The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-03-10

votes, but In the Senate there was no
assurance that more than twenty
three votes could certainly be relied
upon in its favor. Every Democrat
in that body would have voted against
it. There were thirty Republican
Senators, one confined to his bed by
illness, with no hope of eve again
being up; three had already declared
themselves against the measure, and
three more who would not commit
themselves to it, either one way
or the other, but were understood to
be personally opposed to it.
Such was the state of things In
which the Republican majority of the
Legislature resolved to go straight
| forward in the discharge of duty,
which was to vote on the amendment,
leaving consequences 20 the people
and the future. The Republicans
were uncertain as to the result; the
Democrats were ignorant; the latter
determined to involve in ruin, rather
than comply with their solemn obli-
cations, so long as such compliance
might be in conflict with their per-
sonal and party prejudice. This is the
questionable virtue and patriotism
that nourished and developed, in its
power for evil, the late rebellion; it is
the political material beneath which
all free Governments have hereto
fore been buried, and a wise and
judicious people will look well to it
that the same means shall not be m
ployed for our overthrow which are
found mingled with the ruins of the
republics of former ages. But mex
eusably criminal are these men,, since
LII - ~E khA
Democratic party, that an amendment
to the Constitution, ratified by one
LIE gislature may be repealed by a
succeeding one. Ohio and New Jersey
acted in this way on the Fourteenth
Amendment, and these Indiana Demo-
Gratis should have had a like con-
fdence in the continuing wisdom of
their friends In the State. But our
Democrats were reckless in war, and
in peace would overwhelm US with
evils that we barely escaped in the
darkest hour of the Republic.
Little do they care that an unneces-
sary election must be held IN half the
counties of the State, at great ex-
pense to the counties, and std greater
loss to the thousands of people who
are thus called needlessly to the polls;
but they shamelessly. censure Gov
ernor Baker because he did not fix the
election for these faithless Senators
and Representatives on the day of
the April elections. They knew that
the appropriations heretofore made
all expire on the last of March. and
that, after that period, the Governor
would have 10 borrow money to meet
the current expenses or draw upon
funds in the Treasury In violation OF
law. They knew the evils, the Diff
c~ulties, the confusion, and the wrong
that would result from their factlous
course, and either with their eyes
wide open, or blinded by prejudice.
recklessly adopted and stubborDly
pursued it.
They profess a very great desire to
; refer this question to the people, when
} they know, or ought to know, that the
) people, in making and adopting the
: Constitution ofthe United States, au-
; thorized Congress to propose amend
/ ments to that instrument, and refer
them to the State Legislatures for rat
ification or rejection. They know, or
: ought to know, that the representa-
tives of the people IN Congress
, adopted this amendmendment in
| strict conformity to the Consti-
> tuition and the mode therein pre-
scribed, aud that it was properly GER
titled to the Governor of this State,
and by him faithfully submitted to
the servants of the people in the Gen
eral Assembly. All of this they
= knew; they knew their duty and did
r it not, but calumniate the majority in
the Legislature because they, too,
e would not, in a like faithless manner,
5 by agreement with them, abandon
D their post of duty and service. to en-
= gage in a worse than useless contest
over an exciting question, before the
S people, when the highest authority,
| that of the people speaking through
] the Constitution, had clothed the
E Legislature with power to dispose of
the matter.
How will it be when this special
t election is over, and a majority, per
: haps, of these men returned to the
|, Legislature? VIII they be any more
c likely to enter upon the discharge oil
t their duties with a greater degree oil
u fidelity than before? Or will the fact
+ of their endorsement by their cOnstit,
c uents make them more bold and de-
9 6ant than ever? If the speeches
It made at their meeting on Friday
II ulSht al UIOIiO DOilAau Hail. XIV any
p indication of their course at the com
ing special session, we have nothing
to hope beyond a repetition of the
n disgraceful scenes and more base be-
y trayal of public trusts we have so re-
IS Gently witnessed. We have nothing
to expect but a fresh abandon
/ ment of duty, a further postpone
Hent of needed legislation; additional
n expenditure uselessly incurred, the
0 return of the blind, the deaf and
dumb. and insane, to cherries homes
c aud still more cherries county jails
e The noble benevolence and charity OF
n the people may thus, by the inndelity
n of their public servants, be suddenly
) withheld from the inoffensive, the
e helpless, and those bereft of reason.
l Without means for the support of the
disabled soldier and his dependent
e child, their now happy Home will be
= compelled to refuse its shelter and
n comforts to those who sacrifice them
/ selves to secure for all the liberty and
n privileges which those Democratic
Senators and Representatives of the
/ people so ~shamefully abuse. Their
q poverty, wounds and helpless condi-
O ton, commend them to the gratitude
n of the nation; but those public serv-
y ants would turn them loose. without
IF home or food, rather than forego the
c opportunity of ~betraying the public
S trust in obedience to insane partisan
e prejudice.
# To stop the wheels of government,
to step thus between the sovereign
q