Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-23

ers" after the disbursements were madel That
IS TO say, the ommite might nod its assent after
the money was all gonel This is a fair sample
o. The manner in which a Republican Legislature
aims TO hold public servants TO n strict discharge
Of their duties 1t is the s~liF-shod system which
prevails at Washington, by which millions upon
millions have been distracted from the Treasury
OF the nation since this unfortunate war was COM
menced. 1t is the CagerOnean systematic Nor
gan dodge-the Lopez avalanche on the Treas
ury. IL IS shodcs ~clOthes-Paper soled shoes
ioten and worm eaten ships-sour pork, and
musiy bread. Such a cOmmittee would be a
farce. ana no honorable man would sit upon its
deliberations Why this tender footed anxiety
about "disJurSementSg" No one had accused
iny officer of the State government with irregu-
larity or dishonesty in these matters, and it seems
TO US there is a want of dignity and manliness in
any legislative body, or any portion of sEch body,
abdicating its righttul powers. lest s~ome6ody might
be offendedl There has been too much Of this
going on for two Years back, and the plainest
teachings of selfrespect. ON the part of the Gen
eral Assembly, should repel all such unreasonable
assumptions on the part of any discussing officer
Ii such assumptions are put forward, either by
themseives or "A committee of the House. Every
department of the State government is entitled
~ respect from the other departments-each are
alike responsible to the people. and ~hile the con-
ctilOtlOudl iAHiAo III BONCIc " All III iCAt
untouched by innovation, none have a Just right
to complain of the legitimate checks which Iegis
lation may throw around them. To say that
legislative agents-by committees or otherwise
shall not control disbursements, as well as
'audit claims and Vouchers" is going a very
long way on the road to unlimited power,
and we never shall consent to such
a restriction on the legislative rights of
the General Assembly, or its absolute power
A., co,A,lor tho D~,prfafv af rha-a oxronlifuroS
And on "A par with these modest requests, on the
part of the minority. is the no less modest one,
tina, in all investigating committees a minority
member, or members, ''shall have the right TO
cross-examine the witnesses" and call evidence
not thus taken shall be rejected, and declared to
be no part of the rec0rd" Let us see how that
| programme would work. In the first place. the
minority members ALWAYS have the right, on a
select or regular committee, to examine witnesses
or to cross-examine them, and it was not essential
for their protection that the House should declare
the privilege anew. They always had, and
alwaysNwill have. that power. No one ever de
nied il to them at this session or at any other ses
sion. They have the same right 10 examine wit
nesseS that a member of the majority has. and
they kReIc IL tcheH the request t1as made But
suppose that the minority members OF an inves-
tigaiing committee should absent themselves from
its deiiberatiOns-suppO~e they should secede, as
the minority did in the House-how then? Must
all the evidence. taken in their oiuiaI absence,
be rejected. and declared to be no part OF the
recordrs That would be "A cheap way OF %nullify-
Ing the action of the committee, aud even the
action of the House itself II would render
lie g~islation Il farce. and give to a handful of mem
bers supreme control over the Investigations
which the Legislature might institute for the
protection of the property, the rights and the
liberties OF the people of Indiana. Crafty men
had "A hand IN tho uhnvo prQuro m Ruf IL raa
craft alone. There is neither wisdom nor states
manship IN il; ana the citizens of Indiana, always
prompt-to detect deception, will render a right
eous verdict againstius authors.
The majority OF the Committee of Thirteen,
in the exercise of their duties, met the questions
at issue in a different spirit. and, we will be par
dOnej for saying, in a more straightforward man
ner. They submitted to the minority The follow
irg for their adoption:
referred the resolution of the House. in regard
70 the differences OF opinion which prevails in this
body concerning the ''powers ana duties" of the
Governor, and the status OF Indiana. concerning
this war" have to report to the minority that we
have com to the conclusion to report to the
House. for Its adoption. the following measures:
| A revision Of the militia law of Indiana,
under which those enrolled shall have the right
To select their companv and regimental officers.
= AL Hct U tiiOICt liz 4Dtu dItlCic VI TIE
Constitution in relation to the entry OF free ne
gro - and mulattoes, contrary to the constitutional
prohibitio~
8 A specific appropriation of fifty thousand
dollars (made one hundred thousand by the Dem
octatic Committee ON WAYS aud Means,) to be
expended in the aid of sick aud wounded sol
diers Of Indiana, in such proper supplies rs the
Government hospitals shall fail to furnish them.
A. a joint resolution to Congress asking that
the pty OF private soldiers in he army be raised
twenty-five rer cent, or say SIC per month, the
present pay being shamefuliy inadequate to the
services performed. aud that a joint resolution
be passed forthwith. urging the increase at the
pre- ent session of Congress The same consid-
%erations o fju>tiee aud equity require that the pry
o. all officers above the rank Of Captain should
be reduced from % to 80 per cent. according TO
The present compensation the largest reduction
to apply to the highest salaries.
). A further revision Of The militia law, by
which some persons or persons shall be associated
with the Governor in the distribution of arms to
the militia % the State, in order To allay any ap
prehens;ons new existing in regard to an unfair
or improper distribution of the same.
6 joint resolutions cOndemning the policy Of
compensation to those who may mauumit their
slaves, or the taxation OF our people for such
purpose; condemHing all the legislation of Con
gress changing the character of this war into an
interference NTH the institutions of the Southern
States, IN I a condemnation of the p~roclamltions
of EN- incipatinn issued by President Lincoln
on the 22d of September, 1862. and January lst,
1868.
Z The majority Of this Committee favor such
just provision BY law as will secure to the sol
diers of Indiana the prompt receipt of their pay,
which they regret 10 know has been withheld
from them heretofore. causing great suffering to
themselves and their families. ana much com
plant against the departments at Washington.
charged with the duty OF providing their hard
eirned wages. That the State OF Indiana. it de
fault should again occur for any considerable
length Of time in these pay ments. will feel il to
be her duty to consider what her action should be
in the premises, and by proper aud effective leg
~islation supply the default of the Administration
by the payment of our gallant soldiers il the
field.
8. That we favor a Joint resolution to Con
e ess, to be passed forthwith. asking that il pro
vide by law for the pay ment OF the wages of pri-
vate soldiers and Company officers in gold or sill
YER. or their equivalent in paper money at par;
aud also for the paymenr of pensions to our
wounded soldiers. aud the pensions to the widows
and orphans of those who have died in the SER
vice OF their country. or been killed in battle. in
the same mode and in the same par funds-it be
ing the sense of this House that those who give
their service. their health and their lives to the
nation. should be placed on MS favorable footing
as the banker or capitalist who loans money to
the Government.
In this schedule we submitted, for the accept
ance of the minority. measures of n positive char
acter. demanded by the condition of the country
In regard to the military bill, then pending, there
were differences of opinion amongst the members
of the majority, bat there was a general agree
r,A-f H. ~..~ L.. I..Il - - a.