, 1876-07-03
WILLIAMS, OF INDIANA.

Indianapolis Correspondence Cincinnati Gazette.
No man in Indiana has been SO much in publ
Life, and done so little worthy OF public record
rs the Hon. James D. Williams, the standard
bearer of Indiana Democracy. One searche.
the journals OF the House and Senate in vail
for positive declarations, or for affirmative votes
He is essentially negative man, and, with tht
exception Of the years Of the War, he has repre-
scented his constituents in the Legislature tt
very little PURPOSE
Mr.. Williams bitter prcjudlces against tht
Union cause forced him into show OF action
He was member Of the Legislature elected IL
1862, the Democrats carrying the State on tht
score OF antagonism to the inefficient prosecution
of the War under the leadership Of Mcclellan
and Buell.. When this General Assembly met,
Jan. s, 1868, there was decided Democratic
majority in both Houses, and every act OF that
majority during the scssionwas protest against
the too efficient prosecution Of the War by the
President, and the new leaders Of the army,
Hallecl1, Grant, and Rosecrans. Immediately
after the organization OF the Senate. Mr. Clay
pool offered the following:
WHEREAS, The suppression Of the Rebellion. the
restoration and preservation Of the Union Of all the
States /. the great and one paramount object OF all
loyal citizens; therefore, be 1t
HesoIced, Tint the members Of the Legislature
will vote for man for Office who is not in favor
OF vigorous prosecution Of the Var, and who is
State tr ase or States iron this Union ' - '
Messrs. Cobb, Wolfe, and James D. Williams,
at once took the floor to prevent { Votc on this
resolution, and finally, on motion OF Mr.. Will
Jams, it was referred to the Committee on Fed
eral Relations-a committee not then appointed.
Mr. Mansfield then offered resolution that
the Legislature would enter on no election OF
officers until after the foregoing resolution
Eshould be reported back to the Senate aud ncted
!on. To this objection was made. aud the reso-
: the party Of which Air. Williams was member
and i representative refused to make tealtr to
the Union condition Of public position Page
9, Browns Reports, 1861
Assembly the words Of the hero Of New Orleans,
A1nc Union, It must ind shall be preserved
was voted down by party vote, that Of A1r.
Williams being recorded with the majority. IF.
PERSECUTION or coLoRED PEOPLE,
Feb. u, Of that year QS5i, the Commit
tee on Education reported back the bill tS B.
No. 4O1 with an amendment, and when so
amended recommended that It pas. The
mon schools aI1 persons having 'sany'' negro
blood, instead OF limiting it to "onecshth, as
in the law The amendment was rejected, but
Mr.. Williams and nineteen Of his Democratic
associates voted Tor It; Y: l.s, b. H. 1851
Feb. 10, 1853, the Senate took up Mr.. Cobb's
1tfnt resolution demonstrating against the use
II colorsd soldiers in coerctng the Rebels Mr..
March moved to amend the preamble, which de-
cla1ed 'tl.at the people ot Indiana bad oyer
slavery" Mr.. Williams derisively asked,
q What WIS the expression On the 18th OF Octo-;
Der lastl' hlr. March replied that, while the:
people OF Indians werc gaiu.t interfering with!
Slavery III time OF peace, they had never said
they were not in favor Of using the colorcd peo-'
plc as instruments to cripple the Rebellion. The
al enlment was laid upou the table, Mr.. WILL
Jams voting with tue majority. The inatterwas
Senators denouneing the Emancipation Procla-
nation. and declaring that thor could in no way
assist to prosecute the War II co1ored people
we're to reap any advantage from 1t.
Mr. March then moyed TO strike out all utter
the enactlng clause, and insert, among other
things, s'thc State OF Indiana, without distinc-
1ion of party, still unwaycdng in her devotion
and attachment to the National Government,
again reitcratee her pledges Of fidelity to the
common cause, and With al her energies, ali
ler power, and al her means, will press Steadily
forward III. the War to pull down the Rebellion,
restore the Union aud the Constitution, with
the distinct understanding that the same Is not
for any scctsona, political, or anti
slavery purpose
t:That our Senators beinstructed and our Rep |
Tesentatives requested to vote for all laws lay-
ing the effect to tighten the labor, protect the
health, and save the lives OF white soldiers By /
employ Oy1ng gacclu0atea peIeON6 ol lTlcan descent |
wherever their services tan be made useful and |
SAFE"
One might think that this WIS well enough |
guarded to soften the hatred Of the hardest |
Butternut. But A1r. Williams did not think so,
and on motion Of Mr. Cobb to table the amend /
nent, he voted for It promptly, with twenty
three OF bis Democratic associates,
THE BLACKS uArB NO RIGHTS.
Senate bill 140, proriding for the absolute en-
torcement Of the thirteenth article Of the State
Constitution, which assumed that every colored
nan in Indiana was here Illegally, and should
be subjected to expensive and wor1isome litiga-
ion, was pressed with all the ingenuity and per
severance possessed by the leaders OF the Dem
,uatic majority. It. failed, however, On its final
passage, not having "a constitutional majoEity-
3ut the bill was afterKard taken up, reconsid-
red, and passed, Mr.. Williams voting for It, as