Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-01-25


his country engaged in great civil war"
] told my younger Democratic friends OF
tho commencement OF the war, that ii they
lived 10 be old men they would be pointed
out as tho Tories Of the Revolution were
pointed out in their day
But to the bill. The gentleman says 1t
10 unconstitutional. II he means that il
is opposed to the Constitution Of the State
OF Indiana, he is mistaken. Because the
Constitution Of Indiana says meabers
come here to attend TO the public bust
ness, and that we shall have but sixty
days. And the gentleman has taken an
oath to support that Constitution. The
bill prescribcs that il he fails to keep that
oath he shalt be punished
Mr.. CoRY Gntcrruptiug) said the
pcnaltyscould not be inflicted, because it
would affect tho constitutional rights of
members. f 81 tla 3
Mr.. HuaHEs. It deprives members Of
no constitutional right 80 49, s'a9
Mr.. CoRy., If the gentleman will put
it without tss emergency clause, | will
vote for the bill.
Mr.. HueuEs. No sir. That would be
TO make il so as not to apply to ourselves.
| will take the hazard OF violation. Ii is
not in conflict with the Constitution OF
Indiana, but it may conflict with the con-
stitution Of some men who are unwilling
TO do their duty But we have taken no
oath TO respect any constitution Of that
kind Now, sir, the mere fact that such a
speech has boen made, is an argument for
the BILL Twould have been the last man
TO get up on this hoor aud declare that the
Democratic party had formed deliberate
purpose TO break quorum, and announce
reason-becsus Of the apportionment
bill But the gentleman announced that
lie intended to break a quorum.
Mir. ConY Cinterruptiug) | in no way
declared such intention. argued that, if
it were right for one party, it would be for
another. | distinctly said | was not in
favor Of it.
Mr.. HUGnEs. / will not misreprescnt
the gentleman. Neither do | think any
commentary is necessary to prove that is
tho Whole drift of his speech and if he
does not understand his own elaborctely
written speech, suppose there is not one
Of bis party friends but does, The gen.
tleman has made the best speech he could
for the support Of this bill. lie has an
nounced that there is an organization here
to prevent legislation, unless it be control
led. And it is an organization that once
deservedly controlled the State, but has
now dwindled so as to accept for leaders
such us the gentleman who just addressed
the House.
He did not wish to consume time, but
there we're two or three points yet. 1t
was with surprise that he had heard it
charged that it was proposed to put this
bill through by extra parliamentary meaDs.
There was no such intention. lie had
Withdrawn the demand for the previous
question, to hear from the gentleman, with
the remark that he hoped it would not be
abused. And the House remembers that
the first words Of the gentleman was a
charge that the bill was to be put through
by extra parliamentary means--by means
honorable or dishonorable; aud il was al.
so pronounced revolutionary measure.
The gentleman from Franklin had paid
his respects to the gentleman from Jen-
nings Mr. Prather1 but that gentleman
was we'll able 20 defend himself. Then he
made a personal assault upon me- Then
that l was in favor OF destroying the state
governments in the South Now there are
many Republicans in favor of territorial
governments for the South. But il is well
known that | am opposed to that pariicu.
lar measure. But there is one thing upon
which all Republicans are agreed. We
arc willing to suppress all our differences
and not swing round the circle" till the
Union is restored. Laughter. Sir, We
are not ready before the grass is green up
on the graves Of our slaughtered men
before their bones that lie bleaching on
manyn battlefield are gathered and given
christian burial-before the weeds Of
mourning have disappeared from our land
we are not ready TO come together in
Democratic Convention. n Philadelphia
Convention. or any other Convention, with
men whose hands are red with the beat
blood of tho country. Aud he preferred
political association with Sumner or Wade,
or any other radical, to fellowship with
any bloody rebel or Northern coward.
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