Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-02-13

TO call tho namo or the Senator from
Clark [Mr. Woods
Tho Chair said II could not regard tho
action Of aportion Of the Senate ycstcr-
day, during the absence Of tho presiding
oiliccr as valid.
Suit remarked that tho journal, as read,
was correct, aud reviewed tho action Of
the Senate yesterday, and said to the Chair
that the presiding oiliccrofth the Senate had
no right to vacatc tho Chair as had been
done yesterday. lie said tho proceedings
Of the Senate were regular and legal, and
tho action Of tho presiding officer illegal
aud revolutionary.
Suit denied tho right Of the presiding
officer to control the journal Of the Senate
and from his decision on that point, hc up.
pcaled.
The Chair said he acted as the organ of
the Senate. If the Senate did not endorse
his decisions by vote, they could revoke
them. The Chair reviewed rs course of
yesterday, and said facts appeared upon
tho Journal Of the Senate that did not
transpire during the session of the Senate.
He said that himself and portion Of the
Senators had repaired to tho Hall Of the
House Of Representative to meet the
House In Joint Convention; that that Con.
vention had merely met and adjourned
until to morrw, and that all actions had,
in the absence Of tho presiding officer
and portion Of the Senator's, werc illegal
and void.
Suit wished to know what The object Of
the call Of the Joint Convention was
On tho 18th Of January the so-callcd
Joint Convention met to count tho votes
for Governor and Lieut. Governor and IN.
auguratc the newly elected officers, but on
yesterday the object Of the so.called Joint
Convention was not announced.
He again declared bis dissent from the
direction Of the Chair to have tho name
Of Mr.. Woods called as tho Senator from
Clark county.
Murray recitcd portion Of tho history
Of tho present session, touching the action
Of the Senate In rcpudiating the CO callcd
Joint Convention; that solemn protest
had been entered upon the journals Of the
Senate by nm aye and nay vote against the
legality OF the so.callcd Joint Convention,
said that this Senate had been assured by
Mr.. Harrington, the presiding officer Of
the first so-callcd Joint Convention, that Il
was not the intention Of those who COM
posed that Convention to again convene Il
but In tho faco Of this assurance II had
been done.
The Senate had solcmnly declared thai
II would have nothing to do with tho nc.
ton Of tho so called Joint Convention
and that any counter action on the part o
the presiding officer, or any portion Of tn,
Senate, was IN direct opposition to the OK
pressed will and decree Of tho Senate
Revolutionary action belonged to thos,
acted In tho illegal Convention, and not Il
those who remained in tho Senate Chambc
and proceeded with tho regular order o
business. While the presiding officer ant
q portion Of tho Senate were absent trying
illegally, to put two Senators into the
Senate OF tho United States, tho remain
der Of this Senate put the Senator from
Clarke mr.. woodsl out Of the Senate o
Indiana.
Murray maintained that the presiding
officer had no authority to direct the nam,
Of the Senator from Clark to DO called, un
I'll tho journals werc changed and the nc
ton OF tho Senate reversed.
Johnston thought that q vote upon th'
appeal from tho Chairs decision cquva
lent to direct vote upon tho right Of Nj
Woods to hold a scat in tho Senate.
Suit asked Mr. Wallace 10 allow hin
to interrupt him moment.
Wallace replied that he wonli, bu
would not give the Senator from Clinton
the privilege to do, as tho editor OF tn
Journal said, give him severe rcbukc.
Suit said no only wanted to help tn
Senator from Montgomery to make
speech, and ask him what difrercnc,
there was between tho action OF tho Sen
ate yesterday, as shown by the journals
: and the act Of the Senate of the Unite,
States, on tho motion Of General Cass
when Jesse ID. Bright had abandoned III
seat as President Of the us. Senate, 70
the purpose ofprocuring his own reelection
to the United States Senate j.?
Wallace replied that that question wa
) not to lbs answered now.
Cravens read from tho Constitution
which provides that each House Of TN
General Assembly should govern It's owl
proceedings and sit upon It's own ADJOURN
mcnts, and that the Senate could Oil tn
Chair OF tho Senate when vacated by tn
Lieut. Governor.
lie maintained that the proceedings o
yesterday were legal and valid, and ar
gued on constitutional grounds, that tn
proceedings were entirely correct. Tn
presiding officer had no power to order n
crasurc Of any part Of the journal.
He said the report OF the Judiclar,
Committee shows that Mr.. Wood is Nor
al Instructor OF the Peniten,iary, and no
a senator on this floor. lie thought tina
there was more need Of his [Wood'sl ser
vices among tho convicts Of the Stat
Prison, that there was for his prcsene
and votes In this body. Mr.. Woods coul'
not hold two Offices Of honor aud trust q
the same time, accordingto the Copstltu
ton. He was Moral Instructor Of lh
convicts in the Pcni,cntiary, and not
senator on this floor, as representative
from the county of Clark. He had vaca
ted bis Office as senator for that OF Morn