Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-18
To Editor. Of ssalia.i. Iasisas,eli..


TO THK PEOPLE os INDIANA:
FELtow CrrIzESs: At the close of Legsla
tive session remarkable for its want OF sstistac-
tory results se address you IN explanation OF the
csuses which producei them. Ihis i-,due alike |
To Tire claims Of truth, and 70 a csHrect knowl |
e. &c Of the history OF the General Assenbiy just
AJjVarned- he people Of the sarious counties.
aud The citizens VI Indiana IN the aggregate, are
entitled full and trticuiar explanation of the
difficulties which beset us at every step of our
hste eventfui session. We shall endeavor to do
this in spirit Of candor and fairness, and under
4 sense of the responsibilities which attach to
concerns Of such grave importance By the
ton Of portion of the House of Repre- entatives,
the Govern ment of Indiana has been left without
the usual and necessary appropriations It's pub
lie creditors are postponed the various officers OF
the State deprived of their pay the soldiers In the
fe.dBeg lecteI. aud the inmates OF the benevolent
institutions lisble TO be cent home % Their re
spective counties. for the want OF timely ap-
preparation for their support. Ii woald be crimi
nal in the majority of the present General A.
semby To remain silent, while revolution, dis
orier, and lswless faction arrests tie legislative
functions Of the State, and gives TO 4 minority
the power 10 control the free action OF deliber
alive body constituted 10y the people themselves
That some irregularities would result FROM a
conflict OF opinion was to be expected. or, at
least. not "a be wholly avoided But good
citizen was prepared tor the revolutionary and
partisan conduct OF the minority IN both braches
IL was given out soon after the October election,
and by no less conspicuous character than Mr..
Coltsx. that the General Assembly might never
prob ,biy meet. aud that the minority could hnd
Justification Tor tileIG absence from Indianapolis
IA The sh,racser OF the whom he people had
entrusted with the legislative power OF the State.
This lntmaiion was given IN the South Bend
Register. paper owned. controlled and con
dGcted by the member OF Congress irUm the 9th
Congressional District HINTS OF a similar char
scter we're thrown nut in other quarters. ia
private way. but all leading TO the irresistible
conclusion that some lasless me Isures were con
templated 10 prev cut fair and ful expression OF
the views aud sentiments of The m ,lority. There
c,n he no doubt that the party leaders OF the
minority had seriously reelected on the best meas;
u there can he such thing employing the best
means for very bad purpose; OF preventing the
majority of the General Assembly from inter
psing rs voice IN The correction OF abuses in our
National and State affairs. There be
settled purpose that the minority and not the
majority should rule. and the entire history OF
legislation bears out in this declaration. Ii
was. from the beginning to the end bold and
daring attempt To prevent any expression OF
condemnation of the party which has well nigh
bTouyht tins nation 20 the verge OF ruin, and
which will vet complete its DIRE I'd purpose, if not
checked by the efforts of the people.
The session had but commenced. " hen the great
central power began its work OF detrartiori aud
SANDER. In whispers and inuendoes, 1t was intI
mate! that there was danger OF violence at the
Captat<-that a secret conspiracy existed TO sub
vert the State t'0vernment-thatt the Arsenal was
not sxfe-that the property OF the General Gov
ernment about be seized-that armed men
were in and about the legislative halls. and more
within mailing distance-that the Knights OF the
Golden Circle organizing in all the neigh.
boring counties; and, finally, il was said that the
Governor had received an anony nous letter from
a woman. ia which il stated that her husband
had been led into a conspiracy to asssssinate His
Exceliency! Then followed the brainless,
wicked and weak assertion that The Democrats
oil The Legislature had resolved to take lnd
ana of the Union, and carry her. body
All soul over t. the so called Southern Conied-
erscyl How many more silly and foolish reports
were put in circulation priratels, amongst the
weak bgottei AMI crejuIous of the prosecuting
parts, we have no means of knowing. but il is
fair to presume that men Who would consent to
listen to these reracious stories wouli gulp down
everything hu might be presented Tor their &C
ceptance Since The days OF the celebrated Gun
powder Plot ia England there has been netting
approaeCpg these new revelations from the pot
icsl story te.lers at the seat OF Government. Ii
things circulated The party which Was to he
benefited 10y RETIRING them had spies. agents.
tools aud uaderslrsppers everywhere an the State,
and out OF tie Sa,te, aud what the newspapers
failed to- do ia the way of ir,ei. the party guer
riIlas supplied by the Ally of scand,l. Ii was u
plot inAneursteJ by cowsrliee q TIE astt. prose
cuted by depravty throughout. AMI erssied in the
establishment ut the most odious s,ste ~ ot seces-
sssa aud rebellioa against The Govefnmept and
sutivyrisy of the State A halt dozen wesk3er
sous originated t. from q conviction that they
DESCRIBED punishment at the hands of those whom
they hid an ,ltre tied. and conscience MAX e.
COW arSls ct u ALL" the form, Of the srOncei and
prosecuted occupants of the Lincoln Ba~tiles' .
were ever present before their e,e-. They kRer
that they had not performed their duTy-taey
kRer that they had allow Ell the Constitution OF
Indians To be shamelessly trodden under foot
thsy knew that the rights oi the citizen had been
insaiei--6k<V knew that men had been impris-
oned without warrant or authority OF Law. !" and
that State officials had stood mutely by and lifted
not hnger To assert the m .jesty of the Consul
tuition. For these and other reasons they tssred
that public vengeance Wi hit follow them They
especially feared a legislative exposure of their
wicked and culpable eonnivance at the arbitrary
arrests which. IL they did not counsel. they al
iosced to be made the free and peaceful soil OF
Indiana There another reason Tor these
vile ISLANDERS on the majority: They feared tlis
legislative Investigations which would soon fol
low: and il thev could make the ueople OF lndi
ana believe that the General Assembly va,
"a traitorous ban'i OF conspIrators, II would -
far TO break the influence OF that body and
weaken TIE force of the Investigations which he,
might institute for the restoration Of public iib
erty. They also feared the passage OF law
which would stay the hand OF usurpston in this
Site, and give to the citizen arrested the rights
which are guaranteed him bv the Constitution
Ind ais our deliberate opinion that fae fear OF suca
GA Investigation, and the enacfmshf Of PAR
soSAL LfBskrY rHE WHITE PE"PLk or IN
DIANA had more 10 do ,rifh The secession Of The Re
pgblscaRs from the House. than The militia iar.
~hich was only made ,he prefexf for the desertou
OF Their places Whaiesef may have been the
motives OF the minority IN breaking up the Leg
stature BY revolutionary means. and whateve r
the evil designs Of the scsntlalous and disgrace
ful tal>ehoods spread out from indianapolis
against ourselves, we are gratihed in being able
10 say. that the majority proceeded ia good tenn
per 10 discharge their legislative duties asking.
only the enactment of such measures ~ wefe
Necessary IN their judi ment Tor the interests and
Protection OF the people Of Indiana
Que fact shoala be stated here. which shows a
design, Oh the part OF the niseruy. TO force its
sie~s uron the majority On the second dsy Of
the session. and t.tore there rcas military bill Of
any KIND before either House. and before nne WAS
mstureu at all. the Senators on III. Reoublicsu
EIDE seceie. from the Senate, To pre-, .ut the cleo
ton of l. = senator and 9TH. - -; -. -,