HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, February 20, 1865.The SPEAKER took the chair at 2 o'clock P. M., and directed the roll call to ascertain a quorum.
The Clerk reporting no quorum present--
On motion by Mr. NEW COMB, a call of the House was ordered and proceeded, and
The Clerk recorded 64 members present and answering to their names, viz:
- Messrs. Abbett, Atkinson, Banta, Beckett, Bird, Boyd, Branham, Brown, Burnes, Chambers, Collins, Cox. Croan, Emerson, Ferris, Foulke, Goodman, Gregg, Gregory of Montgomery, Gregory of Warren, Griffith, Groves, Hamrick, Hargrove, Harrison, Higgins, Hogate, Hoover, Hunt, Kilgore, Lasselle, Lemon, Lockhart, Meredith, Miller of Clinton, Montgomery, McVey, Newcomb, O'Brien, Olleman, Osborn, Patterson, Perigo, Reese, Richards. Richardson, Roach, Sabin, Shoaff of Allen, Shuey, Sim, Spencer, Stewart, Stivers, Stinger, Trusler, Upson, Veach, Welch, White, Woods, Wright and Mr. Speaker.
The SPEAKER now directed the Door-keeper to close the doors of the Hall.
Mr. OLLEMAN stated that Mr. Major had left the city sick. Mr. Stackey, also, was absent on leave, on account of sickness in his family.
Mr. SPENCER said Mr. Sullivan was absent; on leave.
Mr. BROWN moved that further proceedings under the call be dispensed with. In his brief experience he had never seen any good result from these attempts to compel members to come in. We might sit here three hours and not gain the attendance of five members. The posse comitatus of the House could not make a quorum to-day.
Mr. NEWCOMB wanted this tried at once. He was satisfied they could bring in a quorum. He referred to the power of the House to absentees.
Mr. Brown's motion was rejected.
EVACUATION OF CHARLESTON.
Mr. NEWCOMB read a piece of intelligence just received by telegraph to this effect: "Gen. Grant telegraphs Stanton that Charleston was evacuated on Tuesday last." [Applause.] This comes from official dispatches for the papers.
Mr. OLLEMAN asked leave of absence for Mr. Stucky.
Mr. LEMON asked leave of absence for Mr. Lopp.
page: 283[View Page 283]The SPEAKER. The Chair thinks leaves of absence cannot be granted but by a quorum; but gentlemen can be excused for the present from further proceedings under this call.
Mr. STUCKEY and Lopp were then excused.
Mr. KILGORE moved that further proceedings under the call be now dispensed with.
Mr. GREGORY of Warren. Mr. Speaker, the Door-keeper desires to know his duties since the doors have been closed.
Mr. SPEAKER. The Chair understands that it is the duty of the Door-keeper to open the doors to allow any member to come in, but none to go out.
Mr. KILGORE'S motion was then agreed to: affirmative 29, negative 27.
So all further proceedings under the call of the House were dispensed with.
Mr. BROWN moved that the House adjourn.
Mr. GROVES was satisfied that if the committee on the Southern Prison should go to Jeffersonville, there would hardly be a quorum before they returned. He was chairman of that committee, and he was willing for a change that would relieve him from service. He considered that one man could do the business as well as the entire body of the committee.
The SPEAKER. The House could not make an order without a quorum.
Mr. Brown's motion to adjourn was then agreed to.
So the House adjourned till to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock.
