Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-05-01
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cy. The Sentinel calls il an Address,
but it wouldn't do to declaim on stage
we think II is just piece that he has writ,
as timid boys whistle in going through the
woods to keep their courage up, and to seem
to say "who's afeerd,s when in fact they
quake at every joint
About half Of it is devoted TO telling
what every body knew, that the Senate did
not pass any revenue bin, nor make appro-
priations to the Benevolent Institutions, and
that this is bad state Of affairs. We omit
this part and give the following moreinter-
esting portion:
II am satisfied that a large mojority OF the
citizens Of the State arc in favor Of all these
measures; [Astonishingl1 indeed, for the
last twelve years, however much they may
have differed concerning the policy to be
pursued in the Administration OF the Fed
endorsement they have generally agreed
upon our domestic policy. Except on the
whisky question. If then, you, the people
Of the State, are in favor Of these measures,
and your Representatives have failed to car
ry out your win, you enquire what is the
remedy to this failure to act on the part Of
the senate2 see none, unless the Sena-
tors upon reflection, shall change thcr opin-
ions on these questions or those entertain
ing different opinions are elected by you
How do you know, Governor, that they
have not changed their minds Call them
together and see, or get them to pledge
themselves not to prevent legislation by
breaking quorum; IL you don't the people
will be sure to elect persons Of different
opinions
'You provided in Sec 20 Of Art 4 of the
Constitution, that the regular session Of the
General Assembly should continue for 81
days That session was duly held and con-
tinued for the full constitutional term, and
you have seen the result You provided,
also, in Sec. Q of said Art 4, that, eff in
the opinion Of the Governor, the public
welfare shall require it, he may at any time,
by proclamation, call a special session" |
entertain no doubt that the public welfare
would be promoted by the passage Of the
acts which the Senate refused to pass all
Of which could be done in a session of not
exceeding ten days Yes, in half that
time if the revolutionary minority, your
friends, would not prevent it by breaking
quorum. But what is the hope of such a
result. [Inds 90, ,cc can't tell Youought
to know, as y., special friends were the
ones who broke the quorum, and prevented
the passage of the bills in question. There
was no want Of time for the Senate to pass
these laws. The House Of Representatives
placed all these bills in the possession of the
Senate, many days before the adjournment
Of that body And the Senate would have
passed them if the minority had not tied
the hands Of the majority by breaking q
quorum. And even on the last night Of
the session they found ample time to pass
the Specific Appropriation Bill, which pro-
yided for the paynentof their own employ
ees, ond, by direct vote, refused to con-
slider even the Revenue or General Appro-
priation Bills Every appeal which either
humanity or patriotism could suggest was
made in vain. They did not regard the
business before them as so important that
it could not be postponed, while they APP
propriated $4,000 for the payment of the
employees Of the Legislature; but yet so
important that not one dollar could be APP
propriated to sustain the deaf and dumb
blind and insane--or dollar of taxes as
sessed to sustain the plighted faith of the
State, all Of which could have been accom-
plished in less than an hour. certainly
less than half an hour if your men had not
kept the quorum broken.
"Nor was it alone during the last days and
hours Of the session thata majority OF the
Senate disrogarded the Constitution you
had established as the fundamental law OF
the State On the first day that the Legis-
lature assembled, this same majority under
took to organize the Senate against the pro
visions Of the Constitution, as found in Sec.
81 of Art. 8, which readsas follows "The
Lieutenant Governor shall, by virtue Of his
Office, be President of the Senate, [Sorry
to contradict you, Governor, but really there
is not word of truth in that, as you well
know The Senate wished TO organize by
a protein Chairman as all bodies are usu'
ally organized by endeavoring to elect q
Senator to act as Lieutenant Governor. Sc
satisfied were they of the illegality Of this
attempt at usurpation, that they did not rec
ord it on the journals Of their proceedings
"They refused to attend in the Hall Of the
House Of Representatives in accordance
with the usual custom, to hear the message
of my predecessor.
"Sec. 4 Of Art requires that the Speakel
Of the House Of Representatives shall open
and publish the returns for Governor and
Lieutenant Governor, in the presence o.
both Houses Of the General Assembly
They refused, when duly invited to attend
and have said returns opened and publish
cd in their presence You arc certainly
forgetfal, for you once knew better Yor
once knew that the Senate never refused;
they only preferred meeting at three O'CLOCK
instead Of half past two, and while discus
sing the amendment, you and your .toilo,c
ers "bolted" and broke the quorum, and
prevented the concurrence Of the Senate il
ths joint resolution, more than half houl
before the time fixed by the House.
Afterwards, on the I'd day of February
when tho Senate had been adjourned by it
presiding officer, lin what book of the Law
is II written that the Lieutenant Governo
has right to adjurn the Seaate2] less thar
quorum Of the Senate assembled in tn
Senate Chamber, and, upon motion, withou