The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-07

and the Legislature five. follows: w. Z. Nib
lack. who will next address yen, and Samuel ii.
Buskirk, James n Hannah, William F. Stewart
and Samuel B. Gookins, who are dead.
This Legislature also furnished Governor OF
the State. James D. Williams; Lieutenant
governor, Mahlon d. Manson; clerk of the
Supreme Court, William B. Beach; two Secre-
taries OF State, Norman Eddy and James S.
Athon two generals in the Union army, Slack
and Manson. and numerous other public officers
And there were strong men like Joseph P Mar
shall III that Legislature, who were the peers of
anybody, although never elected to high office
That it was an amiable body l know for |
presided over it one hundred days without ever
having an appeal taken from any of my de-
cisions. The record shows this and | do not know
of any like forbearance in the history of legisla
tive bodies.
We are indebted to this Legislature for substi-
tuting our present short forms of deeds and
other legal papers in place of the cumbersome
and intricate long forms which formerly pre-
vailed, and also for the enlargement of the
rights of women and a long list of useful re-
forms, which time alone prevents me from
enumerating. Certainly no Legislature ever did
l but repeat my own language, used at that
time, when | say that never have known the
members of any assembly to manifest stricter
integrity of purpose, more laborious application,
more gentlemanly department, or a greater de-
sire to promote the interests of the people" And
now, after the lapse of the third of a century. |
think it may be recorded as the settled judgment
Of the people of the State. and so go into his
tory that it was remarkable legislative body.
great in the ability and high character of its
members, as we'll as in the successful discharge
Of the exceedingly difficult and important duties
c0nfided to it.
Hon. W. E. Niblack and Hon. VIM. S. Hol-
man each followed giving review of the work
done by the Legislature Of 1872, both addresses
hoip avool1opt nd hnf Low NC off n.
point
HON. R. N. HUDsoN's ADDRESS.
The next speaker was the Hon. r. N. Hudson,
who made scholarly address. and one contain
ing critical estimates of a number of his dis
tinguished colleagues. Of Robert Dale Owen
he spoke as follows: "How earnest how persist
ent and how determined he was in the prosecu-
ton of any measure he advocated. He was giant
in debate-a prince in his treatment of
adversary-a gentleman all the time. With
what logical clearness he presented the argu-
ments in favor of his subject in hand. How he
marshaled the facts he intended to use in ad
vocacy Of his position and with what irresistible
force he reached his conclusions. have never
known, during all my life, more earnest honest
or conscientious legislator than the gentleman
from Posey This State owes much to Robert
Dale Owen and the men who voted with him. in
the adoption of his important bill changing the
laws of decent more important and neces-
sary measure never passed any Legislature in
this State With one bold disregard for prece-
dents and laws not based on justice, it declares
the common sense rights which should govern
the descent OF dead men IS property. and does alb
solute justice to the survivors. Keeping pace
with the advancing intelligence of the time, it
does justice to the widow and children
I'm the advocacy of this bill Mr.. Owen led in
the debate He was always equal to the occa-
sion; always threw additional light on the par
tlcular proposition under discussion; always
mastery in the presentation of his points, aud
always willing that every member of the House
should have ample time to present their objec
tons to the BILL l regard the debate on this
measure as perhaps the ablest which occurred
in the House during the entire session. 1t was
many days under discussion, and when it finally
passed, shall never forget the childish joy of
Mr.. Owen"
Continuing. he said:
Zone circumstance connected with the action
of the Senate during the session of 1872 inn
pressed intelf on my memory with peculiar in
tensity. 1t was the debate which occurred in
that body on the resolution inviting the great
hungarian patriot, Kossuth, to visit the State
1t was known that a difference of views existed
among the members the propriety of the
passage of those resolutions, and when the day
arrived for their consideration the members of
the House almost entirely left their seats and
repaired to the Senate chamber. There were
giants in the Senate at that time, and it was
understood the giants had been prepar-
ing for battle. The question was, shall the
Legislature of the State invite Kossuth and his
suite to become the guests of the State. There
were many circumstances surrounding the visit
of the great Hungarian to this country, at that
time, upon which there might seriously be diff
ference of opinion, and concerning which there
could be made q display of much historical and
political learning. Hence, the debate attracted
very widespread interest and the Senate
Chamber was crowded to overlooking to witness
it.
Joseph G. Marshall opened the debate Who
that has ever seen Joseph G. Marshall can forget
himl Standing over six feet high, broad shout
dered and erect. with a face all aglow with
his subject and his eyes sparkling with the fires
of genius, he looked every inch man. When
he arose the stiffness of death pervaded the
Senate chamber. Every member and every
spectator leaned forward to catch every word as
it dropped from his lips. He commenced slow.
and seemed to measure every sentence. He laid
down his leading proposition with the exact
measurement of a skilled logican. Not one
word was wanting and not sentence too
many. No skillful builder ever laid a more
secure foundation. There was no flaw or blem-
lsh Ill it, and when he warmed with his subject
his voice became sonorous and full, his whole
person alive with graceful action, and his
arguments fell like demolishing thunderbolts
all around him. His exordum, marshaling of
facts and conclusions, were mastery. He spoke
for about one hour, and when he concluded a
slight applause ran through the audience and
all eyes were turned to every part of the Senate
chamber to see who would dare take the floor in
reply. No seemed willing to take the other
side, and it began to look as though the resolu-
tions would be voted on without any further de-
bate. Had the question been put to the Senate
then, am of the opinion that Kossuth would
never have been invited to visit Indiana.
In seat adjoining and to the right of Mr..
Marshall sat the brilliant and impusive George
g. Dunn. 1t was not generally known on which
side of the resolutions ne would speak. After wait
ing, and other appearing DESTROYS to take
the floor. the Senator from Lawrence was recog
nized by the Chair. Although it seemed that
Mr. Marshall had left nothing unsaid which
ought to have been said against the resolutions,
still Mr.. Dunn dashed into the subject with all
the ardor and passion of one trained in public
debate He secured the most enrapt
attention of his hearers. He supplied every pos
sble argument which had not been exhausted
by his colleague, and threw brilliant ray of
light upon every historical fact to which he
referred. He was eloquent, logical mastery