, 1872-12-26
THE INDIANA LEGISLATURE,
Sketches Of the Leaders Of the
House.
The Congressional and Legislative Ap.
portionment Bills.
List of Acts Passed by the Extra
Session..


Special Correspondence Of TIE Chicago Tribune.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. %, 1872.
The extra session Of the Legislature adjourn
ed yesterday sine die, the constitutional period
Of forty days hayirg expired. The aame body
however, will assemble in regular session On the
9Th day Of January, when they will sit sixty
days.
Before entering upon resume OF the worl
! accomplished by the session just closed, viii
give the readers OF TIE TRIBUNE brief sketch
Of a few Of the leading members Of the House
Of Representatives.
COLONEL y. x. EDWARDS
the Speaker OF the House, is one OF the bes1
and most favorably known politicians and par
liamentarians in the State. He has resided il
Terra Haute for q number Of years, and il
one OF the oldest and best attorneys in the Va
bash Valley, but has devoted most OF his time
during the past fifteen years, to the management
of the private business Of Chauncey Rose, Esq,
the venerable philanthropist and millionaire,
who will be remembered as the largest owner,
and for many years President, Of the Indianapo-
lis Terre Haute Railroad, now known as the
"Vanda1ia Line" Mr. Rose, like Colonel
Edwards, is q bachelor, and there has long
existed a strong personal attachment between
them. Colonel z. has previously served two
terms in the House, during one OF which he was,
as now, 60 Mr. Speaker" As presiding officer,
he has few equals, and has discharged his duties
during the present session in such a manner aa
to win encomiums from friends and foes alike,
being complimented by nnaniuous:vote, at the
close of the recess for the able and impartial
manner in which he had discharged the duties OF
his position. There is little doubt that he will
be reelected Speaker at the regular eession,
without opposition.
TIE HON. D. G. BRASHAM
is familiarity styled the sold Wheel-Horee." /"
He has served almost continuously in the House
for the past twenty years, being addressed,
during that long period, as "the gentleman
from Jefferson" He was Speaker during the
sessions Of 1867-'6s, and was for many sessions
Chairman OF the Committee on Ways and
Means. Mr. B. was candidate for Speaker OF
the present House, but was defeated in caucus,
and, according to the etiquette which has pre-
vailed here for number OF years. he should
have been appointed to the Craftsmanship OF the
Committee on Ways and Means but the Speaker
designated General Nathan Kimball for that po-
sition, with Mr.. Branham as second. Mr. B. was
alsr made Chairman OF the Joint Com
mittee on Public Buildings, as we'll as
Chairman OF the House Committees on the
Sinking Fund and on Benevolent and Scientific
institutions. He evidently was chagrined at not
being placed ut the head Of the Committee Of
Ways and Means, and early ovinced desire to
defeat any measure that his rival, General Kim
ball. manifested any interest in. This finally
drove him to oppose both the Legislative and
Congressional Apportionment bills, which he
did, championing tho Democracy Oh the floor,
and leading the opposition. During this debate,
he declared that hereafter he would be bound By
no caucus, and would act as his own Judgment
dictated. He failed to accomplish his purpose,
and, while voting against the Congressional bill,
be voted for the Legislative bill. He did not
care to take the responsibility Of separating
himself from his party.
Mr. Branham was for many years the Sup er-
intendeut Of the Madison d Indianapolis Rail-
road, but, for the past several years, has been
building the Indianapolis d Vincennes and the
Cairo & Vincennes Railroads, under . contract
from General Burnside. Although deprived the
advantages Of an early education, be is a man OF
strong will and decided talents, and is an effect
i've and able public speaker.
GENERAL NATHAN KnIBALL
the Chairman Of the Committee OF Ways and
Means, is tho acknowledged leader Of the ma
jority OF the House. Ho is native OF this State,
ia graduate Of Asbury University, at Green
castle, and physician by profession. He WAS I.
Captain IN the famous Second Indiana Regiment
during the Mexican War. This regiment WIS
commanded BY Colonel ". A. Bovles,
who WAS mora recently tried for trea-
son in this State, being one Of the
" Sons Of Liberty Conspirators," !" convicted by a
Military Commission, in 1864, and sentenced to
death, but whose sentence WAS commuted to i'm
prisonment for life by Andrew JOHNSON, and who
was afterwards released by the Supreme Court
of the United States. The Second Indiana Regi-
mont, it will be recollected acted badly at Buena
Vista, and we're reported for cowardice but the
facts afterwards proved that this disgrace was
caused by the cowardice Of Colonel Bowles, aud
that large part OF the regiment was rallied by
Captain Kimba1l and other officers, and fought
nobly to the end of that memorable engagement,
with other commands. After the close Of this
battle, Captain z. boldly denounced Colonel
Bowles for his cowardice; and for this he Was
arrested and tried by court martial, Of which
Colonel ". A. Richardson, Of Illinois, WAS Presi-
dent; ae he plead guilty, vas released after
ordered on duty with bis command. At the
breaking out Of the recent civil war, Captain
kimbal was appointed Colonel u tho Four
teenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served
through the three months campaign, after the
,lose Of which, he vas promoted to . Brigadier
General. He commanded at the Battle Of Win
,hester, and is the only Federal General who
s7er whipped stonewau Jackaon's command.
Ho made a brilliant record as q General, and WAS
rounded at fredericksburg, from the effects Of |
which injury he still suffers. In 1866, he was
elected Treasurer Of State, and reelected in
1868, going out in 1870. He is q good public |
speaker, and would be quite effective if he would
earn to condense his remarks into the limits
Usually allotted to public speakers. But, as |
member Of the House, be has been judicious in |
his respect: and his familiarity with the busi-
less of tho State made him q valuable member |
i that body. he is bitter partisan, and is |
disposed to hold the whip on all refractory men,
,ers with steady hand. |
WILLIAM BAXTER AND L. G. WALKER,
he members from Wayne, are gontlomon Of |
moro talent and influence than any who have
represented that county in the Legislature for
number of years. Mr. Walker is Chairman Of I
ho Judiciary Committee, and, although d young
majority. He is good lawyer aud a fair public
peaker.
William Baxter, the colleague Of Mr. Walker,
8, in many respects, the most remarkable mem
er Of the House. He is q Quaker, Of English
escent. and has never taken an active part in
o1itics until within the past few months. He
7as for many years the personal, political, and