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

Chair The difference between the appearance
OF the speaker and those who had preceded him
was very marked. He seemed to shrink from
the contest. He acted as though he distrusted
his ability to successfully sustain himself. He
appeared diffident and nervous. He blushed TO
redness and tremblingly faltered he said,
Mr. President The response came back from
the chair sharp quick and in earnest. The
Senator from Putnam
"All eyes were now conferred on Henry Secrest.
His opening sentences were disconnected, feeble
IL utterance, and gave evidence of his being
able to meet the powerful arguments of his OPP
ponents. His very difidence however, gained
him the sympathy of his hearers. The people
wanted the resolutions to pass Their sympa-
thies were in favor of the gallant Hungarians in
their heroic efforts to throw off the despotic rule
of the House of Hapsburg Secrest had the
masses with him, and that gave him courage. He
turned to the galleries, and they appauded. Still
he labored. and faltered as though ne could
not overcome the doubt of his ability to safely
carry him through. He knew that not only
the senator's, but the people of the State expected
much from him. Occasionally he would
finish well-rounded period, and invariably APP
plause came back from every part of the hall.
Taking courage from this, he steadily became
| more and more eloquent until, at last, fully
warmed to the subject he burst forth with such
torrent of historical facts and such a mastery
presentation of them, that he carried everything
before him. He seemed to have recoiected
every important fact, historical and political
which had been used by his adversaries, and
hurled them with the force of giant and the
keenness of two-edged sword. turning them to
his own advantage, and crushing out all oDposi-
ton to the resolutions
mo man ever lived in the State who had a
clearer head or could present his side of the
case with more clearness than Henry Secrest
His language though always plain, was the
purest Saxon. He had no imagination, and
but rarely INDUCED in orarory; but what
he knew, he knew we'll. What he saw. he saw
with great clearness, and marched step by step
to the conclusion, with irresistible and logical
precislon-ike a mountain torrent starting
| among weeds and brambles, and finding its way
around rocks and hills, it soon rushes over every
impeachment, and. defying all opposition, flows
through the valley clear and irresistible
stream.
coed thirty minutes, and when he took his seat
immense and continued applause burst from all
sides of the Senate chamber. The triumph was
complete. He had met the two most intellectual
men in the Senate and defeated them. His
friends and the friends of the resolutions rushed
around him, ana were profuse in their congratu-
lations 1t is needless to say the resolutions
passed by large majority"
HON. JOHN LYLE KING.
Introducing the speaker. NJ. English said:
s"The next gentleman to address ynn rADre-
sented Jefferson county ia the Indiana Legsla
ture of 1872 The only reason why he was not
subsequently elected to Congress, or some high
Indiana Office, is, no doubt, because he removed
from the State soon after that time. now in
troduce Hon. John Lyle King, of the city of
Chicago"
Mr.. King read extracts from diary kept by
him while member of the Legislature. His
reading, accompanied by explanatory remarks,
was brimful of humor, and was keenly appreci-
| ated by his colleagues to whom the by-play of
a third OF century ago was presented In glow
ing colors, and also to the audience, most of
WI nYnT oil nnlry fnd with
history of that period
HON. RICHARD W. THOMPSON.
Introducing the next speaker Mr.. English
said:
"a few remarks will now be made by gentle
man who a member of the Indiana Legsla-
ture of 1834-5, and is believed to be the only
member of that Legislature living. He is too
we'll and favorably known to require any further
Introduction. l. now introduce Col. Richard w.
Thompson
The ''old man eloquent" was received with
convincing expression of hearty appreciation.
His speech was short, but given in the clear and
ringing voice for which he is remarkable because
of his years He said it was not designed that
he should prepare anything for this occasion, for
the reason that he did not belong to
the age of the gentlemen who had been
speaking; that he had retired from legislative
life before they began. He did not like to make
q
in the power of the human will, and thought
it had great deal to do with our mental and
physical infirmities. Having the impression
that the will exercises great control over the
durability of life, he had made up his mind some
time ago that he would live until the beginning
of the next century. He said he had even tried
to conceal from himself the fact that he was an
old man. and had he not been placed in the posi-
ton in which he had been by the chairman Mr.
English) he might not have had to make the
concession.
Continuing. he said he was born just twenty
years after the formation of the national Con
stitution The chairman fancied that he was an
old man when narratlng that he had seen all
but the first five presidents of the United States
Il must" said the Colonel, 'be very old man.
| for have seen all but two Of the Presidents,
| Washington and the elder Adams. and have
| known all of them personally from John Quincy
| Adams down, except the present President,
| whom have seen and to whom have paid my
respects. Perhaps this makes me too old to
| speak of the things you are talking about to-
night | had retired from political life before
| you began to make this new Constitution. had
begun to think the old Constitution good enough.
But the hearts of the men who framed this Con
stitution were in the right place. and their heads
were sound"
The Colonel said he came to this State in 1921,
and graphically described the log cabin days and
the stern virtues of the fathers in the then
sparsely settled State, concluding his speech
| amid much applause.
ILuRllSu duHOuHCeu tHdt IHeF0 WOulu DS an
informal meeting to-day of such members as
might remain in the city, for the purpose of con-
sidering the matter of publication of biographical
| sketches etc. in some permanent form. He said
the meeting, as far as the public is concerned,
would now close. In the act of ad-
| journing the House OF Representatives of
the first Legislature under the present Constitu-
ton, his last and parting words to the members,
| from the Speakers chair, were these:
Let us separate band of brothers, each
one prepared to say of the other through the rest
of life He is my friend; served together in
the first Legislature under the new Constitu-
tion.n
These words are as appropriate to night as
they were the third of century ago, and so now,
with the consciousness that shall rot all ever
meet again on this earth, repeat, not only to the