The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-18
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Representative Heffren's Bluffing Re-
ply to Gen. Reub. Williams.
The johnson Overstreet Contest-Important
Bills Observation-Disclosures Veterans
Visit the Legislature.
MR.. HFFFREN's RECORD.

written by General Reub. Williams, regard
ing Representative Heffren's record during
the war, which was not altogether compll-
mentary to the loyalty of the latter gentle
man. As a result of this, in the House yes
terday, Mr.. Heffren spoke to a question of
personal privilege. as follows:
Mr.. speaker-I arise to a question OF personal
privilege. | hold in my hands copy of this
mornings Journal, in which is an article enfi-
tied CATER Many Years" pnrporting 20 come
from the pen of General Reuben Williams, in the
Warsaw Times. All have to say at present is
that most of the article is tissue of falsehOOds
rs the public record will show. II is true that |
was arrested and confined in government
prison for thrty-fOur days: that was put upon
trial and DISCHARGED It is further true, but not
stared in said article. that afterward the Su-
preme Court of the United States decided that
the trial was illegal ana that the military COM
mission had no jurisdiction nor right to try me.
II is also true that majority of the justices OF
the Supreme Court were Republicans making
that decision. When was incarcerated only
weighed l 80 pounds, but that imprisonment so
ground the Democracy that was IN me, that 1t
permeated my whole system and gave me new
growth, until now tip the beam az 800 pounds.
If occasion requires, may 20 into the whole
matter, but at present have only to ask Cen
era Reuben Williams, the Indianapolis Journal,
and the Republican party generally: Surprising
all this to be true, "What are you going to do
nbout it3"
The speech was received with applause on
The Democratic side, as might
have been expected. A repre-
sentative of the Journal went to Mr..
Heffren. and offered him the use of its
columns for any statements he might desire
to make, but that gentleman said he had moth
ing to say further than that it was not very
becoming in q man of General Wlliams's
standing to tell what he knew was not true.
He said that it might be necessary for him to
rkn, ol,
implicate persons high in public esteem,
but he would not do so now. He had never
been Knight of the Golden Circle, but did
belong to the Sons of Liberty but quilted
them early in 1864 His appointment in the
army was unsolicited and unexpected. and
he was compelled to retire from the service
on account of a wound received. He re-
garded General Williams's attack on him as
uncalled for and full of misrepresentation.
THE JoHNsoN-ovERsTREET CONTEST.
1t became evident yesterday that the DEM
ocratic senators are determined to GUST Sena-
tor Overstreet, whose seat is contested by
R. NJ. Johnson, and that, too, without any
particular regard to the equities of the case
or the legal requirements. The papers in the
case were prepared in the usual FORM sent to
the Secretary of State, transmitted to the
elections. Since then. however, the con-
testor has filed an additional charge of bri-
berry, which took the same course, in spite,
however of formGl protest filed by Senator
Spann, In the discussion of the subject
Tuesday afternoon Senator McCulloch
offered a substitute for the pending motion,
empowering the committee on elections to
send for persons and papers to take testimony
regarding the bribery charge I'M
- si1es provisions of the consti-
tuition, bribery is not ground
for contest but for ineigiblity, and this
fact was brought to the notice of the
Senate by Senators Brown, Spann,
Graham and Others. In spite of this,
however, the McCGloch substitute was
adopted, after a discussion which
lasted all the morning. Senator Spann
then offered a resolution directing the COM
mittee on elections to investigate the bribery
charge apart from the contest, and report
upon it accordingly, SO that if it were sus-
tanned, the Senate could declare vacant the
seat occupied by Mr.. Overstreet This was
laid on the table by the Democratic majority
by party vote. Then Mr.. Spann offered
another resolution, directing the contestor to
make specific accusation in his bribery charge
and also to withdraw it from the committee
on elections, and refer it to the committee of
the whole Senate, its consideration being
made the special order for next Monday at 10
O'Clock A. NJ In support of his resolution,
Senator Spann, in behalf of Mr.. Overstreet
demanded full investigation of the charge
This resolution was also laid on the table by
party vote. These incidental proceedings
outline the policy that will be pursued by
the Democrats regarding this contest. That is,
Mr.. Overstreet must go.
CoURTEsIEs TO THE MEXICAN VETERANS.
The Mexican Veteran Association, in ses-
sim harn vnetarfiaX. .,ai1 vic; TO tb
Legislature yesterday the occasion being
characterized by appropriate speeches, and
an exchange of good feeling, They marched
into the House in body, the members ris-
ing to receive them preceded by their color
bearer and president, General NJ D. Manson
The latter was invited to the stand, and
Speaker Bynum welcomed him and his com
rades in q graceful manner General Man
son responded at some length his remarks
being frequently interrupted by applause
He thanked the Legislature for its resolu-
ton requesting Congress to pension the sur
vivors of the Mexican war, saying, however
what they desired was not the mere paw, but
hitting recognition of their services in
behalf OF their country. Major Cor
don followed in short address
which met with kindly reception, and Gov
arnor Porter, who happened in, was also
called for, and responded appropriately. On
motion OF Major Mulchey, Speaker Bynum
was made an honorary member OF the asso-
citation, and decorated with badge, and
after an appropriate resolution had been
adopted by the House, the veterans adjourned
to the Senate.
In the Senate they were gracefully re-
ecived by Lieutenant-governo Hanna, and
brief addresses were made by General Man
son, Major Gordon and Governor Porter. A
resolution of respect and recognition was
adopted on motion ex-senator Spann and the
Senate took recess of twenty minutes to ap-
propriately greet the veterans.
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
Mr. Heffren should have pension
What are you going to do about it?"-
Goss Tweed