAS approved.
Hen. Mr. MUNEERLYN, OF Georgia, appeared
and took the oath.
Nr. Foors asked for a reconsideration of
the resolution of yesterday adjourning the
House assemble Immediately after the inaug.
ural ceramoL les were concluded. Public exi.
gencies might require TN earlier meeting of
the bouse than the hour indicated in the res.
address might pos ssibiy demand the considsra.
tion of the House. He had come here not to
idle his time, but to meet the emergencies
which the condition Of the Government i'm
posed upon him. He had understood that tho
pu bic defences required attention
Mr.. EURRIN, Of Tennessee, submitted to his
honorable colleague whether it was not dc.
sirable to have deliberate action, and
whether such action was likely to DO had
so soon after the ceremonies incident to in.
ankuratiOn.
Mr.. FoOrs knew OF no reason why tho
gravity Of mem bers should be disturbed by
the incidents Of the day. He had no doubt
that the ceremonies would be of grave and
dignifed character.
Mr.. CoHRAD, of a., would inquire Of tn o
gentleman from Tennessee whether he had
received any In ntimation from the President
that suggestions would be made which rem.
der it Important for this House to convene
earlier than Monday. with view to their
consideration.
Mr. FooTs said the condition Of public af-
fairs required the atten ton Of Congress. Tho
scriptural Injunction was, What thou doest,
do quickly"
mr.. OURaIE was OF the opinion that the cir
cumstances surrounding the members after
the inaugural would preclude anything like
like deliberate action.
Mr. SMITH, Of Virginia, was rather sur
prised at the course of the remarks. The
mr. n q lam from Tan
was Simply one based upon the probability
that some suggestions might be submitted by
the President, which 1t wOuld be well for the
House to consider at once. He favored the
KentIeman's suggestion.
The question WAS called on the motion to
reconsider the resolution Of yesterday, and the
resolution was adopted. The motion to meet
iInme diately after the inaugural ceremonies
II O'CLOCK p. M.
Mr.. Foors sent to the Speakers desk the
folio owing resolution:
Resolred, That committee, to be composed
Of one member from each Of tho States, be
appointed by the Speaker, whose duty 1t
shall bs to request the Secretary OF war, o.
his earliest convenience, to supply them with
the fullest and most minute Information In
regard to the present condition of our armies
in the field. the state OF our defences on the
report the same to this House, with a view to
enabling Congress to adopt such measures,
in ca. operation with the Executive Depart.
ment Of the Cover nment, as may be best
calculated TO facilitate the establishment of
our nat ional independence, and give peace,
safety, and sense Of permanent security to
our whole people.
Mr. SnIrH asked If the gentleman had any
particular Information req quiring tho adop.
tiou Of the resol ution. IL not he thought II
might probably lie over until Tuesday.
MIR. FooTB had NO particular INFORM alton,
but supposed 1t might bs important TO nave
early legislation in support OF our armlee-
We had no means Of determining Wnether
the War Department itself had any tnforma. .
tiop, but thought 1t very probable that tnne
department had important tnfOrma0on, ana
this Fesolat was offered 70 elicit anything
that might be important for its consideration.
ba ga not regard the condition Of oar pueiic
Affairs as hopeless. but the House had not
bssn permitted to know the real condition OF
the country.
Mr.. CoHRAD would state for tho informa.
tion Of tho gentle man from Tennessee, who
was not a mSmber Of the late ProyisiOnal
Congress. that ample appropriations, extend.
ing for several months, based upon the esd.
mates OF heads of dspar,msn's, had bten
made for thss0pport Of our army and tor the
public dsfences, and II the dspaRtmsnts had
not taken the proper steps for onrsecurtty. the
fanlt Was not with UoAgress. asa 4ea
0r. PAYOs had to 6otAtA the House with
bug word. In Response 70 a reference By tho
honorable member from Tennessee 70 ths d.
fences OF Richmond ctty, he had to state, thai
on constellation with the Secretary OF War
this morning, he was nssured, som owl bat to his
surprise, and innaitsly 70 his qualification,
that hs has concerted the most ex psdisnt and