Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-06-25
.ors ,H ADORE SIS assi 5
4. 90 OF THE foafr--rf aff
Union Members of the Legislature
IxDlAxApoLrs IND. March. 20. 1853.

~. OF THE f,eff... III 1#ff
Union Members of the Legislature
IxDlAxApoLIs IND. March. 20, 1858.
| To tie People Of Indiana: i 8sifa
The Committee appointed by the Union
members Of the late General Assembly
beg leave to present the following state
ment of facts: rs
Immediately upon the organization oi
the General Assembly, we frankly told
the majority Of the House that we would
not inicrposs any fsctious opposition. OIL
break quorum. to prevent the election oI
any officer required by law. nor to pre-.
vent the passage Of any law that did moi
, violate the Constitution, or was not revo-
lutionsry in its character. We appealed
| to them TO remember, the example of the
party in power ct the extra session in
1861, and the bene6eent effects Of the
course then pursued. in laying aside par
~ platforms. and in organizing both hous.
en-. By electing officers without regard to
party. We bad sincerely hoped that
such . wise and patriotic course would
have been followed by the majority, and
that we might have had harmonious sss.
sion. But. frem the first, the action oi
the majority indicated fixed determine.
tion to insult the Executive of the State.
deprive him of all power. and seize into
their hands the entire control OF every de-
partment of the State government.
RECEPTION or GovERNoR's MESSAGE.
On the second day of the session. the
n - fha
stitution Of the State, and the practice
in the Federal and most Of the State gov
srnments, transmitted his message to the
two houses separately. The Speaker OF
the House, Mr.. Buskirk. Immediately de-
clared that it could not be received, be-
cause the constitution required it to be de-
livered to the General Assembly. and the
General Assembly. consisted of tho two
houses in joint convention. The absurdi-
ty Of this decision was SO manifest. that
he was compelled to retract it: but. on
the next day. the House returned the mes
sage, with the accompanying documents
on the ground that. at the precise moment 1t
was sent to the House. the Senate was
not in session. for want of quorum, and
consequently there was no General AS
semhly TO which the message could be
delivered. The position taken by the
House was, that there was no General
Assembly without each house was in ses-
zion at the same moment, aud that one
house. during tho temporary adjourn
ment Of the other. had no power tn act
This position was legislative absurdity.
and was violated by the House IN the very
act OF returning to the Governor his mes
sag-r
To make this action Of the majority
w ore ridiculous and inconsistent, if pos
sIble. they voted an indorsement and ac-
cep,ance OF the message Of Governor
Sey mour, Of New Yo,k, which had been
delivered to one honse only. the other not
being oiganizrd: and, as il not satisfied
with tins exhibition OF i'm scility. the
Speaker. OIL the 3d day OF March. just be-
ioie the final adjournment, decided that
the House, without a quorum. could re-
c~ive the reports 0i committees, and com
munIcalions II ON the Senate and Govern
or.
On the first day of the session. con-
trary to all former practice. the House
passed resolution TO 90 into the eiec-
tion of United States. Senator'S on tho
next day. at two o'clo X. that being the
day and hour fixed. by immemorial usage.
for the delivery of the Governors mes
sage. This was . wanton and foolish in
suit to the Governor, AMI Was SO under
stood by all intelligent persons.
ACTION OF THE MAJORITY.
From the commencement of the ses-
sion until its close, there was numerous
resolutions introduced. and referred to
committees. denouncing the war in nm.
measured and vituperative terms. and the
Governor and President as tyrants; de-
claring that no more men or money
should be given for the prosecution Of the
war; calling for peace conventions at
Nashville and Louisville; and demanding
, OF the President AN armislice and sess tion
Of hostilities: and, il the President de.
clined to do this. that the State, in de-.
fiance of the Generrl Government, acting
Independently; should bring about sss-
sation Of hostilities, and enter into nego.
tiations for peace and annexation. aud
providing for the appointment of com
missioners for that purpose. And at nc
time did the majority show any dissent oil
opposition to these trsasonablc propo,
sitions; but. on the contrary. several o
their members boldly and defantly in.
formed the House that the "maicrity un.
derstood Themselves" that ..tbey would
act together as one man." and that "they
were band of brothers, all Of which
was assented to. withou, the slightest pro
test from that side of the House; nor was
there . resolution introduced on the par
of the majority. duriDg the entire session
favoring the unconditional prosecution o.
the war and The unqualified restoration o
the Union. We ask. what stronger evi
dence could there be of the sympsty o.
the majority. with the enemies Of oul
country?
UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND REvoLUrIoXAR,
MEASURES.
They brought forward number of IN
constitutional and revolutionary measures
which we will briefly notice.
F;rsk-A bill creating On executiv,
council. TO consist Of the Auditor, Treas
ure, Secretary. and Attorney. General O
State. making the signatures Of . major