The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-03-21
From the Indianapolis Journal.


will satisfy the people that the presiding
officers OF the two Houses were not
mistaken when saying. in their valedic-
tories, that this had been emphatically
s. working session" 1t was composed,
too, in anlunusual degree, of sober, bust
ness men. and was more than equal to
the average of its predecessors in point
of ability. ez @~
We are satisfied tha. the Union party
of the State will find little to complain
of in the work of party character per
formed by its representatives in tho
General Assembly. Their selection of
officers TO be flied by the Legislature
was not only judicious, but, for all i'm
portant posts. men were chosen whose
services to the country had indicated
them as the proper recipients Of honors
at the hands OF the victorious Unionistss
of Indians. ~ .H
A Home for disabled soldiers was es-
tahlishcd and appropriations made sutii-
cient to render comfortable all the MAIN
ed veterans whose wounds ard necessi-
ties demand relief at the hands of the
State. An appropriation was also made
To continue the State Agency for the
collection OF back pay, bounties and pen.
sions due to Indiana soldiers. without
expense to them and very important
act was passed to protect soldiers of the
United States, and of the State against
either civil or criminal prosecutions for
acts committed during the war, by order
OF their superior officers and appro
priating money to enable the Governor
to assist in their defense against such
suits when brought. This Just and
wholesome law met the united and spite
full opposition of the Democratic mem
bers, and received the support of every.
Union member present when the vote
was taken The Democrats were lavish
OF lip. praise for the soldiers, but when
it was proposed to protect them against
the malicious prosecutions and perse-
cutions of the traitors of 1864, mis-
called Sons of Liberty. the Democratic
party was a unit in opposition to the
soldiers interest Thus did the rival
parties again illustrate the regard which
each entertains for the men who saved
the Republic from destruction at the
hands of rebels and traitors.
To this Legislature belongs the credit
of rescuing from neglect and contempt
two provisions Of the constitution, which
have, until now, been ignored since the
date of the adoption of that instrument,
LII 1901 w ItieT 70 tue appOIlIOuueub
of Senators and Renrasant" tSSacr; once
in six years; and tie establishment OF
a House of Refuge for Juvenile offenders
The constitution was u favorite produce
lion of the Democratic party of the
past, but Democratic Legislatures have
steadily ignored the last named requisi-
ton, imperative as it is in it's character,
and have repeatedly prevented the pas
sage of a constitutional apportionment
bill. by factious and revolutionary op-
position. That these tactics were not
at the late session. is due to
the fact that better class of men than
usual were sent TO tins body by the Dem
ocrsts. ami to the additional and impor-
amt consideration that the former defiant
aud lawless temper Of that party has
been tanned and toned down by the Sc
we're school of adversely through which
i has passed for the last six years.
For the first time since 1851, the State
las been divided into Cor rgressionai dis
.ricts, and into Senatorial and Represen-
.ative districts for legislative purposes,
1t the time prescribed by the Constitu-
ion; and for the first time in the history
If the State, provision has been made
or reform school, or house of refuge
or youthful offenders; by means Of
which, 1t may be reasonably hoped, many
boys. who would otherwise be-
come hardened in crime, may be re-
formed and made useful members Of so
:iety 1 sa - @fs* -
A registry law was also enacted, not
20 perfect. we fear, as it should be. but
is defects can be remedied by subse-
auent legislation, and as it was not in
any sense a party measure, but received
4 very general support from both par
ties, all will feel interested in making it
as efficient as possible in preserving the
purity Of the ballot box - j sva- sos
The financial legislation of the session
will commend itself TO popular approval
The rate of taxation for general pur-
poses was reduced twenty per cent and
the township library tax was abolished.
These reductions will lessen the State
taxes for this year about $500, 900 yet
it is conf lentiy believed that the levy j
provided for will be amply sufficient to
pay the ordinary expenses of the State
and the interest on the pub 1
lie debt. The State debt sinking fund
tax, and the school tax, remain as fixed
by the Legislature of 1865. The State ]
Icvies for the present, and next year,
will be: for general State purposes,
twenty cents on each hundred dollars OF
property, the same amount for I
the redemption Of the public debt, and
sixteen cents for the support Of common
schools making the whole. ffty-six
cents On each one hundred dollars,
against sixty-tw cents last year. The
full tax fer State purposes has also been.
reduced one fifth from the rate liked Tor
1856. A Law Was also passed TO subject
the stock of National banks 70 taxseaon
for State and county purposes, which
viii add large amount of property to
the tax list which has heretofore borne
no part of the burden of sustaining the I
State Government
The debt of the State to the old sink-.
ing fund, or as it viii henceforth be pop
niarfy known, the school fund, has been
and provision made for