Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 44.djvu/26

gress without the assistance of any such officer as sergeant-at-arms, and, inasmuch as it would do away with one item of expense, he, for one, was willing to try the experiment, if it was thought that the order and decorum of the House could be preserved under the circumstances.

On motion of Mr. Curry, the resolution was laid on the table.

A message was here received from the Senate, informing the House that the Senate would meet the House in joint session at one o'clock, to count the votes for President and Vice-President.

Mr. Chilton, of Alabama, offered a resolution that stenographers and reporters for the press be allowed seats within the bar of the House, except when the body shall sit with closed door. Agreed to.

Mr. Chilton offered also a resolution to the effect that the Speaker appoint the regular standing committees of the House.*

Referred to the Committee on Rules.

Mr. Foote offered a resolution, that a committee be appointed to inquire into the cause of the recent disasters which have befallen our arms in the States of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky, and that the same committee shall ascertain whether or not some means cannot be taken to prevent such disasters in future, and should report the same to the House.

He moved that the resolution be laid on the table for the present and printed.

He said that there was certainly some cause for the late disasters attending our arms, and he desired it to lay over for the present, in order that members might have an opportunity of examining its merits and taking it into consideration as they may think proper.

Mr. Crockett thought that it should be considered in secret session.

Mr. Foote said he was opposed to that, unless some strong reasons were presented to induce him to yield. He was opposed to secret sessions, which even now, he believed, had been productive of much harm. He was for freedom of discussion and freedom of the press.

• Journal 11.