Thursday, February 15.
Torpedoes.
A motion was made by Mr. Burwell, that the unfinished business of yesterday do lie on the table; and the question being taken thereon, it was determined in the negative.
The House then resumed the consideration of the said unfinished business, and the question recurring on the motion to postpone indefinitely the further consideration of the second member of the resolution, Mr. Speaker decided that the said motion to postpone indefinitely was, at the time the same was under consideration, out of order.
A motion was then made by Mr. Ross, to amend the said resolution by striking out the words, delivering a lecture on, for the purpose of inserting the word explaining. And the question being taken thereon, it was resolved in the affirmative.
The question was then taken upon concurring in the second and last member of the said resolution, and determined in the negative—yeas 55, nays 61.
On motion of Mr. Troup, the question was then stated on concurring in the first and second members of the said resolution; when Mr. Speaker decided that, a question being divided, one part affirmed and the other rejected, a question cannot be put upon the whole of the resolution as originally proposed. From which decision of the chair, an appeal was made to the House by Mr. Troup, and being seconded, the question was taken, "Is the decision of the Chair correct?" and resolved in the affirmative—yeas 78, nays 21.