Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-08-14
Early Indiana Trials. a.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ~ nos. ., n. smrn.

In August 1922, was elected 20
the Legislature from Fayette, and
late in November mounted my pony
and started for corydon, the tempo
rary seat of Government. Ny way
led by Madison, thea small village.
Late in the evening of the third day
from home; rode up to little frame
house, about the center of the town,
to which | was directed as the only
hotel. My horse was taken at the
steps by slim fiaxen haired youth
ola hostler, Ihad u first rate supper,
a sweet. clean bed, a good break fast,
and left on my journey in the morn
ing, the landlord. as supposed, being
from home. The next Monday the
House of Representatives met in the
old Court House, at Corydon. Henry
II. Thornton, the Clerk, called tho
roll; County Of Jefferson" when 10
my surprise, my faxen headed hos-
tier stepped forward, in the person
Of General Milton Stapp, in after
years Lieutenant Governor, and one
Of the most distinguished men of the
State. The roll calling progressed,
as stood by the side of the General
he bowed and smiled. The "County
of Vanderburgh and Warricls, / saw
advancing a slender freckled-faced
boy, in appearance eighteen or TWEEN.
ty years of age 1 marked his step
as he came up to my side, and have
often noticed his air since. II was
General Joseph Lane, Of Mexican
and Oregon fame in after years. The
House was composed mostly Of new
Members, and was said to be the
greenest ever convened in the State,
myself included. We had however,
few who would pass, even at the
present day. General Stapp, Isaac
Hawk, Horace Bassett, John Dumont,
Isaac Julian, Pinkney James, General
Burnett, William A. Bullock, Lucius
H. Scott, Dennis Pennington, Benja
min V. Beckes, DR.. Sylvanius Everts,
Nathaniel Hunt and others. The
session lasted six weeks, and perhaps
no Legislature ever met and adjourn
ed in the State, doing less HARM
There were a few measures, however,
in which | took an active part, that
may bear mentioning The poll tax
system was first established, the ex-
emption In favor Of widows, Of per-
sonal estate to the value of one hun.
dred dollars, from debts of deceased
husbands; and the act giving a rep
resentation to the new purchase, to
strengthen the middle and northern
pats of the State, in passing the law
foy the removal of the seat Of gov
eminent from Corydon TO Indianapo-
lis. This latter act was warmly con-
tested, debated weeks and finally
passed by very close vote. The first
constitution provided that "Corydon,
in Harrison county, shall be the seat
OF government of the State Of Indiana.
until the year eighteen hundred and
twenty-five, and until removed by
law. 1t further provided, ''the Gen.
eral Assembly may, within two years
after their first meeting, and shall in
the year eighteen hundred and twenty
and every subsequent term of FIVE
years; eau 20 an enumeration to be
made of all the white male inhabit-
ants above the ago of twenty-one; the
number OF representatives shall OF
the several periods of making such
enumeration be fixed by the General
Assembly, and apportioned among
the several counties" The question
was whether il was competent for the
Legislature to take the census and
make the apportionment, at any in.
termediate time, or whether IL could
only DO done at the expiration ofeve'
~ five years. We carried the bill In
favor ofthe first construction, and the
seat of government was removed
years sooner than il would otherwise
have been. We had little important
business before us; Gov. Hendricks
was inaugurated, and Judge Parks
elected TO revise the laws.
AN ELEcTroNEERISa OPERATION.
An incident occurred in tho election
of Treasurer of State that may be in
structive TO candidates. Daniel c
Lane was the incumbent. There wal
no tangible objection against him n,
an officer, but IL was rumored that hs
could see a short rich man over th,
head of "A tall poor man. His compel
itor was Sameel Merrill, then of We
way, afterwards for years Treasure
of State, and President Of the Stat
Bank. The day for tho election wa
not fixed. l was among the warn
friends of Mr.. Merrill Our prospect
for his election was very poor-chance
Us ten to one against us. Mr.. Lane
rs was the custom, began his cours
of entertainments, and, rs his hous
was small, he only invited 10 his frs
dinner tho Senators and the Speake
Of the House Of Representatives
Gen. Washington Johnston, intend
ing. no doubt, TO feast the member
of the House on some other evening
Next morning the House met, an,
few of rs understanding each 9th
or, passed around among the unmiti
gated, and soon had them in q perfec
state OF excitement against Lane
The time had now come, and I intro
duced resolution inviting the Sen
ate to go into the election instantel
The resolution was reciprocated, an,
down camo the Senate. The join
convention was Immediately held, an,
Mr.. Merrill was elected by a larg
majority, tho Senate voting for MI
Lane, and the members Of the Hous
for Mr.. Merrill, who made tho State
first rate officer. The Legislature &C
journed, and Ircturned home throug
the woods. This ended my legisli
tive career in the State, as I wa
never afterwards u candidate.
A oRERr HyroonrrE.
Ny young brother, ofterwart