Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1846-01-03
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

morrow Ibe reason advanced, Tor the resolution,
being that members might be able TO serve ON Impor-
tant committees.
Mr.. Secrest remarked that If the House would
give part of the day to the joint committee ON the
public debt they would be able to report on tomorrow.
Mr.. Hall Of Gibson was in favor of holding ses-
sion until twelve O'Clock and then adjourn.
The resolution was adopted.
motion then made to adjourn which motion
did not prevail, ayes 81, noes Ga.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
The House again resumed the consideration Of the
bill of the House, aboshing capital punishment-the
pending question being amendment SO that the
punishment shall be by hard labor in the Penitentary
for e-and by solitary confinement, at the discretion
of the jury.
Mr.. Thompson hoped that the consideration of the
bill would be deferred for the present. The House
not in fit mood, this morning, to entertain so
important question.
The bill was then made the special order for Sat
urday morning, at ten o'clock
Petitions &c. were presented by Messrs. Harvey,
Moore Cruikshanks, Tedford, Henry, Mlckle, Rous
seau, Clymer Smith and Baker; which were appro-
prately disposed Of
Mr.. Cruikshank, from the committee on elections,
reported back the bill repealiug the law combining
voters to their own townships, far as Owen and
Boone were concerned, with a recommendation that
the bill be indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. HaZerlgg opposed the postponement OF the
bill, and conended that the law combining voters TO
their own townships was unconstitutional, and read thai
clause of the Constitution, which says, that every
white male citizen, SC shall have the privilege to
vote in the county in which he resides in arguments
at length to sustain his Interpretation OF the Constr
tuition, which is, that IN the absence vi townships
being mentioned In the Constitution, voters, when
polls were opened, had the privilege to vote IN any
part of the county where said polls opened
He denied the truth OF the argument that confining
voters to their own townships was preservative Of
purity of elections.
Mr.. Fuller did not profess to know much about the
Consutonality of the law; but far convenience
was concerned many of his constituents were grley-
ously oppressed under the operation of the law. In
one township. in his county, 1t amounted TO virtual
disfranchsement of third of the voters of town.
ship in his county, III of high waters. There
was but voice, III his county, III favor OF the re-
peal of the law 80 far as Warrck is concerned, and
at the proper time, he would move TO add Warrick
to be exempted from the operations of the existing
law.
Mr.. Clements also referred to the Constitution, as
sustaining tie positions advanced by the gentleman
from Boone. He moved that the bill and report be
referred Il select committee; which motion did not
prevail.
The question was now taken on concurring in the
report, and decided the affirmative, ayes 81,
a.
Mr. Pennington moved TO reconsider the vote on
concurring in the report of the committee.
Messrs. Pennington and Lowe hoped that the mo-
ton to reconsider would prevail, that the bill might
be recommlted and something done TO obvlate the
hard,hips that many labored under account
Of high waters, &c
MIR Cruk>hank hoped the vote would not be recon-
sdered, on the ground thar II was general measure
and should be uniform throughout the State The
law had worked WELL and he believed, would effectu-
ally prevent the odous system of pipeaylng hereto
fore practised in the State. The law was yet an
experiment and he hoped that 1t oud be allowed to
remain as 1t IS, at east for the present. lie combat
ted the constitutional argument of the gentleman
from Boone and showed that the law inerfered with
constitutional right voters had the right, under
the law. to vote In their counties.
Mr.. Vandeyeer said, that the streams were rarely
swollen IN August besides, in Davless and Martin
and other counties there large poars that would
make excellent pirogues and canoes, by which voters
would always have free passage TO the elections He
advocated law is because he believed 1t was
calculated to preserve the purity of the elective fran
ch>e and prevent the odious system of pipelayng.
The discussion was continued by Messrs. Hazerigg
and others
When Mr.. Pennington withdrew the motion to
reconsider
Mr.. Mcdonald then moved that the bill be ndef-
nitely pos poned.
On this question: n discussion took place. in which
Mcssrs. Clements, Vandeveer and Thompson partlci-
patcd; when,
On motion of Mr.. Love- the bill was laid on the
table
Mr.. Thompson, from the committee Of ways and
means, reported bill to subject certain lands to taxa
ton-taxing school lands years after sale, on
amount paid passed to second reading.
Mr.. Mcdonald reported bill to define the powers
Of Judges when acting wrts of habeas corpus and
applications for writs of injunction passed to
cond reading.
Mr. Riley reported back bill in relation to deeds
and mortgages making it duty to record deeds, mort
cages, having three years to run, &c. within thirty
days.
NJ. .t,,ts
and inserting go"
Mr.. Harvey moved that the bin be indefinitely post
poned which motion prevailed.
Mr.. Shanks reported bill authorizing District and
Township school trustees to administer oathS which
passed To- a second reading
Mr. Hazerigg reported bill for the relief of the
heirs of Henry Stevenson deceased passed to Sc
cond reading.
Mr. Carman reported bill in relation to opprcn-
tees, with regard to schooling, &c passed to Sc
cond rcading
Mr.. Davis offered resolution as to the cxpedicncy
of organic ug the militia, that the State shall re-
ceye her quota OF arms which adopted.
Mr.. Riley made minority report, IN relation to
the conduct of the Superintendent, Joseph X. Pratt,
as Agent Of the State prison, highly censurlng the
conduct of tho clerk and superintendent, III Inctlng
unnecessary rioor OH the prisoners &c, accompanied
by ioint resolution removing the Superintendent and
censuring the clerk and requesting the Governor to
remove him.
The Speaker decided that The report could be enter
ed on the Journal by way of protest-Mr- Riley not
being regular member of the committee, and only a
member by rule Of the House, which makes the
mover of a resolution member, while any particular
subject i, under consderation-the committee proper
were unanimous in the report heretofore made
On motion the House adjourned until tomorrow
morning at nine o'clock, 1t being now half-past one
O'Clock.
SENATE.
FRIDAY, JAM o, 1916.
rho President laid before the Senate a commune