Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-09
Necessary Legislation Defeated by the
FactiOus and Revolutionary Action
OF the Republican Minority I'm the
HOnSo.

Necessary Legislation Defeated by tia
FactiOus and Revolutionary Action
OF the Republican Minority I'm the
House.
The constitutional period for enactng law:
during the present session of the General Assem-
bly, expired on Saturday. One week ago last
Wednesday the Republican members of the
House. sufficient to break quorum, absentee
themselves from their seats and left the city, fol
the avOwed purpose of defeating legislation
The remaining members ofthe House prepared the
necessary bills for maintaining the State govern
ment. for the payment Of employees and Other
Indebtedness. and the appropriations required tc
pay the interest upon the public debt for
the ensuing two years--alls the appropriations
in a word, necessary To maintain the honor
and good faith of the State. Upon the
call of the House on Saturday morning il
was found quorum was not present. and having
no power to legislate-to pass bills under the re-
quirements of the Constitutional adjourned
until this morning. Without appropriations none
of the obligations of the State can be paid. The
officers of State cannot dSburse the public funds
unless IN pursuance to appropriations, by law
without subiecting themselves to the severe
penalties of the emoezzlement act. Thus stands
the case, and We see no remedy unless the Gov
ernOr conyenes an extra session of the Lesisla
lature.
There is no apology for this revolutionary
conduct of the Republican minority. Its action
Is disgrace to the State aud a reproach rpor
our form of government The excuse fol
boiling was to defeat the military bill. Il
that measure was constitutional the majOrlt,
had right to pass it. If it was not the
law would be imperative. But the Republican
members had not even this apology for breaking
a quorum. The bill had not passed the House
and if it had they were advised that it could moi
pass the Senate. Even if il had become Law
it was not of sufficient importance to justify tn,
defeat of necessary legisl iion. State military
systems are of but little consequence since the
passage of the conscrpt act by Congress All
the Democrats wanted was that the public arm:
should not be placed by the Governor in the hand:
of his partisan friends exclusively.
The Republican seceders have manifested nc
sagacty whatever unless it was their intention
to break up or revolutionize the State Govern
ment. They could have returned to their seat.
on Thursday last and have had complete contro
over all legislation. No bill would have becom,
a law without their consent All bills have tC
be read on three consecutive days. unles
by consent of thirds of the House
in which they are being considered
and all bills have to be presented tC
the Governor two days before adjournment
The constitutional requirements and the veto
power would have enabled them to defeat what
they termed obnoxious measures" without in
teriering with necessary and unobjectiona legis
lation
But the work is done factious minority ha.
triumphed. If this revolutionary cOduct Is JUST
fed, it is the end of constitutional government
The only hope for its preservation is that it vii
meet with an overwhelming rebuke from the PEG
pie. Legislators and all public servants should
be made to feel that they cannot triae with tn,
public interests to crafty party prejudices or tt
serve partisan schemes.
Some of the Republican organs are at
tempting to justify the secession OF the Re
publican members upon the ground tina
it was necessary to defeat measure
calculated to bring about evolution, or intende,
20 slide Indiana out of the Union. All sucl
charges are mean and wicked falsehOOds Th,
Democracy of Indiana are true to the Constitu
ton and the Union. They have no. other obec
but to preserve the one and restore the other
They never had such a scheme or entertained AM
purpose for forming Northwestern COniederacy
or uniting Indiann witt. the Southern Confed
eracy All such limitations are the invention o
the enemy for political effect The Democrat,
are for law and order. Obedience TO law is witt
them cardinal principle. They will yield ODE
dience to obnoxious laws. until they are repeae,
or pronounced unconstitutional Unf',ithfulnes
to constitutional obligations and disregard of Law
have brought the present difficulties upon thu
country. And the Democracy will be unfaithfu
to all their teachings and all their declarations
in those regards they follow the evil precedent
of their political opponents.