The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-27
TIE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Senator Voorhees, Views the Spectacle Of
the Democratic Forty-Eight Majority. /
The Proposition to Abandon Work Upon Two
of the New Insane Hospitals Under Dis
cussion-The Metropolitan Police Bill.
SENATOR VOORHEES, VISIT.


His Address to the Members of the General
Assembly Yesterday Afternoon.
The Hobbies and galleries of the House were
crowded unusually yesterday afternoon, and
there were conspicuous among the visitors
several persons of public prominence. Joseph e.
Mcdonald and William Fl. English occupied seats
beside the Speaker Of the House, and Thomas
A. Hendricks sat modestly in the motley crowd
The members of the Senate filed into the hall
and distributed themselves about promiscu-
ously. A moment or two afterwards Daniel w.
voorhees,, 'the Tall Sycamore of the Wabash,
emerged from the courtroom behind the Speak
er's desk, and as he appeared before the assem-
bled Assembly there was ripple of applause.
He looked admirable and admiringly. He was
allowed moment of contemplation of the
spectacle of the 'forty eight majority" and the
regular order of legislative business was sus
pended for the purpose of hearing whatever he
might desire to say.
THE REMARKS OF Mr.. VOORHEES,.
Mr.. Voorhees, was presented to the Assembly
and he spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the General Assembly Of Indi-
ana and Ladies and Gentlemen: 1t was with no
purpose of interrupting your proceedings, except
for a few moments, that have called this after
noon to pay my respects to you. L did so earn
esfly desire to look upon this Legislature that L
could not Withstand the temptation to cross the
mountains to see you together / saw most OF you
singly during the recent canvass of the State. l
desire to renew our acquaintance, so pleasantly
made the time, and to embrace the opportu-
nifty toaexpress, as far as in the feeble power OF
words, the gratitude of my heart for your gen
erous confidence, manifested in your recent &C
ton have been now for a number OF years
one of the representatives of the State of Indi
ana in the highest representative position she
has to give.
can claim but one merit. and that believe
the people have granted-that is, that nave
aimed, under all circumstances, earnestly and
without evasion or reservation, to stand oy the
interests of the people of Indiana as under
stand them. In saying this can speak without
craftsmanship for | can appeal to the Searcher OF
our hearts that no man, woman or child or any
party, or of any complexion ofpolitics or religion,
or even of race Or color, has ever applied to me
for anything within my power to grant in the
way of assistance to which have failed to re-
spond TO the best of my ability. To my politi-
cal friends on this occasion tender my sincere
and heartfelt thanks; to my political OPP
ponents | have none but the best wishes
and the utmost kindness to express
The public man who expects to be successful
must at least be faithful 20 the people. / think
we are prone to underrate the perception or in
tellgence of the people. And how quickly they
understand whether man is in earnest upon their
side or not When this government was founded
greatquestion prevailing in the minds OF thou
sands OF men whether agovernment.o of the
people could stand; whethera government could
be based upon the intelligence and the virtue of
the people, unrcstrained by kingly authorityor
despotic power. 1t was a question yet unsolved
IN the history of men; but it has been solved in
favor of the theories of our great revolutionary
ancestors We have reached a period when it
behooves us to look closely for the issues which
will begin appearing; issues which involve the
power and right to the power on the one hand,
-s444e-e1sp pfete4Sions of corporate power-monop-
olists-upon the other. In contests like these I
shall stand, asI have heretofore, to the best of
my knowledge and ability, on the side of the
laboring masses OF the country In the
fields Of labor all the prosperity of this
Nation is involved. The laboring interests of the
country are to. be cared for; and when Iispeak
of theseI speak with not the slightest design of
arraying, even in thought, the interests of labor
and wealth, because in the business interests of
this country lies the prosperity of the laboring
man. The business interests of this country, in
the broadcast sense embracing finance, revenue
and all kindred interests, are connected init
amately with the prosperity of the laboring man;
and the wise man, the faithful man in public po
sition, is truest to his trust when he does not
make hostile issues between different classes of
industry and wealth, but tries to harmonic
them, and consequently increase the prosperity
of the country. / will not proceed into any ex-
tended remarks that might make upon these
and kindred thoughts. One word however, for
cur great aud glorious State. You have in
keeping here the interests of the greatest State,
according TO area and population, that lies under
the American flag. Indiana is not one of the
large States in territory-not one of the
large States in acreage or in square
miles-but she ranks alongside of those which are
the largest in the American Union In point of
Observation-Disclosures, agricultural products, manu-
featuring resources. and products as we'll as edu-
cational advantages, Indiana is second to no
State.
In the last thirty years she has made more
progress in educating her people, spent more
money per CAPITA according to the number Of
men, women and children in her territory, than
any other State in the Union, or any other com
Enonweath on the globe.
lam not, tatesright man, in the sense of
those who once believed that a State has right
20 break its relations with the Union. l never
held such thought in my breast: but at the
same time l have the skeenest possible State
pride iii the State that represent in the Senate
of the United States, and l appreciate the con-
tinued compliment which this great State has
bestowed upon me- Youare the lawmakers. you
legislate tor future wealth and future pros
rperity and happiness, and you have
wanted me to work with you in the seat of the
general government in doing my duty there. l
can only say that renew the vows that i took
npon myself when, something more than seven
years ago, took the oath of Office to serve these
people faithfully and well. Here in your pres
ence, now, renew these vows, that if life and
health are granted me by the benefcentsProyi
dence for the next six years shall serve the in
terests of this State faithfully and to the best of
my ability.
MR. MDoNALD's REMARKS.
At the conclusion OF the address of Seuator
Voorhees,, there were calls for Mr.. Mcdonald.
Who responded as follows:
Gentlemen of the Legislature of Indiana:
ianae here to join with you in paying our re-
spects to our distinguished senator-elect. and
not to undertake to address you. When Senator
Voorhees, referred toIndiana knew it would be
n cold Gay when Daniel w. Voorhees, could not
speak good word for Indiana. and it would he
acold day that | would not be willing to listen
70 him. not for a brief time, but for any length
lf time in discussing that subject i am glad,
fellow citizens, that Tiny fortunes have been cast
u this State, where have lived now for over
dfty.ive years and hope to live the balance of
my days One word may say in addition to
what Senator Voorhees, has, so well stated that
while Indiana is ona Of An .nAe4