Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-08-12

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to give that the men who had overturned
the Constitution would pause before the
decision of the CourtP
After the introduction OF the Bill as
suranees were given BY leading mem
bers of the majority in both Houses that
there was no occasion for alarm or ex-
citement. as the bill would not be passed
and had already been killed in the party
caucus Quieted by these assurances 1t
excited but little alarm ameng the Union
members until the 10Th day of Febru-
AIRY, 1863, when it was suddenly aad I'M
expectedly ordered to be engrossed by
strict party vote. This vose in parlis-
mentary proceedings is known to be the
test. The determination to pass the bill
was fully developed, and il became NOR
ally certain that'it would be carried
through both Houses and over the Gov
ernor' veto. Great excitement and in
dignation resulted at oucs from this ae-
ton, the Union members complaining
bitterly that they had been deceived, and
they determined that a solemn regard
for their duties and the safety OF the
State demanded that they should at once
arrest the progress of this deadly enc
my, which they did by Withdrawing from
the House and leaving IL without quo
rum. Nr. Mcdonald insists that this
action was premature and that the bill
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 dangerous experiments Union
members felt that they had come quite
as near to civil var and revolution as
they desired, and they we're aos willing
to be brought 70 the very edge of the
fearful precipics where By bold coup
ftaf they might be thrust over.
Mr. Mcdonald further insists that the
members Of the majority remained in
their seats until the end Of the session.
ready aud anxious to pass the necessary
appropriation bills II the Union mem-
bers would bat return
Here | must confront him again with
the record of bis friends, and plead it as
an absolute estoppel 10 his complaint
On the I'd day Of March, 1868, several
days after the Union members had with
drawn, Mr. Niblack, one Of the leaders
Of the majority in the House, declared:
" That he was opposed 10 eompromis,
Ing with traitors or secessionists North
or south. He was for Sighting accord
ing TO law first, and otherwise ii il be-
came necessary He therefore moved
that the Sergeaut-at-Arms be sent at
once after the delinquents.' LegislA-
tive Reports 1858, p. l92
Again be said.
Threats we're made that they should
not pass the bill, aRd they Determined TO
try the mettle Of the majority" Legs
laiive Report 1868, . 1913
Again, Messrs Priest, Niblck
others FOLLOWED, declaring thar n.
promise would be made with she nat
iiy. Legislative Reports 1868. 2UU I
Again, Mr. Packard. one Of tls- bad.
ers, # not the leader Of The m GRITTY.
said:
" We shall do nothing if the gentleman
from Delaware speaks By authority, for
We will press these measures We 1ifi
press them, and il rightfal legislation Is
defeated We will 20 back 20 our peonle.
and appealing 10 them, they will teach
this Executive, and the minority on this
floor now doing his bidding, what their
duties were Legislative Reports 1868,
p 1893 ]
From this record il clearly appears
that the majority not only refused to
give any guarantee that they would
abandon the Military Bill, bat expressly
declared that they had no comprotnise
to make, and that they would press this
fatal measure.
Had the Union members retained 10
their seats, they would have secured the
passage Of the Military Bill. and after
that, the passage OF Appropriation Bills.
or other legislation, would have been
quite immAterial And thus ended the
Legislature, which, for malgnah, fac.
iioB, reckless desperation, and defan,
disregard of all obligations, has no par
allel in the history Of legislative bodies
INTEREST as THE STATE DEBr.
There is another subject to which be
did not refer, but to which il is proper |
should call your attention. Shortly after
the Legislature adjourned, the State Off
cisl announced thatther was no appro-
priation under which the interest on the I
State debt could be paid This anuounc-
ment was bold step, and took every
body by surprise. The same laws we're
in operation which existed throughout
the administrations Of Whitcomb, Wright
and Willard, and under which the inter
est had been paid for more than twelve
years In 1857 the question having been
raised as to whether there was al exist
ing and continuing appropriation within
the meaning of the Constitution for the
payment OF interest, it vas snbni.tedto 10
my competitor, then Attorney General
This question he answered IN the alma
tive, giving ii az his opinian that there
was legal and continuing appropria-
ton for the payment Of interest "a the
State Debt This opiaiaa was in harmo-
NJ WITH :he practice since lS47, and was
undoubtedly correct But the question
was sprung upon me again hy The pres
eut State officers, far the purpose of com
pelliug me to call the Legislature to-
gether or FIX the stain of reputation
upon the State and blast her reputation
forever
The project of calling an extra ses-
sion was condemned by every supporter
of the Government and | have yet to
find aue who did not denouuee il as pow
erles. for good and fraught with danger
to the peace and honor of the State A
sham suit was gotten up fer the purpose
of obtaining the decision of the Supreme
Court, the history Of which have given
at length ia former speech and will
not here repeat. Suffice it to say tha, !
WAS able to defeat this wretched mac
alion By concluding an ayrEapea
with Messrs. Wins.oE, Lanier & c =
New YORK, to pay the interest and U an
tain the credit Of the State lnviolate.
SEVENTH NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. PLAT
FORM AID SYMPATHY FOR soLpIEss.
The Tth resolution IN the platform laid
down h7 the late so-ealled Democratic
convention. for cool audacity and conf
dent presumption in the forgeifulness
forgiveness Of The army, is 3 political
curiosity that shonld not pass unEoticed