The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1861-03-21

~The Legislature adjourned on Mon
day last, without doing great deal Of good !;
but much harm--particularly in establishing
. precedent whereby aminority can always
"eoerce' the majority into sny measures II
may insist on. We are sorry our Republ
can friends did not let the Democratic GO
ercionists, go home, as they threatened, iu
stead Of acceding TO their dem ands, and
leave the disorganizers 20 be dealt with by
the people Richmond Palladium.
The Legislature did about all Il cuisines
that it had TO do, except what was defeated
by the Democratic revolutionary proceeding
Of breaking quorum. The revenues were
provided for, the appropriations all made,
the suspended debt adjusted, the State deb.
put in process of liquidation, the treasury
system thoroughly overhauled and future
mal-practices prohibited, the northern peni
Tertiary difficulty arranged, the school sys-
TEN revised and benefcially amended, and
in short all the accumulated business Of two
years. made doubly difficult by the confu-
sion Of Democratic Encouragement, cor
ruption and speculation. was done. and in
the main judiciously done. This is no little
TO say of Legislature so largely composed
Of inexperienced men, who, however well
disposed, cannot work with the rapdity oil
those more familiar with legislative duties.
And all this was done against u systematic
series OF delays and hindrances practieed
by the Democracy to throw business TO the
end of the session, where a little obstinate
defiance Of law. duty. and oaths. would en-
able them to defeat as much or little OF
it as they pleased. The Legislature, there
fore did much good. and that it did not do
more is to be attributed to the unfortunate
oversight in our Constitution, which puts
into the hands Of reckless minority the
power to overturn the legislative department
Of the Government with impunity. That
harm was done bv yielding to the revolu
tionary action of the Democracy and agree
ing to abandon the Apportionment and
Militia to keep that party from defeating
everything, is probable. but the harm is re-
mote. and may be easily ayerted by the PEG
pie. aud it may be that the very outrageous
ness Of that action carries along an antidote
10 its evil But the harm. whether remote
or immediate, qualified or unqualified. was
more than balanced by the harm that mus
have followed the opposite course. Let u
look minute at the result of the policy
suggested by the PaHadiam. The Appro
priation bills would all have been defeated
This would have left the pc nitentiaries with
out support. and the officers must have turn
cd the couvicts loose. That is not little
matter 10 begin with. The Insane Asy lum
must have been closed as it was in 1857
This would have turned back on each coun
~ its insane. to be provided for al an ex
pense OF $500 for each person. The Deal
and Dumb and Blind must have been sent
home. The Judges could have drawn no
pay, and many OF them would have beel
compelled to abandon their duties. The
confusion and Iuin which would Lave fol.
lowed this proceeding is absolutely iucalcu-
liable. These are by no means all the ell
fects that would have followed the PGHa
dtum's policy. But" it may be asked,
IF there was money in the treasury TO sup
port the penitentiaries and asylums. and pay
the officers why not use it without APP
propriation?" Simply because the cmbez-
element bill would put any State officer in
the Pententiary for auditing or paying any
account for which there was al approprla-
ton There could hsve been no remedy,
no alternative. The loss OF the appropria
ton bills must have tumbled the Whole frame
of the government Temporarily 10 pieces
ibis evil was Immediate. direct. ard inevi
table, and this evil. portentous and fearful
as it is. the Democracy declared by ,aucus
resolutions. ana Dy Il lOfulaI SuLOuHCtHleut
in the Senate chamber they We're ready 10
inflict on the State. if they, lie m'aority.
were not allowed to dictate what legislation
should. and should not, be done. Bad as
the alternative was, it was wisely taken by
the Republicans. AT least this is our opin
ion, and ~e submit these considerations to
our friend of the Paliadixm, in the hope
that he will see that there is reason 10 be-
lieve he has unintentionAlly done The Legis
lature injustice.-hd. Journal.
Probably We were little too hasty in
our conclusions. taking things in the shape
they were az the time coercive measures
were adopted on the part of the Democra-
cy. Where we blame our Republican breth
rem of the Legislature, is. that they did not
NJ the commencent Of the session, urge the
apportionment aud military bills, and leave
all legislation to take care Of itself.
We hope Gov. Morton will call an extra
session Of the Legislature, and try the met
al Of the Indiana secessienists on these two
bills. If the majority is not to govern in
this State, the sooner the people know it,
the sooner they II apply the remedy.
If an extra session is tho't 10 be too ex
pensive. Gov Wright set precedent OF ap
FORTHCOMING the State himself, that Gov Nor
ton might follow. we suggest.