Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-01-10
Speech OF MIR. Spencer.
On Strengthening the Line brs,oeen Ohio and Dear
born Counties.

speecu OF Mr.. spencer,
On Strengthening the Line brt,oeen Ohio and Dear
barn Counties.
Mn. SPEAKER:-I do not wish 10 make myself
troublesome upon this question, would al this
Tune deiain the house moment, were it not that a
portion of my constituents, well the gentlemen
from Dearborn deeply interested in this matter;
and hope the House will bear with me while making
statement of the wants and necessities of those
cerned. Tire dividing line between these counties is
Laughery Creek, stream noted for its serpentine
neauderings and extreme crOokedneSss. and those
living along this creek since the establishment of the
same as the line, have been continually mplsinng
and lnpnrunlng the Legislature TO relieve them Of
the difficulty under which they labor. Their lands
are divided and they necessarily compelled transact
business connected with their farms, az Lawrence
bnrgh and at Rising San. A double Inconvenience is
Imposed upon them. and if gentlemen will but under
stand The condition OF these men, their locality, and
the Inconvenience under which they labor, have no
fear OF the result In addition this, anot-
er difficulty connected with THIS line establish
cd Ii divides school districts and townships, aud
mikes our school matters with those of Dearborn
county, and IN this respect is of continual
annoyance and yexation. There is substantial Justice
in this application; aud of respect the rights
of the injured, In my humble judgment, this bill
should pass. The object of the motion to recommit
Is to delay and finally defeat The bill; 10 prevent the
aggrleved from having that redress which they
justly deserve. II is true they are but few; but
would ask gentlemen If they have rights because
they are in a minority! Sir, would ask gentlemen
1t an overwhelming majority at liberty 10 Cypress
| minority; to tramPle upon their rights Such
position Is wrong It's mORstrous lnlustlce Shall
the people of the body of Dearborn county retain long,
er the power oppressi No! If they are to, then
those really interested will wait in vain, their pro-
gress have been unheaded and their enteaties spurn-
ed with contempt by their Representatives.
There is other alternative for redress Of their
grievances but to turn from their 10 strangers
for they came to their own and they knew them not.
Dsregarding their Interests, they relieved them not.
But, sir, the contrary all times and in all pla-
ces have they manifested settled determination to
Cypress them and deprive them of their rights c-
of the State Ii has been said that this question
is agitaed in Ohio county, and that the citizens here
represented being DESTROYS of this change
in fact 50. This deny and now appeal to my col
league, the gentleman from Switzerland, TO sustain
me in this assertion He is acquainted with The
feelings Of the people Of Ohio County in referenc 20
this matter. They are willing to have the iirs
stra ghteDed TO accommodate thOse of her C III
Gems who 1--we upon this creek, and ncommoded.
The question il agiated by them and representa-
tive of the entire people If my district, conceive
be my duty TO carry out their wishes, especially,
when they reasonable and when injury lie a
possibly be done to others. IL has been said by
the gentleman from Dearborn Mr.. Watkins.) whom
am proud to claim n friend. and for whose talent
and ability, have high opinion, that Inc committee
was selected by (in this he is mistakenly but adj
nit it: has any wrong been done him his cunstit-
uency! lis true, sir, when | presented the bill,
merely suggested lis reference to select committee
composed of the gentleman himself, his colleague,
with Inc members from Ohio. Switzerland and Floyd.
This conceived had right to do and ap-
peal TO gentlemen of this House f there has been
4 this violation Of any Parliamentary rule The
friends of bill entitled 4 mo nrty on the
committee. The extreme sensitlveneSs of the gen.
eman from Dearborn upon this subject has led me to
the conclusion that be desired smother the bill in
MUrd q
rate and Just action BY this House. He tells Us that
n large district of territory ought not to be taken
from county and attached to another. Well, sir.
that depends upon circumstances. But this assertion
is oil for effect. The territory proposed to he attach
ed is small and, Dearborn county well afford To
spare IL. She has 300 square miles, and Ohio
C unity, with this addition viii have less than
100,-will still be hy far the smallest county in
The State. But | do not put il upon this ground.
As county do not ask it, We very well sat-
ised with small, though respectable proportions.
We should of course appreciate our importance if we
little larger; bot content. II is further
true, stated by the gentleman, that petitions
have been presented from either Ohio or Dearborn
counties this session l said tn those interested
that none were needed have SO framed the bill
to meet the emergency. By the 80 section it is pro-
vded that this line shall not be established until a
majority Of the qualified voters living between the
present and proposed lne shall petition the yard If
county commissioners Of Ohio county TO come within
them settle the matter among themselYes-leta ma
jority in this territory say what they want
: And now, sir, word in regard to the gentleman
from Marion, (Mr. Hunter.) | have thus far been
voting with him and lending him such incidental aid
as conscientiously could in getting such measures
through the House he wished; aud as his constIt
uents were interested ia. But he has repaid me with
base ingraitude he has proved himself recreant To
that principle respected by all OF VIZ the quid
pro quo. He has seen proper on this occasion 10 IN
torn MS
" local character-one in which the people Of Mari
county are not interested, the Stale at large;
but those living in the valley Of Laughery.
He informs by way of argument, and to prejudice
gentlemen against this BILL that this matter has often
been before the Legislature. and has cost the State
large amount Of money. Very good. Admit 1t all
as he says. But who is in fault T! Not those whose
rights have been outraged Blu, such members of this
body The gentleman from Marion has showed him.
self to be, in refusing the prayers and enireates IT
the aggrIeved la Withholding from them common JUS
tce Does the ge' .tlenan suppose that oppressed
and down irodden people will be led quietly to tho
slaughter without murH.uT! Such he may repre-
sent. but do not; and tell this House that If il
wishes to rid the State of this vexatious matter. il
must respect The rights Of these citizens, by stragh
enng this line II must be done and IL may as well
b, done as at any other time. When Ohio
county created by the legislature these citizens
demonstrating they opposed 10 her organ
iza,ion they demonstrated against it, but the
STRANGE was unheeded. This Inconvenience was
the Legislature. and in c"mmon justice should be
moved; and now is the time. hope the House will
not sustain the motion To recommit; tut will now
gross the bill aud extend those nggreved that cs-
tlce which has so long been withheld.
SENATE CHAMBER, Jan. Z, 1850. \
MEssxs. CHAP,Ass & SPASs ;-in my published remarks
the White w-ssr BILL where 81 600 900 occurs should