The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-10-21


al an early moment tae siis ns Shieh bad rested
the law that il mesnly discim;natedi in rights OF
property against the wife and In favor OF the hus
band would he wiped out forever.
lou know, gentlemen how speedily II was &C.
comPilshed. and you Know too, gentlemen. how
R d eomps,fble the isw Of squal justice to
was found 10 DC With the harmony and happiness
OF the freside and the blessed eIsdesrments OF
need not tell you how promptly that General
Assembly substituted an enlightened system Of
pleading and practice in the cOrrts OF justice Tor
the learned .subtiities and rehnements OF the
But, gc1tiemeu. pardon me for referring to even
these tew measures OF reform when 30 many
equally valuable must pass without remark; but
ii these alone had been The work OF that Conven-
ton and that General Assembly those bodies
would be entitled TO place side by side with the
asSembiascs oi men that have greatly benefited
mankind.
Gentlemen, would gladly embelish these
poor remarks with the names 81 the men
once eloquent in support OF these reforms now
foreser silent Who lai,oTcd in the great work of
tlTis Convention or General Assembly with
yourselves but space viii NOT permit me TO name
all, aud il would DC invidious TO name some,
when al worked SO Well
The work you and yOhr associates accomplished.
gentlemen. IN Convention and General Assembly,
for the good OF our beloved State j. already cryS
talized into the granite OF enduring history The
people OF Indiana WILL in ages that are coming.
witness many notifications OF their political Sys-
TEN. In the ever-howing stream that bears on
with every swell of its tide. changes viii follow
each other in endless succession. Here in this
Capital. destined TO be for all time the great cen
merablc constitutions and codes of laws will
arise and be proclaimed, at times almost unbid-
den" full OF assurance OF continued improve
ment in government and in the condition OF those
who shall succeed N. Yet, gentlemen, in the
midst OF all this. some of the land
marks oi human progress you have
rights Nou have declared in the Constitution and
laws Oi that era OF reform. viii stand M secure
nFNfl- frrrf ia. Ia
Gentlemen. third of q century has elapsed
since yOUr work was finally completed and had
become the Constitution and laws al Indiana.
nder memorable law which no Convention or
General Assembly can suspend. modify or repeal.
sooner or later we reach the period when the for
ward Step is STAYED and the mind invOlllniarily
turns backward to see what has been accom-
plishcd. What good wrought Tor mankind. In
done which promised good 10 our fellowmcn,
will Tise up as Angels OF consolation with heal
ing on their wings, You viii then dwell. gentle
men. ON these reforms in Government in which
YOU each bore ~ important part and on the
kindly and humane spirit which YOU sought 10
iufuse into the rigid currents of law. These re
forms and the spirit that inspired them Will pass
in review
Courts OF justice and judicial ocedure released
from the arbitrary forms ana scrvitudc
ri the ieu'al age. and the law administered in
the spirit et Justice.
The husband and wife in rights OF
property. and in the courts of justice. equal he
fore the law, with the rights of the widow in the
deceased husbands estate, against all othcr>,
protected by humane provisions.
\ penal code founded ON the principles Oi re-
formation, and not ri Vindictiye Justice
Institutions Tor the care and education OF the
unfortunate. AsyumS Tor the miserable
The unfortunate debtor secure from impriSOn-
mcut, and with his wife aud children sheltered
nom oppression.
Political authority restricted To the limited
domain al government. and the taxing power at
least laid under partial restraint.
The purity OF the public service promoted by
inst and uruUpnf .lrnf - The of Oil
cisl tenure with prompt accountability Tor pub
lie trust.
The law making power protected 10y massive
barriers against improvident and corrupt lcgiSla-
ton.
And above all else a uniform system OF com
mon school wherein tuition j. without charge
and equally open Ia all; the pride aud glory OF
the state. while great people with happy aud
prosperous homes attest the wisdom ri these re-
forms in Government
am sure. gentlemen, this retrospect will bring
no sadness to the heart