Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1843-01-10

Hen. WIN. &. Brown.

Hen. WIN. 3. Brown.
IAe PlO' hIckcns ,-B1rntH's course against I'm
). Bfolra fully dereioped Ills aide,s and abet-
tors fully exposed, &c. sc.
Time, IN his onward march, often dcvelopes
strange and unaccountablc occurrences in this
strange world OF ours We often witness scenes
at which the minds of those unacquanted with
the political ntrgues OF the times, would be filled
with wonder and as,onishmcnt, and in this day
OF ours, would be peculiarly SO, when find
that the cod-heartcd plunderers Of the widow
and the orphan-the men who have squandered
millions, and ruined States, are canonizcd by
the very men and party who horror-s,ricken
at the idea of a deiacaton Of a few dollars
we have made these remarks IN reference 10
the late attempt to forever PROSTATE one OF the
Representatives of Marion county, whose name
stands AT the head of this article, by charge of
dc'alcatiOn to tie State in the amount of one hun
drcd and torty-ihree dollars The history Of this
whole transaction is briefly this:
William j. Brown, while acting as Secretary
OF State and State Librarian, gave an order to Il
Mr.. Reed, bookseller of Hartford, Connect
cut foi three hundred dollars worth of books of
"A scientific and literary character depending
the honesty and capacity of the man to make q
selection suitable for the State. The books
forwarded and being Of a character wholly un-
suitable for the State Library, Mr.. Brown, at the
suggestion of Nlr Samuel Judah, and others,
then members of the Legislature, placed only
small part of the books IN the Library, and hav
ing bookstore nj the time, kept the balance
IN his private possession, with view OF being in
dividuallv accountable charging what he placed
IN the Library to his account as State Ii
brarian. When he went out Of Office the
count was unsettled; and last winter, Mr. Reed,
through his Attorney, applied to the Legislature
Tor
mttce on the State Library, who made IA report,
and bill was reported referring the whole sub
cct TO the adjudication of the Treasurer of State,
whose action was to be final on the subject; and
1t Mr.. Brown was found To be IN default, on fall
ing To pay up the money himself and securities
were To be sued for the deficit. This bill, how
ever, by an enemy of MIR. Brown, was laid upon
The table, for the purpose, no doubt, of leaving
II an open question To operate against that gen
tlcman, at IA future elcction, We'll, at early
period of the present session, the question was
again raised, on a resolution offered by MIR. STRAIT
ton which was referred to the committee on the
State Library, for full investigation. What
was the course of the Wing party Why, the
vaeabond Barnett set on, like hcll-hound,
To iorcstall the action of the committee Day
after day, that scoundrel editor was prompted by
his Wing aldcrs and abcttors, to reterate all the
charges that the malice of MIR. Browns enemies
could invent. Mr.. Brown, knowing that the
committee on the State Library were Investl-
eating the whole matter, suffered the continual
abuse OF Barnett To remain unanswered. \ de-
lay was made IN the report of the committee, for
some time past, III consequence of the absence
of Mr.. Reeve, of the Scnatc-thc committee on
the state Library beng JOINT committee. Mr.
Reeve has returned the committee have met,
Mr.. Brown has laid his evidence before them, a
]
of the report of the majority which Is now in
preparations but in order to iorestall the opinion
OF the House, and to gag investigation Mr.
Stratton, into whose hands the minority report
was placed, and who guessed at what would be
the report OF the majority, on yesterday intro
duccd to the House the following preamble and
resolution, to-wIt:
Whereas by report made this House, BY the Auditor
% Public Accounts, the 10Th day of December 1872
answer 10 resolution the subj Ct appears that lillian
j. Brown, late state Librarian, and member Of this
House from the county of Marion defautcr the State
Of Indiana the of hundred seventy dollars
and hfyoHe cents, such Stale Librarian, and which
coob0atcd 10y his several reports the Leg such
State Lbarian ard also by his certificate accompanying
SAID Auditors report also, by report the case,
made by the committee the State Library Goth
January, 1872, House journal Of SIl-2 page 81
so both incue; and whereas the same case wa. aain
referred TO the committee the State Library, said
10th day OF December 1872 and has aid their up
10 this time whou any repOt 10 this House that they hare
the goth section of the Bird article Of the Constitution
the State OF Indi NJ, reads as follows, tO-wit:
SEC % No person who hereafter may be collector
holder Of pn1e money shall have seat IN either House Of
the General ASS mty, until such person shall
ed for and paid INTO the treasury all for which may
BE- accountable : therefore.
Re,oiref That the said William Brown is disqualified
TO serve member this House, and that his such
member hereby vacated. until his disability be
y the production OF the necessary vouchers from the Tca-
of state showing that he has fully discharged his said
liability TO the State"
Mr.. Rich moved to strike out the preamble and
resolution and insert the following:
THAT the committee the Library be instructed
make report OF ter p~ceednss IN the matter OF the
ported dcfacation of the Hon w j. Brown. this
House, heretofore referred to their keeping, Saturday
neat.
Mr.. Henley moved that the preamble and rcSolu-
lion, with IT'S pending amendment, be referred TO
the committee the state Library.
Mr.. bradley moved to refer To a select com
mitee, with power To send for persons and papers.
The question. after conSidera bic discussion, was
taken on referring to the committee on the State
Library. and decided in the negative, ayes A. noes
noes 40 1t being conteuded by some of the warm
est friends Of Mr. Brown that a reference would 90
To endorse the charge against him, they voted
against the reference.
The question then recurring on referring the re-
solution TO n select committee. with power To send
for persons ard pafers warm and somewhat ex-
citing discussion ensucd. Mr.. bradley. the great
Northern Light. made several exciting speeches
He gradually grew warmer and warmer, and from,
the cold iOrmlllty of the Quaker, he rose 10 the
real hon. and finally SAID. he took blck the mode
rate part Of hIs speechcs-b being goaded almost L.
desperation by The soul piercing remarks OF Mr..
Speaker Henley. and sald. | charge the Represent
ativc from Marion with being defaulter. He sat
in tbs II al, last winter. rs a Misunderstanding
the Constitution, &c. Mr. Henley here considered
tia: Mr. Bradley was addressing the lob5.es which,
were pretty well filled, and he rose with the con-