Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-08-16

claiming 10 be TIE L Dion party OF INDIANA " hal
secret consultations took place werenot disclosed
but on the next morning ihirty-sx Republican
members Of the House, in place of repairing to the
Representative Hall, took passage on the cars foT
Madison and never again returned until the
sion had expired by lnlitation-started South
they we're certainly OF the track 10 Dixie
Laughter and cheers
Gov Morton Gays this military bill was the
sum Of all iniquities | have never examined il
with much care as TO contrast IL with the Ia "
on the statute book which was placed there by
his friends in 1851 and 90 not know that it i
more iniquitOus than the present law he saws
that it took from the Governor all the powers OF
the commander of the military forces OF the
State. Well. the law under which he Is now act
ing not only gives him all bis power. but il goes
further, and authorizes him TO legislate, and add
TO il any provisions ne may see proper | doubt
not il suits him better than the bill which failed
% become "A Law The bill to which he
objects places the organizing power of the
military not in the hands Of the Governor.
but in the hands OF an Executive Council and
vested in the people the power TO elect all their
officers from Colonel down.
But, if it was in violation of the Cousti-
tuition of Indiana, what harm could it DO as long
as the courts existed to determine the constitu-
tionality of the lawr II II unconstitutional
il is not TO be presumed that the State courts
would enforcei l.
An unconstitutional law is void. and when pro
nOunced 80 is at an end. | wish 10 show you that
this bill which the friends of Gov. Morton de-
feated was used as a pretext to cover up their
revolutionary designs, for when they bolted, that
bill WIS virtually dead. IL had been engrossed
on the % h of February, ana vas left among the
unfinished business How stood the unfinished
business before that BODY at that time, There
a.. f..r.
could be reached So House bills. % that had
been engrossed but not reported. Il on second
reading, 33 Senate bills. Over 100 bills stood on
the calendar of the House to be acted upon be-
fore this military bill could tie reached, and bu;
ten days time remained To take it up out oi
its order required two-.hirds vote and unless
these men who broke quorum voted for it, could
not have been reached
In reply to this portion of my argument, in a
speech st Greencastle the Governor SAYS:
IL claimed there might have been other means
employed TO defeat the bill .
He knows there was. and by strict exercise OF
rule and law, by which this very bill, vi hiCh he
contends was revolutionary might have been de
feated What, then, was 1t that caused his
friends to boltT After they had remained sew
eral days away, delegation from the boiling
members. who were then at Madison, a. close 10
the realms of jeff Davis as thev could go in
safety, waited upon the Democratic majority
that still remained faithful to their post and pro
posed terms OF settlement That if the majority
would do so and so. they would come back and
pass certain bills necessary 20 carry on the State
government.
The propositions they submitted were ten il
n umber, the last of which was that the Demo
eats should pass no bill or joint resolution of
political character. Now, they demanded that
before they would return 10 their seats in the
House, aud pass these measures and take from
Governor Morton the terrible responsibility that
the Democrats should pass bill. joint
resolution, of political character. that is, that
thev should do nothing displessing to this mi
nority But it has been said that the Democrats
had not prepared their appropriation bill. Ii was
well known 70 Governor Morton that these mat
tiers were in active preparation, that the commit
tees were daily adding to the list such items OF
expenditures as were necessary, and would have
Ell it in good time, ii the minority bad been
in their places.
In these appropriation bills. in addition to pro-
viding for the interest upon the State dent, that
coupled so much of Gov. Morton's time. there
WAS an appropriation for the Executive mansion.
for the State Prison. North and South, for the
institution of the Deaf and Dumb. for the usii-
tuition OF the Blind for the institution OF the Ia
sane aud for the Military Contingent Fuui--for
much? One hundred thousand dollars One
hundred thousand dollars, for maintaining The
lndiaua Legion. and to provide meaas for our
defense upon the border
Why would not Republicans come up end
pass all these measuresI ! might tell you
why, because it required ;hat lLis 500 O10 should
be expended under the drecNop of the SecretaI
OF State. aud not under the control OF Governor
Morton. and therefore his friends would have
none OF it, This il the secret why these men,
when they found themselves at Madison, had 50
far receded from their duty 20 their State. and
would not come home
In their propositions they submitted one
the 6tth-that there should be liberal appropri
ations made, for the same purposes as the last
session. To be expended by tie Gouernor
Now, there i nothing in the COnsti
tuiOn OF the State that makes the Gov
ernor the purser OF the State OF In
diana. There i an administrative Government
by the Auditor and Treasurer Of State author
lied by the Constitution, and until Governor
Morton took into his the keeping of this
military contingent fund. il was through them
up TO that time that, these extraordinary expen-
had been met And why? These officers
were required TO give bond, and the Governor
gives none. But the Governor says after the
Legislature adjourned, he had to take one o.
three courses: first. to call extra session. sec
ond. to turn out the inmates OF the asviums: anC
third, TO procure money. lie said he decidel
not TO call extra session of the Legislature
He very correctly says that power vested 10 tht
Governor is one which is 10 be exercised viii
Que and proper discretion. UpoH that point he
and will not differ. but contend v hen there j,
failure OF the Legislature TO pass laws neces-
sary TO carry on the State Government. il is the
duty of the Executive, not 10 legislate himself
not to seize upon the powers OF the State Gov
ernment but to calf back the Legislative Assem-
bly, and place upon them the responsibility o
passing the necessary laws
But he says Governor Willard did just upoI
that sueiect as he did and | saw there ne di,
wrong. and | said go TO Gov Willard, actin.
as his le al advisor. | said there vas no law b'
which these asylums could be carried on. ant
! that, in my Judgment. II was his duty to recsi
I that Legislative Assembly, a = co ordinate
branch of the Government. to pass these neces.
sary laws But Governor Morton saws b
/ followed precedent set by Governor Willard
+ that one CO ordinate branch of the Governmen
/ NAV say whether another - worthy or not AT
determine whether the Others are 10 rus eli D
not saw such power a. that Is revolutionary
! Applause But he saws that when Gov VII
lard refused TO call the Legislature together.
joined in resolution requesting the Treasure
OF State 10 start these asslums, although con
trary % law. bat much did When | coul
/ not prevail upon Gov Willard 20 call the Legis
lature together. then did he has stated
subscribed nv name - that resolution. nnd TO.
Mr. Jones. the Treasurer OF State, thar If he acte
under il would stand by him before the next Lea
is!ature And nov Gov. Morton desire. "a max
] me rDnSible FOR The eyecufixa aeff.n ,f Gov