Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-03-10
GOV. moRToN's GREAT SPEECH,
Before the Republican State Con-
vention, Feb %, 1854.

|
best efforts in the future, he said that IN
times like the present. and in view oil the
great events whose issue depends on wise
deliberation and energetic action. men are
! to be considered as nothing and measures
everything. III any man. having been
, tried, is found incapable, inefficient or un-
faithful, he should be set aside. 1t we fail
in this great struggle, then all is lost III
the administration of National and State
Governments 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 IN
dependence of the Confederacy. then all
for which so much blood had 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 misapprehenled or mis-
understood, he had taken auch time as he
could gain from official duties and freqnr mt
illness to put in writing what he was about
to say. lie then read as follows:
coprEnuEAD ACTION IN THE LEGIsLATrEE.
The beginning Of the late session was
signalized in the House b. an act as alb
surd anil insulting as it was revolutionary.
The Constitution imposes the obliga-
Etion upon the Governor of communicating
with the legislature 10y messages from
time to time. and it imposes like obliSa-
tion upon the Legislature of receiving and
considering such messages. In discharge
of this obligation. the Governor sent his
semi-annual message to the Senate and
House. The Senate received the message
and ordered If to be printed. but the House
refused to receive it. and returned it to the
Governor, and passed q resolution receiv-
ing and adopting the message Of the Gov
ernor of New y ork. Laughter.
From such beginning it was not hard
to predict the end. The House had begnn
its Legislative course by wanton insult
to the Executive, by fragrant violation
OF the Constitution. which it had. but o
few hours before, sworn to support. The
revolutionary policy thus inausurated was
pursued with increasing violencc and open
) disregard OF Constitutional obligation
It's time was chiefly consumed by the in
PRODUCTION of dis'oyal resolutions, the ut
terance of factious and reasonable senti-
ments, intended to excite the people a.
, gainst the Government, and destroy lts
power to suppress the rebellion.
The necessary and legitimate subjects ol
legislation were disregafded or kept back
aside from an Appropriation for their owr
" per diem AID mileage, which was passed on
= She first day of the session. Every other
appropriation was absolutely Suppressed
until Friday, the last day but one of tht
session, when it was known that no quo
rum was presentin the House. Among
the appropriations which should have beer
made. at the beginning of the session were
First-A sufficient sun for the relief o
tr soldiers families.
: Spcond-A sun sufficient to relieve th
necessities and provide for the sick ant
> wounded soldiers in the field. r
Third-A sum sufficient TO pay the mil
itary cl aims whicll had been allowed b,
: the Auditing Committee. and about whc
there was no dispute. some Of them havinI
been standing for many mouths. nc,
sFourth-As sum sufficient to pay specia
surgeons for services and expenses. render
E ed by order of the Governor in the field.
Filth---A sum sufficient to, sustain an
continue the operations Ct the State Arse
. nal, it having been shown that the instl
z tuition had been profitable to the State
and of great service TO the State and Gov
ernmenL i WAS 81 30
Sixth-A sum sufficient to pay the off
GERS and men OF the Indiana Legion, fo
their services rendered in protecting th
border.
D. am informed by Mr. Branham. VIII
nd was a member of the Committee on Way
I aud Means, that he repeatedly urged o
: the Committee immediate action in thes
\ important matters, and also that bills az
on propriating money necessary for the sur
port and operation Of the State Govcrr
ment should be promptly brought forward
but every effort was unavailing. the legi.
r innate business of legislation was subord
= mated to the great purpose of the sessio
- Ito the grand scheme of the party Il
seizing the military power OF the State an
su Withdrawing the State from the support
the General Government in suppressin
:. the rebellion.
= Shortly after the October election
- 1862. it was given out by various Demt
= cratic politicians and papers that the l.
gion law would be repealed. and ne
.. law passed deprivins the Governor Of a
to control over State arms. and strippin
he him of ell military power whatever.
On the 18th day Of February militar
m bill was introduced by Bayless w. Ham
- Chairman of the. Military Committee
r. the House. in pursuance of the conspirat
= formed months before. 1t complete
overturned the Constitutional authority
the State. established a military provisio
=, al government, and placed all militia
power of the State in the hands Of the fo
= Democratic State officers. 1t will not
+ improper to make brief summary Of 4
led leading features of this remarkable mea
ure. sssa 'ss1 e. ssfrsk
First II provided that all the arr
should be placed in the custody Of the A
s ditor, Treasurer, Secretary and .Attorn
,sk General Of the State, to be kept. issued
disposed Of only by them ,t
Second. It deprived the Governor
IL II IL -