New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-04-16
G. A. TAvEEHER, Esq
INDIANA.


l intended to commence blowing to-day,
but the snow commenced falling fast as 10 cover the
ground by daylight this morning. that was per force
compelled to change my intention spent the winter
at the State Capital was present at the stngs Of the
Legislature and if what saw and heard, and now un-
erstand of the dongs of that body of the two great
political parties, Of leading and measures shall
of sufficient interest to insert in the columns of
your widely circulating paper you are welcome to my
experience and reflections.
Our Legislature met the first Monday in December,
and continued In session until the 10th Of March, and
then adjourned to meet again the Goth of this month
During this long session nothing accomplished of
great interest except the passage of Homestead Exemp
ton Law covering the patry sum OF 800 from exccu-
ton small and poor homestead will it be that comes
within the purvew Of such law. But the principle Is
established, and that Is worth something Robert Dale
Owen of the House, the author of this BILL though
he used all Of his great energies and abilities to exempt
a larger sum, but was voted down. Among the best
efforts in behalf of the object in the Senate, will
mention those of Nessrs Webster, of Monroe County,
and Reid, of Union.
Better progress in legislation could have been made,
if the Democratic party bad been less strong In both
branches As was, great jealousy existed among the
would-be leaders, and much lfeeling was engendered
and kept alive from other the whole time
an unusual weight of responsibility under the new Con.
stituton They understood that that instrument annulled
all the local laws Of the Stateand their name is legion
and that general must be adopted in their stead
Judge Wick of the Marion Circuit so decided on an In
dctmcnt for selling liquor without license An appeal
was taken the Supreme Court and this decision re-
versod but not until both branches, after repeated trials
had been driven into revision OF our whole statute
The Committees appointed after the modern plan,
the party having the chairman and large majority.
To see such men Joseph q. Marshall and George
g. Dunn Of the Senate, thrown in the back ground
to give place to a pettifogging bar-room politician
like Hanna OF Clay County, as chairman OF the
Judiciary Committee, reminds one OF the evil days when
capabity and moral worth must give way before par-
can services Another hindrance found in the con-
stutionI makers in the Legislature. No two OF them
could agree upon the meaning OF that instrument and
much time consumed In discussing various points
All bills must be general, read clear through three seve-
raj times and the Ayes and Noes recorded which, how
sfe and correct in principle, was curb our Hoo
siers could hardly bear majority OF all the members
elect be in favor of the before it could
pass This clause compelled the Legislature to meet
again or leave unfinished, as the day OF adjournment
all the great and important measures of the session
among which will mention the subject of General
Banking, (Which passed the House and laid by in
the Senate, many members were absent and its
friends dare risk its fate until the Senate fu
Common Schools Organization of Courts in lieu of
present Probate SYSTEM Temperance, the exclusion OF
Negroes and Muattoes, Colonization, Grand Jury system
Swamp Lands, &C.. &c. These are the subjects which
will claim their attention when they again meet in ad
don to the vast labor of revising the Statutes, which
they muated that it found necessary TO leave
Commission, two of the Senate and four of the House.
to gather up the fragments and mold them into
sort of shape by the time of reassembling.
The Commission to revise and simplify the Practice
and Peadngs appointed in the fore part of the session.
under the requirements of the Constitution proved
aboItive the other works OF Opposition Legis
AZURE Following the rule referred TO above, Messrs.
Lston and March, two legal gentlemen, with Hon.
George W. Carr, tanner and currer were selected to
simplify the Practice and Judges Dewey Mcdonald and
Newman among the most eminent legal men In the
State rejected because they were Wigs They argued
he superiority of the Commission from the fact that Il
Mr. Carr could understand the work OF his associates
would be necessarily simple TO suit the capacity OF
he most humble citizen OF the Sateor you are aware
that Constitution makes us nearly sll lawyers.
by permitting any of good moral character to prac
tce in our Courts But the Commission, after ab0rlng,
fee dollars day, nearly all winter had nothing to
report Mr. Liston became disguised and resigned,
March went home and Carr reported, after pressing in
quries by the Legislature thai there oas nothing to report
Another man was selected in Mr. Listens place at the
end of the session, and the commission lett to try the
simphfcation job again.
The Opposition majority, beginning by great sound
of trumpets, going 10 reform everything. Ihey
cut out work enough for two sessions commenced by
throwing out bats from the public Treasury to every
sorehead who followed them TO the Capitol until their
expenses became 10 startle even them
selves Their efforts ended the 10th OF March in smoke
and their extravaganza has gone out to the people al
ready and the only thing they fear, since the nomna
tons of the Wing Convention is the prospect OF being
all reformed ont OF Office. Give US Gen Scorr and we
will dssppont their just expectations on this point
The Legislature again meets the Goth of this month
What they will do belongs yet TO the future But In my
opinion they will accomplish but little practical good
OF all the yet to be acted on, think Free
Banking Law, similar to the one in your State, will be
about all they will get through in their present shape
No efficient Temperance Law can pass. Owens Com
School hill cannot and ought not to pass The main
objections to ii are, that oblteraes all present
school lines taxes too heavy and then, what Is worse
than ALL raises army OF officers TO eat up great por
ton OF the School funds But will still hope for the
best
intended to notice the action and position of the two
political parties,-for third party, though having
name 10 live dead-with of the principal issues
In the next campaign and the probable result with
other matters Of more than local interest But ind
that my review OF the action of the Legislature has
cupied more space than intended should have en-