The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-05-24
INDIANAPOLIS, March, Is.

INDIANAPOLIS, marcp, lCoo'-
AS a contrast to the very interesting &C
count of the New York Legislature, in the
Home Journal, a few weeks ago, will give
you the impressions of visit to the Gene
raj A ssembly of Indiana.
The State House is a low, mlssive,
gloomy looking building, of two stories;
the lower occupied by various offlces'
the upper by the two chambers. The Senate
chamber is a pleasant, well-lighted hall ar
ranged in square. But the tout ensemble Is
spoiled by two rows of pillars just without
the bar. The Senators were fine looking
men. apparently well qualified for their post
The hall for the Assembly, or lower house
is, like that of the Senate. Chamber com
pletely spoiled by enormous pillars running
around the semi-circle OF seats. But 1t is
the appearance of the membersfl wish to
Il attention. OF the sixty or seventy pre-
sent, six or eight looked like well educated,
intelligent men; about twenty appeared like
honest hearted far-cers, while the rest, 1T
seemed to me, were designed by nature for
any thing but Legislators. One rural look
| inc young gent, was strutting around with
! his coat out at both elbows; another showed
wide streak of white around his body,
where his vest failed to connect with his
pants; several wore hats that, somehow,
strangely reminded you OF brick S, and a ma
jority>of them, | am sure, will find their wash
bills small part Of their expenses. They
all smoked perseverirgly so that ! rather
think it is rule OF the house. When not
smoking, their mouths were Immediately fill
| ed with Tobacco, so thi no time was lost
On the faces of all, there was sinirk of sa-
g., ,r,b; - nj l4ir
am an HonoraM Legislator; and it's uery
pleasant"
/ witnessed the commencement of the AZ
ternoon session. a young man, unshaven
aud uncombed, sauntered awkardiy up to the
chair, with the everlasting cigar and paper,
and seating himself very CONT rtably, with
his feet on the table before him, smoked and
chatted while, then, giving two or three
raps, he took his cigar out of his mouth, and
called tire louse to order. No one taking
any notice, he called out for members to
come within the bar. This was really ne
cessary, IS TO one ould have picked the Le-
gislatcrs from th- crowd. About two-thirds
CT the members seated themselves in theiT
a places, while the rest were laughing, chatting
and smoking in the aisies and around the
great pillars. Pretty soon boots 'numbe;
twelve, pcgged' began to II axe their appear
ance on the desks, and heads disappeared be.
hind newspapers. On counting, found il
sight forty seven boots to forty heads. | dc
not know but this is their way of voting. i
so, it must have been party vote, (be;wee.
heels and heuds) but at any rate boots were
: in clear MAJ ority of seven on joint ballot
After waiting three hours to see them do bu
siness, and not being able 70 discover any,
took my leave just as the sergeant-at arms
started down street after members to make ;
quorum.
One qualification | had nearly forgotten
1t was the frequent use, by members in con
4 versation, of those embellishments, vulgarl,
e called oaths, aud was told they were not al
ways confined to conversation. Some o
them seemed to swear remarkably easy an
u effectively. Perhaps those were appointe'
: to do the swearing for the Legislature. Thu
d is the General Assembly Of Indiana-a deli
berative body. Strange! but the only deli
beration | saw was in member, who's
mouth was uncomfortably full of Tobacco
' juice. HE deliberated some time, As t
e whether the surplus should go out betweel
| his feet, over the desk, or into the aisle.
was certainly very liberal appropriation.