Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-03-13
From ths Indiana Journal.
SPEECH OF
HON. JAMES F. SUIT,

HUN. JAMES +. SUIT,
Of Clinton County, in Committee Of ths
Whole. on the Temperance Bin, In a<
Senate Of Indiana, delivered Wednesday,
February 2eta, 1857.
Nh. PRESIDENT:
do not believe the discussion Of the
merits Of this bill do any good; for when
It gets through this COMMITTEES it will be
about the last you viii ever see or hear Of
Il. The gentleman from Hancock, (Mr.
Gooding) has laborsd long and loud to
convince us Of its great benefits. His
speech to-day Is about like all the rest lhe
has delivered himself Of since he has
been here, and reminds me much Of the
anecdote told Of him. It Is said that one
day when he was letting of an unusually
windy speech, with about a. much point
to it as the one he has favored US with to
day, there happened to be gentleman
in the lobby from his own county, who, af-
ter firing out his patience in listening for
the point the Senator was endeavoring so
valiantly TO make, remarked that he put
him inmind Of the crazy fellow who was
sitting by spring, lsticking his Finger in
the water, pulling 1t out and then looking
for the hole; CaughteD and to his feffort
to-day IL is equally appropriate.
But 70 be serious, Mr.. Chairman, two
years ago stood here and fought for that
bill, which. while itdid moro good during
the time 1t was in operation, than any 9TH
er law ever passed in thisState. was made
the. hobby for every political trickster in
the country to monnt override. and mis-
represent during the canvass of 1856
And standing. as I do, in my place to-day,
I would rather have the record of my
vote in its favor than the proudsst monu-
ment that ever was erected over the re-
mains OF the greatest man the world ever
saw. Sir. that bill was right-that bill, in
my humble judgment was constitutional;
but our Supreme Court decided II other
wise; and with that decision I am content.
though in my heart believe it the most
corrupt decision ever rendered by any
Court. ! have but to call on one million
human beings, men, women, and.children.
to prove the beneficial effects that bill has
had all over the land. Yet il was made
a pretext by designing demagogues to pull
down the Republican party. Before II
was repealed, these minions Of the Demo-
cratic party went all over the State, bear
ing the direful notes that the law would
be declared unconstitutional. thus bringing
again the widows and orphans cry, that
was hushed by its passage; an that pass
age announced by the cannon's peal on the
commons Of this city. The Supreme
Court tore II down. and then went up the
wall Of sorrow throughout all tho land.
Why, Mr.. Chairman, need only to refer
you to the records Of this city. and your
own party paper here, for the proof Of the
benefit Of this law. Your jails empty
your police disbanded-and peace and
quiet reigning throughout the entire land.
Not an hour before the final vote on that
bill was taken, went to the Post Office,
and got petition from distant and OBJ
scure part Of my district signed entirely
by ladies'. and with that petition I receiv-
cd letter from sister who is a. near and
dear to my soul as my brightest hopes oi
the future. In that letter she plead with
me to cast my vote for that law; I did SO,
and in so doing I have bound more strong.
ly to my heart the love Of that sister. and
made record that II will ever [be my
pride to think that my children may
look upon without feeling Of shame for
their father. went homo and vindicated
my course before my constituents, and told
them that as politician they might strike
me down, but ~ q man. never.
Here Mr.. Suit was interrupted by the
Senator from Washington-Mr. Hefren-
and asked IL he did not offer resolution
to call back from the House tho Temper
ance Bill, because 1t was tyrannical.1
Yes. sir. did offer such a resolution
but not because ! thought II was tyrsnnic.
al. II was only for the purpose Of having
the cider clause. and some other objection.
able features stricken from Il. did mol
want the enemies Of the bill 10 have q
chance TO 60 out before the people and
makeit odious; whom these features might
~ we'll have boen stricken from Il, and Of.
feet the principles Of the bill In no wise
whatever. There wass strong effort made
to strike that cider clause from the BILL
The Senate stood tic on the question,
and the Democratic Lieut.. Governor "a.
P. willard) gave the casting vote, and vo'
ted to retain tho clause. I voted against
IT. Ioppossd 10; still oppose Il. and 60 "a
church as Christian gentleman should
sometimes. This clause (ths cider clause,
was retained In the bill by Democratic
Senate. The casting vote for Il was given
by Democratic presiding officer, and n
soon as the bill passed. then went out The
whining pups Of the Democratic party
misreprsssnling the bill, In order 10 make
Il odious with its friends. and break dowr
tho Republican Party.
Now, cir, I vii give my reasons for moi
supporting the bill reported By th'
chairman of the Temperance Commits
(Mr. ooodins). This bill is uneonstitu
tionsl, or ss least win b % decided. To-
this reason: II that almost ssnssIsss Con
stitution, which I wish 10 God I had new
or sworn to support, means anything whsI
Il says, "all laws shall be uniform and o
uniform operation" then the bill canno
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