Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-01-03

the South contended she had not. and If
| Indiana desired to be heard through her
representatives, let her take one side or
the other Of this issue, and let no Senator
on this floor shrink from it, Mr. o. spoke
OF the dissolution of this Union. referred
10 by some Senators who had preceded
him. Indiana occupied a central posi-
ton between the North and the South
She could do much to strengthen and per-
petuate the Union. She could not exist
without the Union. Her every interest
was identified in maintaining indissolu-
BILE the ties which bound it together. She
could not do without the use Of the Mis-
sissippi on the one side and the tree navi-
CATION Of the Lakes on the other. She
had witnessed territory after territory
brought into the Union as slave territory,
and silently acquiesced; and now that
free territory had been acquired. she must
stand by the principles Of justice and de-
mand that it shall remain free. Let no
one imagine chat the free States are going
to remain passive spectators Of the intro
duction Of slavery into this territory. Let
none suppose that the people of New
England will silently suffer this -
They will be found as firm in their oppo-
sition. as the mountains and rocks of the
land which they inhabit. Mr.. Q. conten-
ded that it was the duty Of Indiana to call
for something more than mere dcclara-
tory resolution. The territory which came
to us free, should be guarded by some
positive law; and as we had no means of
knowing the views Of Messrs. flanagan
and Bright upon this question. at this
time. these gentlemen ought to be made
acquainted with the opinions and views Of
the Legislature upon that point.
| Before any vote was taken on the mo-
ton to refer, the Senate adjourned.
/ Indianapolis, Dec. 22nd, 1848.
/ Amore unimportant session Of the legis-
lature never held its session in this State
There is not, nor has there been during
the session, single bill Of any consider
able degree of interest before the legisla-
ture. l am the more thoroughly convin-
ced of the improperly Of having annual
meetings Of the legislature. The present
session will cost the State at least $40 900,
and nothing will be done which will bene-
fit the State 1.-THE part Of the sum. Should
a convention be held to remodel our con-
stitution. hope the first charge will be to
make our sessions at least biennially, if
not triennially.
/ Mr.. Meredith has presented petition
from Sundry citizens of W ashington town.
ship, asking the repeal of the ten gallon
law, SO far as it refers to that township.
, have reported bill repeating the law
which vacated part Of Howard Street,
and certain alleys in West Richmond.
! The Senate has passed a resolution to
adjourn on the 10Th Of January.
Much time has been spent in the useless
discussion Of the question Of extending
slavery into the recently acquired terri
tories of Mexico and California. No vote
has been changed by it, and when the
vote was taken. it was just what it would
have been on the day Of the presentation
Of the joint resolutions. The votes how
ever, on the different propositions for in
struc,ing our Senators OH this question.
which have been taken, must convince all
the true opponents ofthe extension of slave-
ry, to whom they are to look for jus,
settlement Of this question. The Wings
have voted unanimously for the most posi-
tive instruction, while the locos have beat
the bush in every direction-endeavorin
by almost every artifce their ingenuity
could devise to evade the question.
A bill has passed authorizing the officers
Of TO IS e..
the purpose of paying the January in
stalment of interest on our State debt. II
is but atemporary measure, and is to serve
only until the revenues shall have been
paid in.
/ The conduct of the Trustees of the
Wabash and Erie Canal, under the Butler
bill, in refusing to contruct some three or
F four side cuts, is exciting considerable
feeling among the members locally inter-
ested in the completion Of that work.
There is now pending in the Senate, a bill
requiring the officers Of State to withhold
the payment of the July interest until the
Trustees shall commence in good faith the
construction of the side cuts in Warren
and Vermillion counties. 1t will not pass
however; but while there is strong dis
position to hold the bondholders to a stric,
fulfillment of their contract, it is to hoped
that the State will faithfully pay the inter
est for which she is liable. Consid-
cradle complaint is also made Of the re-
filsal Of the Trustees to build the neces-
sary bridges. Other and more serious
complaints are made of them for refusing
to take White dog Scrip in payment for
lands, and their entire disregard Of the
appraisement Of the lands East Of Tippe.
canoe. l fear this arrangement of oul