The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-06-09
ADDRESS
OETHE
Union Members of the Legislature.

UHIUH ucuiDcrS VI tHc Legislature
To the People Of Indiana:
The committee appointed by the
Union members of the late General As
sembly beg leave to present the follow
ing statement of facts:
Immediately upon the oranization of
the General Assembly, we frankly told
the majority Of the House that we would
not interpose any factious opposition, or
break quorum, to prevent the election
of any officer required by law, nor to
prevent the passage of any law that did
not violate the Constitution, or was not
revolutionary in its character. We APP
pealed to them to remember the exam
pie of the party in power at the extra
session in 1861, and the bene6cient eff
fects of the course then pursued, in lay
ing aside party platforms and in oIgani-
zing both houses, by electing officers
without regard to party. We had sim
cerely hoped that such wise and patri-
otic course would have been followed by
the majority, and that we might have
had harmonious session. But, from
the first, the action of the majority indi-
Gated fixed determination to insult the
Executive of the State, deprive him of
all power, and sieze into their hands the
entire control of every department of the
State government.
RECEPTION OF THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
On the second day of the session, the
Governor, in accordance with the consti-
INT IF tIo ,1 @bo
the Federal and most of the State gov
ernments, 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
delivered to the General Assembly, and
two houses in joint convention. The
absurdity of this decision was so mani
fest, that he was compelled to retract it;
but, on the next day, the House returned
uments, on the ground that, at the pre-
else moment it was sent to the House,
the Senate was not in session, for want
of quorum, and consequently, there
was no General Assembly to which the
message could be delivered The posi-
ton taken by the House was, that there
was no General Assembly without each
house was in session at the same moment,
and that one house, during the temporary
adjournment of the other, had no power
to act This position was a legislative
absurdity, and was violated by the House
in the very act of returning to the Gov
ernor his message.
To make this action Of the majority
more ridiculous and inconsistent, if pos
sible, they voted an Endorsement and ac-
ceptance of the message of Governor
Seymour of New York, which had been
delivered to Que house only, the other
not being organized and, as if not sat
isfed with this exhibition of imbecility,
the Speaker, on the Sd day of March,
Just before the final adjournment, deci-
ded that the House, without quorum,
could receive the reports of committees,
and communications from the Senate
and Governor.
On the first day of the session, con-
trary to all former practice, the House
passed resolution to go into the cleo
ton of United States Senators on the
next day, at two o clock, that being the
day and hour fixed, by immemorial u.s.
age, for the delivery of the Governor S
message. This was wanton and foolish
insult to the Governor, and was so un-
derstood by all intelligent persons.
ACTION OF THE MAJORITY.
From the commencement of the ses-
sion until It's close, there were numerous
resolutions introduced, and referred to
committees, denouncing the war in un-
measured and vituperative terms. and
| IL o.. .-..d L iesIuenJ as tyrants;
declaring that no more men or money
should be given for the prosecution oi
the war; calling for peace conventions
at Nashville and Louisville and demand
ing of the President an armistice and
cessation of hostilties; and, if the Presi
dent declined to do this, that the States
in defiance of the General Government
acting independently, should bring about
a cessation of hostilities, and enter into
negotiations for peace and annexation
and providing for the appointment o
commissioners for that purpose. And a
no time did the ma ority show any dissent
or opposition to these reasonable propo
sitions; but, on the contrary, several o
the members boldly and dehantly in
formed the House that the " majorit.
understood themselves; that the,
would act together as one man., ant
that "they were band of brothers." al
of which was assented to, without tn
slightest protest from that side of tn
House; nor was there a resolution intro
duced on the part of the majority, durinI
the entire session, favoring the uneon
: ditional prosecution of the war and tn
5 unqualified restoration of the Union
! We ask, what stronger evidence coul
r there be of the sympathy of the majorit
with the enemies of our country2
J UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND REvoLUTIoNAR
MEASURES
d They brought forward number {
!. unconstitutional and revolutionary mea
o ures, which we will briefly notice
FIrSt-A bill creating an executiv
council, to consist of the Auditor, Trea
urer, Secretary, and Attorney General {
State, making the signatures of a majo