Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-18

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with the weakness of their nature in submit
ting 70 hrr otoa rays. wishe,i 10 have no
r 81 utons pasel against The will and
mt-ctilevous policy OF purchasing and pay
iug for uegrOes-nOne against the PROCLAIM
tom emancipating slaves az the S0uth-nOne
against hfs Proclamation su-peading the writ OF
freedom. the habeas c0rpus-nobe against the
outrageous cheat and oppression the Morrill, TAR
iH-they wanted no resolutions passed on these
subjectsl Nor did they want the Auditing Com
mttee of the General Assembly &c look At or
control the disbursements OF the Governor or
other public functon1ry, but consented that they
might look at and audit the claims and vouch
ers" after the disbursements we're made That
70 say, the committee mia hi nod IT. assent after
the money was all gouel This is fair sample
1T The manner in winch a Republican Legislature
aims 10 hold public servants 10 strict discharge
Of their duties liz j. the slI-shoa system which
prevails at W sshington. by which millions upon
millions have been distracted from tie Treasury
ui the nation since this unfortunate Was com
menced II j. The C5msrOHeaR y stem-the Nor
gan dodge-the LOpeT avalanche on the Treas
Try. Ii is shOdds clOthes-psper sOled SHOES
rotten and worm eaten sbips-Sour pork. and
mu>fy bread Such a committee would be a
farce, ana no honorable would I upon IT.
deliberations. Why this tender footed ANXIETY
about .'lsourseme ntsf" No one bad accused
any officer of the State government with irregu
laritY or dishonesty in these matters, and II seems
to Us there is a want of dignity and nanness IA
any legislative bOiy. or any portion of such body,
abdcatins It's rightiu powers, lest somebody might
be offended There has been too much of this
going for two years back, and the plalnest
teachings of sell respect. on the part OF the zen
eral Assembly, should repei all such unre .sonabe
assumptions on the part OF any discussing officer
If such assumptions are put onward, either 10y
them~elves or a committee OF the House Every
department of the State government Is entitled
% respect from the other departmeDts-each are
alike re- ponsbe to the people. and "hile the con
stitutional rights and powers OF them all are lett
untouched by innovation, none have just right
10 complain of the legitimate checks which legis
lation may throw around them. To say that
legislative ageutS--by committees or otherwise
shall not control Disbursements. well as
"audit claims and vouchers is going IA very
long way on the road 10 unlimited power
and we never shall consent to such
restriction on the legislative rights o
the General Assembly. or its absolute power
to consider the prophet, of these expenditures
And on Il par with these modest requests. on the
part OF the minority, Is the no less modest one,
that in all investigating committees minority
member or members. .'shall have the right TO
crOss-ex anime the Witnesses" and ''all evidence
not thus taken shall be rejected, and declared To-
be no part of the r, cord Let Us see how that
/ programme would work In the first place, the
| minority members ALWAYS have the right. oil a
/ select or regular committee, To examine witnesses
or to cross examine them. and it not essential
for their protection that the House should declare
/ the privilege anew They always had and
always viii have. that power. No one ever re
MED it Ia them 1T this -esSion at any other ses
sion. They have the same right to examine wit
nesse~ that member of the majority has. and
h,y knee Then the request waS made But
suppose that the minority members OF an inv es
tigating committee should abSeHt themselves from
il, ehberaliOns->uppO>e tney should seceIe, a.
the minority did in the House-how theny Must
III the evidence. taken in their wuTut absence,
be rejected aud declared To be no part OF the
recorir' That would he cheip WAY of nullify-
Ing the action OF the committee, and even The
action of the House itself Ii would render
lie ,islation farce, and give to a handful of mem
bers supreme control the iny estigationS
which the Legislature might institute Tor the
protection of the property, the rights and the
liberties OF the people of Indiana. Crafty men
had IA hand in the above programme But il was
craft alone. There is neither wisdom nor states
manship in il; and the citizens of Indiana, Away
prompt To detect deception. will render right
eOus verdict against It's authors.
The majority OF the Committee of Thirteen
in the exercise of their duties. met the questions
at issue in different spirit. and, we will be par
donel for saying in a more straig forward man
ner. They submitted to the minority the follow
ing for their adoption:
The majority of the Committee, to whom was
referred the resolution OF the House, in regard
to the differences of opinion which prevails in this
body concerning the powers anu duties" of the
Governor, aud the status Of Indiana concerning
this war" have to report the minority that We
have come 10 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 COMPANY and resimenta officers
, An act 10 eniorce the 18th article of TN,
Constitution in relation To the entry OF free ne
gro - and mulaltOes contrary to the constitutions
prohibifio-
3 A specific appropriation of fifty thousant
dollars (ma,e one hundred thousand hy the Dem
ocI tic Committee on Ways aud Means, 10 b,
expended in the aid of sick and wounded sol
ders of Indiana, in such proper supplies ;h,
Government hospitals shall fail to furnish them
4 A joint resolution to Congress asking tn.
the pay OF private soldiers IN he army bc rdiseC
twenty five rer cent or say $40 per month. III,
present pay being shameiully inadequate to The
services performed. and that Il JOINT resolution
be passed forthwith. urging the Increase At til,
present. session of Congress. The same con-id-
eratOuS OF Justice and equity require that the pa
OF all officers above the rank of Captain shuTl1
be reduced from % 10 30 per cent. according :,
the present compensation the largest reduction
to amply To the highest salaries.
,. \ further revision of the militia law, b'
which some persons or persons shall be associate,
with the Governor Inv the distribution of arms 1,
the militia OF the State, IN orslcr 10 allay any ap
prehensions existing in regard Ia untai
f, or improper distribution Of the same
d Joint resolutions cOlElenning the policy o
compensation To- those who my mnnumit thel
, slaves, or the Taxation OF our people Tor suci
purpose; condemning all the legislation OF Con
2 gresS changing the character of his wIr into al
interference With the institutions of the Soulherl
States IN I a condemnation OF the proclaim tliOn
: of EN- ,ncipasion issued 10y President Lincol
on the 22d of September, lo62. and January LIST
2 1853
I The majority of this Committee favor sue
Just provision by law will secure to the sol
diers of Indiana the prompt recent of their paw
( which they regret 10 know has been withhei
from them heretofore. causing great suffering I
themselves and their families. and much com
D plant against the departments at W ishngtOu
charged with the duty of providing their hard
earned wages That the State OF Indiana. ii de
fault should again occur for considerabl
7 length Of time in these payments. wIli feel il &
be her duty Ia consider what her action should b
in tie premises. ana by proper AMI effective les
islation supply the default OF the Administrative
r by the payment of or gallant soldiers III tn
r field
5 That We favor a Joint resolution to Con
D vide by law for the payment ot the wages of pr