The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-05-04

conduct was characterized blythe most in.
tense hostility to the administration and
TO the prosecuting Of the war. ] sent my
message to the two Houses on the second
day Of the session. The Senate received
read and printed itin the usual way. The
House refused TO receive 1t and directed
the clerk TO return II 10 me, and on The
next day adopted resolution approving
the message OF Governor Seymour, o.
New York. The revolutionary policy
thus inaugurated was pushed with In
creased violence and open ,disregatd oi
Constitutional obligations. The time
was chiefly consumed by the introduction
OF disloyal resolutions, the utterances o.
factions and reasonable sentiments In.
tended TO excite the people against the
government and destroy It's power to sup.
press the rebellion.
On the 18th OF February bill was in.
troduced into the House which was in.
tended to strip me as Governor OF all
military power 10 the State. Il provided
that all arms should be placed In the
custody OF the Auditor, Treasurer, Sec.
retary and Acknowledgement Of the State,
to be kept or issued or disposed Of only
by them. 1t deprived the Governor Of
all power 10 call out the militia for any
pnrpose whatever. 1t provided that ail
officers Of the militia should be appoint-
ed and commissioned by these four State
officers, and not by the Governor, as re.
quired by the constitution Of the State.
1t provided for the repeal Of the exist.
Ing militia law, the dissolution Of all
the brigadcs, regiments and companies
formed under that law, the surrender
Of their arms, etc., into the hands
Of agents to be appointed by the
four state officers and rendered null
and void all outstanding commissions: ln
short this bill transferred 10 the four
state officers military power which was
vested in the Governorby the constitu-
tton, was revolutionary and unconstitu.
iional in every feature, and was intended
for disloyal purposes. The bill was or;
dered to be engrossed and read q third
time by strict party vote.
The Legislative history OF this bill
could not be better given than in the Ian:
guage employed by the Union members OF
the Legislature III their address 10 the
people OF the state rs follows
The military bill had come from q mid
night caucus TO The House and had been
printed and forced 10 its engroSsment
without the change OF aword or letter.
All the amendments and substitutes had
been voted down and all references TO
committees had been refused, although
every other bill Of a general character
that had gone to second reading had
been referred to some committee. The
previous question had been sustained,
thc gag applied and all debate cut of and
the 6iii engrossed. Nothing was left for
us but to sit by and see this infamous
measure passed, though the revolution
had been consummated and the civil war
begun, or quietly retire and leave
the House without quorum. There
was no other peaceful and constitutional
remedy. IF ii had been lef, to the courts
TO amend 1t, before the question could
have been determined, the law would
have done its work. The military power
once in the hands OF the eonspirators it
would be matter OF no importance what
the courts might decide, and ii the ques-
tion took the course OF others, before the
Supreme Court, it might be months or
wears before the decision was made.
The path OF duty was the path OF
safety, and we had, no doubt, no
hesitation aS 10 the course we should pur-
sue. We were willing and anxious and
repeatedly proposed TO a majority tolr
turn and pass an appropriation bill with
all other Legitimate and lawful Legis'
la,ion, but they replied TO US contemptllz
ously that they intended 70 pass every;
one OF the extra measures before they
took up the appropriation bills. The
military bill, violated absolutely no less
than seven plain and vital I:proyisionss
Of the State Constitution and subvertea
entirely the scheme Of the government
invented by the trainers Of fthat instru.
ment. LIS passage would have been an act
OF revolution inevitably attended by civil
war and collision with the government
Of the United States. . .-'at '-isi'.'
II had become manifest that the
Democratic members Of tie Legis.
lature were determined to pass the
bill at all hazards, which would un-
questionably have resulted in civil war.
/ could not and would not surrender my
powers as Governor under the COn.titu-
lion, nor could the government OF the
United States afford 10 have me do so, Tor
the purpose Of the proceeding was TO nell
tralize tho position OF Indiana 10 the war
and take her out of the line OF loyal
states northwest Of the Ohio river. The
yery tendency Of the bill and the avowed
purpose to pass 1t caused the most intense
torment. and at once threatened tho
peace and safety OF the State. l could
veto the bill, but simple majority could
pass it over the veto, 80 that would
amount to nothing. The Republicans
had barely enough members in the House
of Representatives to break quorum and
break up the Legislature. Consultations
were held with the Republican members
of the Legislature and leading Republic
can citizens from different parts Of the
State, who were summoned ior that
purpose, and It was the deliberate judg-
men, OF all, in whicl, mine fully con:
Cured, that the passage Of the bill would
involve the State in civil war. The Re.
publican members OF the House therefore
withdrew from the body to prevent the
final passage Of the bill. All the .appro.
priation bills 10 carry on tue State gov
ernment, except the one to pay the per
diem and mileage Of the members, had
been kept behind this military bill, SO
that when the Legislature adjourned
there were no appropriations made for
any civil or military purposes. There
was plenty Of money in the State treas.
ury, but It was locked against me. |
made an appeal to the people Of the State,
setting forth the situStion and asking
them 10 furnish me with money to carry
on the State government, to support
the military and. organize troops for the
United States. The County Courts in the
county Of Marion, in which the Capital Il
located, came forward aud advanced me
$4,000 out Of the County Treasury, This
example was followed by many other
counties in the State, by several banks,
railroad companies and individuals, till
a large sum Of money had been raised.
Under the Constitution the Legislature
met but once in two years, unless con-
yened in extra session by the Governor,
and the next session therefore would moi
begin till January, 1855. After obtain
ing all the money ! could from the