Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-06-25

voted down; all references to committees
had been refused. although every other
bill of general character that had gone
to the second reading had been referred to
some eommittcei the previous question
had been sustained. the gag applied. and
all debate cut off, aud the bill engrosssd.
Nothing was left for us but to sit by and
see this Infamous measure forced through,
the revolution consummated, and civil
war begun. or to- quietly retire and leave
the Hoase without q quorum; there was
no other pcaceable and constitutional
remedy. II it had been left to the courts
to annul it. before the question could have
been determined, the law would have done
its work. eif q s1r5- -7t
The military power, once in the hands
of their conspirators. it would be q mat
ter of no importance what the courts
might decide; and if the question took
the course of others before the Supreme
Court. it might be months or years before
the decision was made. The path of du-
ty was the path of safety. and we had no
doubt or hesitation as to the course we
should pursue.
We were willing AID anxious, and re-
peatedly proposed to he majority to re-
turn and pass the appropriation bills,
with all other legitimate and lawful legis-
lation; but they replied to us contempt
uously that they intended to pass every
one Of their ultra measures before they
took up the appropriation bills
1856 FORMER pREcEpEyrs.
Were it necessary to justify our course
by presidents, we should find them recent
and abundant in the legislative history
of the Democratic party in this State
When in the minority, they have never
failed to break a quorom TO prevent the
passage of measures obnoxious to the
party, although such measures were Meth
err unconstitutional or vital. At the reg
ular session in 1861, but two years ago,
the Democratic members of the House
broke a quorum, to prevent the passage
of militia law, and refused to return to
their seats until the Republicans had
agreed to abandon the bill. AT the same
session, the Democrats members of the
Senate broke quorum in that body, to
prevent the passage of apportionment
bills, and withdrew to the Bates House.
where they convened, and thence dispatch
ed messengers to the Republican members,
declaring that they would not return to
their seats without the obnoxious bills
were abandoned. Although it was tho
year fixed by act of Congress and the
constitution of the State for making the
Congressional and Legislative apportion
ments, and the bolt was not because Of
any vital question. but merely to secure
party interests, yet, to procure the pas
sage of other importan. measures, the Re-
publicans agreed to Withdraw the aPpor-
tiOnment bills.
In 1857, the Democratic members Of
the Senate broke quorum and prevented
the passage of the appropriation bills
This was done to prevent Colonel Shryock
from being admitted to bis seat in the
Senate, to which the committe had de-
cided he was entitled, and about whose
right there was no reasonable dispute:
yet. for cause SO unjust and compare
lively unimportant, the Democratic men,
bers STAYED off the appropriation bills and
much other important legislation.
In the session of 1855. the Democrats.
being in the minority in both Houses.
bolted, from time to time, on various
measures. as might suit the convenience
and interests of their party. But it is
not necessary to multiply instances; our
conduct requires no such defense.
COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY.
We acted from solemn convictions OF
duty-from the profound belief that it
was the only way left MS to prevent the
consummation of revolution and the pre-
cipitation of civil war upon our hitherto
loyal, peaceful, and prosperous State
True, we were told by some the bill could
not pass the Senate. and so it had been
said of the House; but when the men
who had privately assured US that the bill
would never pass the House, but would
be referred to . committee from (which it
would never RETURN" came forward and
refused all reference, oil amendments, all
debate. and forced its engrossment under
the gag Of the previous question. the
members of the majority voting together
as one man, we had no reason to believe
the result would be different in the Senate.
CONCLUSION.
The scope and spirit of the policy dis
closed in the foregoing facts should arouse
the people to keen watchfulness of the
party that urged it. Disorganizasion and
anarchy would have followed its success
as surely as any effect follows its cause
All the restraints of authority. and all the
barriers of precedent would have been
broken down, to give free course to meas
urss which must have left he State power
less against the rebellion. With the
military power of the Governor crippled.
or removed to disloyal hands. and the
military power of the State scattered
among disloyal Sc, ret societies. the proud
name Indiana has canned in the war would
have been furnished or obliterated, and
her great services perverted into great in
iuries. Nothing more helpless or pitiable
can be imagined than State with such q
history as Indiana has made, bound, by
disloyal or disorganizing measures. in
stupid or mischievous inactivity. That i:
was the purpose of the dominant party in
the Legislature to reduce her to such q
condition, is proved beyond doubt, by
the facts we have cited. No man can
read them, and fail to see that through all
runs the one purpose: to take Indiana out