The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-03-09
GOV. MORTON'S SPEECH,
y. At the Union State Convention.

Wa At the Union State Convention.
In introducing the written matter OF
his speech, after thanking the Conven-
ton for the honor done him, and declar-
ing his determination to make it the
pledge Of his best efforts in the future,
he said that, in times like the present,
and in view Of the great events whose is
sue depends on wise deliberation and
energetic action, men are to be consider
ed as nothing and measures everything.
II any man, having been tried, is found
incapable, inefficient or unfaithful, he
should be set aside. If we fail in this
great struggle, then all is lost. II the adj
ministration Of National and State Gov
ernment is placed in the hands Of men
who favor compromise and concession to
those in rebellion, which would carry with
it the ultimate recognition of the inde-
pendence Of the Confederacy, then all for
which SO much blood has been shed, and
so much treasure expended, the unity Of
the nation and her institutions, would be
lost forever.
1t seemed an appropriate occasion to
pass in review the political affairs Of the
State during the past two years, and as
he desired not to be Inexperienced or
misunderstood, he had taken such time
rs he could gain from official duties and
frequent illness to put in writing what he
was about to say. He then read as fol
lows:
CoPPERHEADs IN THE LEGISLATURE.
The beginning OF the late session was
signalized in the House by an act as alb
'surd and insulting as it was revolutiona-
ry.
ton upon the Governor of communica-
ting with the Legislature by message
from time to time, and it imposes a like
obligation upon the Legislature of re
ceiving and considering such messages
In discharge of this obligation, the Gov
ernor sent his semi-annual message to
the Senate and House. The Senate re-
ceived the message and ordered it to be
printed, but the House refused to receive
it, returned it to the Governor, and pas
sed n resolution receiving and adopting
the message Of the Governor Of New
York. Laughter.
From such beginning it was not hard
to predict the end. The House had be
gun its Legislative course by n wanton in
suit to the Executive, by a fragrant vio-
lation Of the Constitution, which it had,
but a few hours before, sworn to support
The revolutionary policy thus inaugura-
ted was pursued with increasing violence
and open disregard of Constitutional OBJ
legations. Its time was chiefly consu
med by the introduction of disloyal res
Olutions, the utterance of factious and
reasonable sentiments, intended to ex-
cite the people against the Government,
and destroy its power to suppress the re-
bellion.
L. o. H.,
OF legislation were disregarded or kept
back, aside from an appreciation for
their own per diem and mileage, which
was passed on the first day of the ses-
sion. Every other appropriation was
absolutely suppressed until Friday the
last day OF the session, when it was
known that no quorum was present in
the House. Among the appropriations
which should have been made at the be-
ginning Of the session were:
= First-A sufficient sum for the relief
Of soldiers families.
Second-A sum sufficient to relieve
the necessities and provide for the sick
and wounded soldiers in the field.
Third-A sum sufficient to pay the mil
itary claims which had been allowed by
the Auditing Committee, and about which
there was no dispute, some of them hav-
ing been standing for many months.
Fourth-A sum sufficient to pay spe-
cial surgeons for services and expenses,
rendered by order of the Governor, in
the field:
Fifth-A sum sufficient to sustain and
continue the operations of the State Ar
senal; it having been shown that that in
stitution had been profitable to the
State and Government.
7 Sixth--A sum sufficient to pay the Of
ficcrs and men of the Indiana Legion, for
their services rendered in protecting the
border.
am informed by Mr. Branham. who
was n member Of the Committee on
Ways and Means, that he repeatedly ur-
ged on the Committee immediate action
on these important matters, and also
that bills appropriating money necessary
for the support and operation of the
State Government should be promptly
brought toward, but every effort was un-
Ayailing; the legitimate business of leg
islation was subordinated to the great
purpose of the session-to the grand
scheme OF the party for seizing the mill
tary power Of the State, and withdrawing
the State from the support of the Gener-
al Government in -surpressiag the rebel
lion.
Shortly after the October election in
1862, it was given out by the various
Democratic politicians and papers that
the Legion law would be repealed. and
anew one passed depriving the Governor
of all control over the State arms, and
stripping him Of all military power what
ever
On the 18th day of February. milf
tary bill was introduced by Bayless W.
Hanna, Chairman of the Military Com
mittee in the House, in pursuance of the
conspiracy formed months before. 1t
completely over turned the Constitu-
tional authority Of the State. established
. military provisional government, and
placed all military power of the State in
the hands OF the four Democratic State
oficers. 1t will not be improper to
make q brief summary of the leading fea-
lures of this remarkable measure.
&FirstIt provided that all the arms
should be placed in the custody of the
Auditor, Treasurer, Secretary and At
torney General Of State to be kept, is
sued or disposed of only by them.
C>~cul II Iarrivo1 the Goy0rnOr of