Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-01-02
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

1ONNf hNNe
and Rey burn. The amendment was adopted and the bill
passed-ayes 40, noes 4. Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Petitions, &c, were this morning presented by Messrs.
Hambrick. HerOd, Rousseau, Hodges, Hardin, Shively,
Bradley, Stapp which were severalIy referred.
The bill making certain offences cognzable by justices of
the peace, was reported back from the judiciary committee
with an amendment; which was concurTed in.
MI Robinson, of Decatur, moved to amend, so as to give
tke Circuit Court concurrent jurisdiction.
A discussion here sprung up, in the course Of which,
Mr. Robinson, of Carroll, who reported the bill, gave his
views, at some length, in support of giving justices exclu.
sive jurisdiction in trivial offences. He gave a history Of
numerous cases, where Individuals have been dragged
into our Courts and fines and costs exacied to an enormous
amount, without any corresponding benefit to the country.
He would continue to support the bill, if the amendment
were adopted but would greatly prefer that justices should
exclusively settle these trning offences, that have hereto
fore frequently been brought before the Courts through
malice or iL-will.
The discussion was continued by Messrs Hazelrigg,
Robinson of Decatur, Rich, and Yandeseer.
Mr. Stophlet said, a sense Of duty compelled him to vote
against The bill IN toto. His experience, as a justice of the
peace, taught him that such jurisdiction was inadequate to
the suppression of vice and crime. The adoption of the
bill would corrupt the morals Of the country in a great de-
gree, &c. He said, that in every doggery you would find
the domino, the dice, and the card table-men would be.
come ~bIack-legs, and boys would anty up their dimes at
poker, and play for tvys on the head of a whiskey barrel!
He said he spoke from experience, He had been a poker
player, and he believed he could beat any man at that
game now on this floor. [Cries of goodl agreed | believe
il, &c, Gel Mr. ). continued, and entered into a lengthy
argument TO prove, that the jurisdiction of grand luries
was the only remedy, in all criminal cases.
Mr. smith was in favor of the bill. He said, that it was
wholly impossible to punish gambling under any law that
could be formed. They would come to-day, aud Ay from
justice Tomorrow.
Mr. Vanreveer said, that the gentleman from Allen, Mr.
Stophlet, was about TO furnish this house with a history Of
his life. A few days since be informed US that he was
once a Probate Judge. Now, he says, he has been a jus
tce Of the peace ; aud further, that he has been a gambler
ard speaks from experience on this subject. Mr. V. con-
tinued and said, that for his part he knew nothing about
gambling by experience.
Mn Stophlet replied that he was willing 10 confess his
sins, as became a penitent man. He thought MIR V. was
lily qualified to act judiciously upon this bill. He was sur
prised to hear that the county Of Orange was so very NOR
al. Mr. s. spoke of hrs own constituents about this mat
ter, and he knew these evils did exist in his county, and
he was anxious to remedy them. He was ia favor of
wholesome legislation. Mr. s. paid his respects to MIR
Smith of Spencer.
Mr. Huckaby was opposed TO that amendment. He
could not vote to give such exclusive jurisdiction for fear
that enormous crimes would not meet with adequate pun
ishment. The Circuit Court and justices should, in his
opinion, have concurrent Jurisdiction. He concluded BY
declaring his entire opposition to the bill aud the amend
ment.
Mr.. Wright moved to lay the motion to commit on the
table whereupon
Mr. Sullivan moved to lsy the whole matter on the table +;
which did not prevail, ayes 80. noes so.
Mr. Wright moved to recommit with instructions to
strike out all that makes illegal voting cognizable before a
Justice of the peace.
Mr. BIakemore moved a division of the question when
the House recOmmitted the bill to the judiciary committee.
The Instructions offered by Mr. Wight were not adopted.
Several other Instructions were offered, but the House re-
fused TO instruct the committee.
The Speaker laid before the House a communication
from the Auditor of State, stating that no settlement has
been made with the Auditor of Morgan county, recon-
mendng that the case be referred TO the next Morgan Cir
cult Court.
MI Grubbs, on leave, introduced a bill for a special term
of the Henry Circuit Court which was three times read
and passed.
On motion of Mr.. Ciaypool, the House took up the res
olution Of the Senate, providing for going into the election
of Secretary of State on tomorrow at ten o'clock.
MIR Blakemore moved to amend, so as TO go into an
election at two o'clock this afternoon which amendment
was not adopted.
The resolution was then reciprocated.
The bill giving persons the privilege of collecting debts,
where usurous interest has been charged, in direct viola
ton of law, being under consideration,
Mr. Robinson of Carroll said, that he had hoped that
this subject would never have been brought before the Le-
gislaiure. II was calculated TO benefit a few individuals
principally from other States, who were not of the produ-
cling classes men who came here, in many instances, to
loan money, for The express purpose of fleeing The honest
and laboung portion of 10 immunity out of their harG-earn-
Ings. The Legislature had declared these loans forfeited,
and he did not wish to legslize them. Here was an
amendment, which excepted such cases as were now in the
Courts. He thought if there was any Justice in the one
case, there was in the other.
Mr. Osborn defended The bill and said, it was not the in
tention OF the Legislature TO declare the whole amount
forfeited, only the interest.
Mr.. Stspp said, if gentlemen were acquainted with all
the evils that will result, in the absence of such a law as
the bill contemplates, they would not hesitate to pass it.
He then enumerated a number Of cases where the old law
operates oppressively.
Mr. Rousseau moved to lay the whole matter on the Ia
bic when, On motion, the House adjourned.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The House resumed the question pending at The last ad-
Mr. Rich moved TO amend so as not to affect cases in the
Courts except as to costs.
After further discussion, the question was taken on Mr..
Rich's amendment, and decided in the negative, ayes IL,
noes rs.
The question was then taken, on the engrossnent of
the bill and decided in the affirmative, ayes 30, noes 40.
Ayes-Messrs Anthony, Barclay, Blakemore, Board
man, Bruce, Claypoo, Collins, FOresman, Fry, Gregory.
Helwig. Huestis, Hinchman. Hoggatt, Hostetter,
Huckaby, Huey, Jamison, Jones of Fountain, Kerr, Legg,
Leslie, Lewis of Wayne, Little, Mcclure of Knox, NJ
Miller, Manville, Montgomery. Nutter, 0dell,
Osborn, Parker, Pomeroy, Rich, Robinson OF Decatur,
Shelby, Simonson, Smith, Shook, Stapp, Stophlet, Sulli-
van, Tingley, Wilson, Vol, Wright of ST. Wright of
w, and Mr. Speaker-50.
Noes-Messrs Bradley, Brown, Byers, Conduit, Con-
ner, Cowen, Dsrrow, Davis, Duzan, EndicOtt, Fuller. Gar
ret, Hambrck, Handy. Hannah, Hardin, Hauser, Hazel
rigg. HerOd, Hill, Hodges, Howard. Jones of vigo, Kelley.
Lanius, Lewis of d., MAilister, Mcclure of Scott, Moo
new, Palmer, Peek, Robinson of Carroll, Rousseau, Shanks.
Shively, Tsgue, Vandeveer, Walker, Wills, and Wright
40.
The bill 10 relocate The county seat of Martin county
read a third time and passed.
The bill to amend the 18th chapter of the Revised
Statutes was read a third time and passed.
Mr. Huckeby reported a bill to ~reorganize the militia OF
of the State of Indiana which was read twice and refer
red 10 a select committee.
Mr. Simonson, from the committee on the State prison,
to which the subject was referred, reported, that a full
for the management of The prison is being prepared
by the Executive, which will embrace the object coniem-