Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-09

i 10 Cong. Gl. D. 5. At the beginning western
men were told, this Is not an abolition war. Th'
President so said. So did Congress. They go
vast army-the most numerous that has beer
seen in modern times; and equipped IT at our ex
pense. They then manipulated the President NJ
to the point of SAYING proclaim freedom &c
the slaves; and now, stand upon the procla
NATION. And wonderful TO behold as he plays
his followers, even in the west, keep step to hi'
, music Blindly he leads, and blindly western
/ men follow. That is, he thinks he leads, but
/ lock closely and YOU will see his uncertain and
wayward steps pointed out by these extreme
men of the East. Notwithstanding all this, Lin
coins name is coupled with Morton's upon the
occasion of the nomination of the latter, who
stood forth and, in effect, proclaimed Great Is
Abraham the first, and am his High Priest in
Indiana 10 officia.e in carrying out his views,
whatever they may be, now or hereafter!
But TO return. On the first day of the session
each branch of the Legislature had passed the
usual resolution for the appointment of joint
committee TO wait on the Governor and inform
him that the two houses were organized and
ready 10 proceed TO business "and inquire OF
him when it will be convenient for him to deliver
his message to the General Assembly" Br.
Rep. 9. IL Jour. l6.
On the morning of the second dav of the ses-
sion, it was reported to the House that the Gov
ernor would deliver his message that afternoon.
House Journal, 29-Brev. Rep, %. Mr.. Nib
lack, in the afternoon, Democrat offered a
resolution inviting the Senate to repair TO the
Hall of the House instanter, TO hear the mes
sage. House Journal, 20. This resolution was
adopted by the Democratic House, and immedi-
ately sent to the Senate. and by the President, a
Democrat, laid before the Senate. He remarked
"By consent of the Senate, will direct a call OF
the roll of Senators for the purpose of seeing
whether there is quorum present or not, and
whether the Republican Senators will come in,
and 90 with us TO hear the Governor deliver his
annual message TO the General Assembly" To
this Mr.. Browne of Randolph Republican,
said: do not think they want to hear it, sir.
Thereupon the roll being called, there was not a
quorum present. Brew. Rep, l9. The Presi-
dent then communicated to the Speaker that cer-
tain Republican Senators, naming them, were
absent and because of the want of quorum
there was no Senate 10 meet the House. Brew.
Rep, 30.-House Journal, 81 In the House,
Mr.. Packard, Democrat, hereupon offered the
following resolution which was adopted "Re-
soiced, That the House of Representatives. by
committee of two of its members, wait on his
EXccllency, the Governor and saw to him that
owing to the Senate having no quorum, it is I'M
able to attend i'm the Hall of the House rs a
Senate and that as there is no General Assem-
bly, this day in session, the House is unable TO
say when it can have the pleasure of hearing the
message of the Governor of the State :" and
Branham and Packard were appointed said COM
mittce, tBrev. Rep, 80; III. Journal 32) and
communicated the resolution TO the Governor.
See remarks of the Speaker-Id; II. Jour. SO.
Now, on turning to the Constitution of the
State we will readily see the reason for this reso-
,ution. Section l, Art. !, provides that the
legislative authority of the State shall be vested
in the General Assembly. which shall consist of
S,nate and House of Representatives" l
Rev. Stat 1852, p. As. That is, the Senate and
House shall form and constitute the General
Assembly. So, also, as to the law-making power
of the United States. Art. l, sec. l, Q. S.
Const. Article 5, sec. Is, is that he (the Gov
crnor) shall, from time to time, give to the Gen
eraL Assembly information touching the condition
of the State, and recommend such measures as
ne shall Judge to be expedient."
Story, in his Commentaries on the United
States Constitution, vol. 2, chap. s, says:
This section involves fundamental rule, the exer-
c'se the legislative power by two distinct and inde
pendent branches
That is, neither the Senate nor the House
could alone pass law and send it TO the execu-
tive for approval, or otherwise put il in force
nor could one branch alone complete any legisla-
tive act As the section of the Constitution
quoted requires the Governor to give informa-
ton. not to the Senate nor to the House. but to
the General Assembly, it is evident that such plan
should be adopted as would bring the informa-
ton to the notice of both branches The uniform
usage had been for the Governor of Indiana TO
personally appear before the two Houses, in the
Hall of the House, and deliver TO them his an
nual message So far as the records show, it is
evident that until Governor Morton saw fit to
ansmt his communication TO each House, by
his Private Secretary, that department had no
thought of insulting" his highness. 1t is ex-
ceedingly doubtful whether, as legal question,
the House could receive the message in the alb
sence-hat Is, when informed that there was no,
Senate. This i the view the Speaker took OF
the constitutional question. and he was sustained
bv the House: for that body had taken the same
view in the adoption of the resolution last
quoted, and bv that resolution the Governor was
so informed. He did not heed the information,
but determined, in the absence of his friends
from the Senate 10 force the House to receive
his views of matters. House Jour, 80.
On the next day, being the third day of the
session. Mr.. Packard, from the committee, re-
ported that the Governor declined TO appear be-
fore the two houses in Joint convention-that the
duties enjoined on him had been performed; that
is, by sending by the hand Of his Secretary, as
above stated. Br Rep. 81.
This fired up tho House. II was considered
an act of discourtesy towards coordinate
branch of the Government, and the House. in
dered the Speaker to return the communication,
sent bv his Secretary, to the Governor, by a vote
of 81 to 32 See vote and debate in Br. Rep DID.
81. 32 33, and 34 H. Jour. 81. Let US examine
this question moment longer. The joint COM
mittee of the Senate 70 act with that of the
House, on the resolution of the latter, were
Brown of Wells and Browne of Randolph-Br
Rep Al, and were appointed on the fifth day OF
the session. On the next day they reported that
the Governor informed the committee that, as
there rcas not quorum present when his message
was sent in before, he now sends the message
and accompanying documents" Br. Rep. 81.
The point 10 which attention is called in this re-
port is that the Governor kBe,O there was no con
stituiional legislative BODY to receive his mes
sage when he went through the form of sending
it in. But having got in the wrong, he per
sisted in that path, so far as the House was con-
cerncd, but backed down to the Senate; and
whvl Because the Senate passed a concurrent
resolution white washing his highness. Br. Rep
DID. So, 50, so. The House failed 10 perform
that act, hut referred ;he resolution TO a com
mittoe. Il Jour. So far as they did whitcwash
they bestowed their labor, in that line, on Gov
ernor Seymour, of New York. Br Rep. p. 40
H Jour. 6s 90. This mortal offense 10
the functionary, Q. p. NJ, although the commit
tee reported they prevented from acting by
the absence of Republican members. II. Jour
/ 7l3 And so he refused 10 communicate will
thar BODY in the usual manner and now a yeal
afterwards follows them with maIice and false