HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SATURDAY, February 28, 1863.The SPEAKER asked, "What is the pleasure of the House?"
Mr. BROWN moved to suspend the reading of the journal.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. ATKISON moved a call of the House.
Mr. MILROY asked him to withdraw the motion, as it was inexpedient to press it.
The motion was withdrawn.
Mr. DONALDSON offered a resolution , that hereafter the names of all absentees without leave shall be entered upon the journal each day, and published in the newspapers recording the proceedings of this body.
Mr. GRIFFITH moved to table the resolution, and demanded the yeas and nays.
Mr. BROWN insisted that the resolution was unnecessary. The names of absentees would necessarily go on the journal, and the newspapers, without resolution, would take note of them. They ought to be so noted, in his opinion, and held up to the scorn and contempt of the world.
The resolution was withdrawn.
Mr. BROWN moved a call of the House.
Mr. HARNEY seconded the motion.-- The minority had left this Hall for the purpose of impeding necessary legislation, and he wanted the responsibility fixed where it belonged. Under the Constitution we had no power to act for ordinary legislation. To carry on the legislation for four or five days, and at the last hour admit the bolters, the journals not showing a quorum all the time, puts a responsibility on us for the action of the House which he did not care to assume. Hence he wished a call of the House.
Mr. HOLCOMB hoped that the motion for a call of the House would not be persisted in. The minority, by leaving the Hall in a body, sought to defeat measures necessary for the interests of the State.-- They alone were answerable. By their conduct they were digging their political graves. Let us remain at our posts and do our duty, Because the minority had been revolutionary we should not be idle, but should do all the business we can read bills, receive reports, and place the responsibility of failure on those who had left us without a quorum.
Mr. LASSELLE coincided, and said we could have a call at the close of the evening session, and place the names of the absentees on the record. He hoped the call would not be pressed now.
Messrs. NIBLACK and ATKISON joined Messrs. BROWN and HARNEY in demanding a call of the House.
Subsequently, the motion for a call of the House was withdrawn, and the House adjourned--ayes 34, noes not counted.
page: 189[View Page 189]AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. MUTZ moved a call of the House.
The motion was agreed to, and the following members were ascertained to be absent without leave:
Messrs. Abdill, Andorson, Baker, Branham, Budd, Byerle, Cason, Cass, Chambers, Davis, Forester, Gregg, Gregory, Hershey, Higgins, Hostetter, Hutchings, James, Johnson, Jones, Kendrick, Lamb, Leeds, Moorman, Morgan, Mustard, Newman, Noyes, O'Brien, of Hamilton, Perry, Pettibone, Roe, Stone, Tarkington, Van Buskirk and Woodruff--36.
The following members ware ascertained to be absent with leave:
Messrs. Abbett, Blocher, Hall, Kilgore, Lake, Marshall, Pendleton, Puett, Shoaff, of Allen, Spencer and Woollen11.
Fifty-three members answered to their names, when for want of a quorum the House adjourned.
