Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-02-20

tanned unlawful purposes, they are in no proper
sense secret, and are not therefore such as con-
templated in the resolutions of the House. The
committee is unanimously of the opinion that the
evidence before them does not prove the existence
of secret organization here or elsewhere hostile
to the Government. that has for its object upon
its responsibility to attack the Capital, or
any public property here, or an interruption of
the functions of the Government The commit
tee submit all the evidence, and ask that the
same and the report be printed and the committee
discharged
Mr. Branch submitted his views, concurring
entirely with the majority. He says it appears
from the testimony of General Scott that seven
companies of artillery and one of sappers and
miners have been ordered to be quartered in the
city, under the mistaken belief that the public
property was in danger, and asks the passage of
the following resolution:
That the quartering of troops of the regular
army in this District and around the Capitol,
when not necessary for their protection from a
hostile enemy and during a session of Congress,
is impolitic aud may become destructive of civil
liberty and in the opinion of this House, the
regular troops in it ought to be forthwith removed
therefrom.
Mr.. Bradch demanded the previous question.
To seize the District of Columbia or attack the
Capitol or prevent the Inauguration of Lincoln
seems to have been contingent upon the secession
of Maryland and Virginia and the sanction of
one of them. Certain organization in the Dis
trict and Maryland, that prior to the election
seemed to be open political clubs, have since as
sumed the character of military organizations
and are now engaged in drilling, and expect to
provide themselves with arms, some from State
authorities and others from private subscriptions;
but, so far the committee is able to learn their
purposes, while they sympathized with secession,
there is now proof that they intend to attack
either the Capital or District, unless surrender
should be demanded by the State to which they
profess high degree of allegiance. Some of
these companies in Baltimore professed to be
drilling for the sole purpose of preventing other
military companies from passing through the
State of Maryland.
Debate followed, when Mr. Davis wanted to
know how it could minority report, when the
majority report was unanimously agreed to.
Mr.. Branch claimed the right to make an ex-
PLANTATION.
Mr. Davs-The committee was unable to
prove the existence of a conspiracy was, because
the presence OF the proofs prevent its rpening
into fruiton. He moved to table.
{ Mr.. Branch remarked that his resolution was
sanctioned by no other member of the committee.
His name alone signed the minority report. The
reason was, the majority report did not so far
enough.
Mr.. John Cochrane deprecated, as much as any
lover Of civil and religious liberty, the gathering
of an armed force The evidence showed that
there was danger at one PERIOD and precaution-
airy measures were adopted.
Mr.. Kunkel was satisfied that the whole inquis-
ition originated with the War Department or Gen.
Scott. He believed its object was to furnish to
the country plausible excuse for the concentra-
ton of military force at Washington; else
originated with the Governor of Maryland, or
some other emisSary, had superinduced the move
ment, because he was the only that has the
audacity or temerity to assert such combination
to exist in the State of which he is the unworthy
chief magistrate.
Mr.. Webster said Gov. Hicks acted from pa
triOtic motives His conduct approved by
two-thiris of the people of Maryland.
After some further debate, the resolution was
tabled-l25 against 50.