Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-08-11

the bal could have been defeated by other
means, or at later stages; but the path of
safety was the path of duty. aud it was no
time to take desperate chances or try dan.
gerous experiments. The Union members
felt that they had come quite as near to
civil war and revolution as they desired.
aud they were not willing to be brought
to the edge of the fearfDl precipico whero
by bold coup d c.at they might be thrust
over.
Mr. Mcdonald further insists that ths
members of tho majority remained in their
seats until the end of the session, ready
AMI anxious to pass tho necessary appro-
pris,ion bills if the Union members would
but return.
Here must confront him again with tho
record Of his friends, and plead it as au
absolute esuoppel to his complaint. On
the 2 of March. 1868. several days after
the Union members had withdrawn. Mr..
Niblack. one of the leaders of the maiori-
ty in the House declared
That he was opposed to compromising
with traitors or secessionis.s North or
South. He was for fighting according to
law first. and otherwise il it became neces- =
sary. He therefore moved that the Ser
geant at Arms he scnt at once after the de-
linqucnt.." Legislative Reports 1853.
PIP. 1872
Again he sail: Threats were made that
they should not pass the bill. and they de-
termincd to try the mettle of the minori
ty" Legislative Report 1863. DID. l93. |
Again. Messrs. Priest. Niblack and 9TH
ers followed, declaring that no compro-
mise would be made with the minority"
Legislative Reports 1868, PIP. 200.
Again. Mr.. Packard. one Of the lead
ers. if not the lca!er of the majori,y sail:
owe shall do nothing if the gentleman
from Delaware speaks by authority. for
we will press these measures. JTIe sciX
press them. a. | il right(ul legislation is
defeated We will go back to our people,
and appealing to them they will teach this
Executive, and tho minority or this floor
doing now his bidding. what their duties
were"- L,s. r. 1863 page lo3.
From this record it clearly appears tha,
the majority not only refused to give any
guarantee that they would abandon the
Military Bill, but expressly declared that
they had no compromise to make, and that
they had no compromise to make. and
that they would press this fatal measure.
Had The Union members returned to
their seats. they would have secured the
passage OF the Military Bill. and after that
the passage OF tho Appropriation Bills, or
other legislation wonlI have been quite
imm lteriaI. And thus eniel the Lsgsla-
tire. which. for malignan. faction, reck-
less desperation and u defiant disregard of
all obligations. has no parallel in the his
tory of legislative bodies.
INTEREST ON THE STATE DEBT.
There is another subject to which he did
not refer. but to which it is proper I sho'd
call your attention. Shortly after the &C.
gisatule Adjourned. the State official an
nouncel that there was no appropriation
un Ter which the interest on the State deb.
could be paid. This announcement was
boil step, and took every body by surprise.
The same laws were in operation which
existed throughout the administrations of
Whitcomh. Wright AMI Willard, and un.
der which the interest hal been paid for
more than twelve years. La 1857 the aues-
ton having been raisei as to whether
there was an existing AMI continuing ap-
preparation within the meaning of the
Constitution for the payment of interest,
it was submitted to my competitor, then
Attorney General. This question he an
swered in the affirmative. giving it as his
opinion thst there was a legal and contin-
uing appropriation for the payment Of in
terest on the State Debt. This opinion
was in hatmony with the practice since
lS47, and was undoubtedly correct. But
the question was sprung upon me again
by the present State officers. for the pur-
pose of compelling me to call the Lesisla-
ture together or fix the stain of repudia-
ton upon the State and blast her reputs.
ton forever.
The project of calling an extra session
was condemned bv every supporter of the
Government. and [ have yet to find one
who did not denounce it as powerless for
good aud fraught with danger to the peace
anil honor Of the State. A sham suit was
gotten up for the purpose of obtaining the
decision Of tn. Supreme Conrt, the histo.
ry of which L have given at length in
former speech and will not here repeat
Suffice it to say that | was able to defeat
this wretched machination by concluding
an arrangement with Messrs. Winslow,
Lanier & Co, Of New York. to pay the in.
terest and maintain the credit Of the State
inviolate. al3 .5
SEVENTH RESOLUTION. DEMOCRATIC PLAT
FORM AND SYMPATHY FOR SOLDIERS.
The seventh resolution in the platform
laid down by the late So called Democrats
convention for cool aulacity and conf
den. preumption in the forgetfulness and
forgivins spirit Of the army. is political
curiosity which should not pass unnoticeJ.
1t is a love letter to the soldiers. from the
convention, assuring them of it's iistin-
guished consideration and profound graft
tude for their services. AMI earnestly hoping
that the country would suitably reward
them and provide for their families. We
shall be able to appreciate the essential
hypocrisy Of this anorous approach. by
briefly reviewing the history OF the poll
ticians composing that convention and the
men whom they represent. for the last three
years. They. and their political followers
throughout the Northern States, have
steadily denounced the war for its demor-
iizing tendenceis. and the dangers to re-