The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-08-18
Governor Hendricks Speech.

as Governor OF the state, l recommended to
the Legislature that the Constitution should
be 80 amended that the general elections
shou ii taKe place in November instead of Oc-
tober. We WOald then vote on the same day
with most OF the other States, and avoid the
double election IN the Presidential year. For
many reasons thought the change desirable.
j ais recon- amended that a residence for a
sh II and fixed period In the voting Prectnct
should be made "A qualification On of the right TO
vote The voters would then come TO know
each other wnen meeting on election day.
The Legislature passed upon these PROPOSE
tions, but amended them by annexing condi-
tions requiring regist allon laws TO be passed
and maintained ! think that was untor
the Legislature what registry OF
the voters shall be made. A very large
s9Sy % 6n that fhRs Sose po4
them was had last April. A plurality was for
the amendments, but not msj0rity OF the
who voted at that election pom case tnat
came up from Floyd County the supreme
Court decided that the amendments had not
been adopted. Upon the question of law the
Dem ocraIic Judges were equally divided. and
the decision was pronounced by Judge Biddle,
who IL not q Democrat but Independent in
politics The Republican leaders have hoped
and IL bored to make political capital ont OF
that decision In that they VIII fail. The
Court is the proper tribunal, under our C0nsti-
tuition and laws, for the settlement of such
questions. In the cause of good and stable gov
ernment the people will sustain the Court. L
think the Court was right. Do you not think
soe Are you willing that our Constitution and
form of State Government shall be changed
by less than half the people? The Legislature,
that represents all the people, can not
put over any law except by vote OF ma
iOrlty Of all the members elected Or the 100
members of the House, full fifty one, and OF
the fifty senators, full twenty-six must vote
for a IaW before II can be over A full ma
jority of all the people, t9I ough their represen-
tatiVes, must assent before Il law can De MADE
or changed. Would you have the State Gov
ernmenJ itself liable to change by a less
expression of the will OF the people? Tne Con;
from any loss. Can that be changed by less
than half the people? By constitutional pro-
visions we are made serure in all our personal
and domestic rights Who demands mOdth-
cation unless full one half the people consent?
In the Constitution of the United States our
high importance of stability and perma.
nence OF Constitutional law. Tnat great
instrument can be amended only Dy Two,
the Legislatures of three-fourths OF the states.
No change in either the state or Federal Con-
mature Judgment and deliberate action of the
people. 1t is better that we bear, Tor while,
the Inconvenience of frequent elections rather
III proposed change Of government Is not OF
sufficient public interest to command the
approval OF at least ooe-half the voters, the
pressing. Take time Tor elaboration. = rfk =
OF Objectionable provisions. Allow the peo
pIe TO consider IL again. II then adopted II
will almost certainly be right. In this case
thousands of the people are afraid OF the regis
tration law. They have heard tnat In other
localities that Ia ~ is used as an instrument OF
fraud and corruption, and they would rather
not fmbed IL in the Constitution, but leave IL
20 Legislative discretion.
Fellow citizens, upon party platforms we
may be misled. They are sometimes adjusted
20 suit the tendency of public opinion rather
than to express the convictions OF their au-
thors. I think that was true OF the Chicago
platform. Bat we need not be misled II we
Carefully consider the opinions and conduct
of the candidates. What does General Gar
field nomination signify? Above and beyond
ali else il means the fndorsem ant and APPROX
al, in the most positive and offensive manner
possible, OF the Presidential fraud OF 1876 7. He
mad more to do with IL than any other man.
He is the only man VINO occupied toward IT
and in Ii double relation.
Immediately after the election he went 10
ew Orieans-not by virtue OF any law or
rightful public authority. but as aparty man.
General Grants request was without authori-
ty OF law. He went to assist his party
in making up the case. l say
he went for that purpose, because when there
he did that work. When his work was COM
pl ted in New Orleans he and his associates
returned TO Washington, and he alone, OF all
the men engaged IN making up the case, took
his seat upon the commission to decide IL.
What think you, gentle en-, OF man who
has formed his opinion who has indeed
helped TO prepar me en-, for trial; who has