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

The evening session opened with the singing of
"AsThousand Years, My Own Columbia" by the
Central Glee Club after which the chairman,
Hon. William Fl. English. on taking the chair,
spoke as follows:
HON. WILLIAM H. ENaLIsH's ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the Reunion: I thank you sin
cenely for assigning me the duty of presiding
over this meeting. and recognize that the So
Election is made, mainly. because / am the sur
viving presiding officer of the first Legislature
held under the present Constitution. perform
the duty with mingled feelings Of pleasure and
of pain which find it difficult to express-pleas-
ure In meeting again comrades of the third of
century ago. and pain at the realization of the
fact that so many have passed away, and that
4he others must speedily follow. l have never
80 fully realized tho shortness of life and the
transitory nature of all worldly honors and re-
sponsbities. as have since the call for this
reunion has developed that so many of my old
comrades are dead.
when remember all
The friends so linkd together,
I've around me fall
Lake leaves in wintry weather,
feel Ike
Who treads alone
Some banquet hall deserted,
Who's lights fled,
Whose garlands dead,
And all but he departed"
OF the little body of great men who formed
the first Constitution of Indiana, in 1916 all
have long since passed away, as have. also, be-
lieve, all the members of the first thirteen Gen
eral Assemblies of the State. l may be mis-
taken in this but if there be a surviving mem
Der of any Legislature of this State, held prior
to 1881, do not know it, and | have made dill
gent inquiry to ascertain.
The General Assembly which met in 1885 was
4he twentieth that had been held up to that date.
and the total of members elected would aggregate
thousands, and yet to day you could probably
count all who survive on the fingers of one hand.
Even including all the Legislatures up to 1910,
there are probably not over dozen surviving of
the thousands composing the TWENTY-FIVE Ieois-
3atures which had then been held Coming five
years further on. to 1915. would probably not in
crease the number to over twenty -five You
would doubtless like to know who these veneer
able and patriotic survivors are. To state some
thing of the personnel of the first General As
seWbly held under the present Constitution, ana
to give some account as to who are the survivors
OF the preceding Legislatures will be the object of
this address.
have already said that have not heard of
any one being alive who was member of any
Legislature of this State held prior to 1881
There may be. of course, and one of my objects
in making this address is to call out the facts as
they exist
may be mistaken, but I think that Hon.
Alexander c. Stevenson, who represented Put
nam county in the House of Representatives in
l65l-2, is the Only surviving member of that Leg
1siature, ana OF all the Legislatures back to the
organization of the State.
l next come to the General Assembly Of
1928.
have not been able to find that any member
Of that Legislature survives except John c.
Parker, then one of the representatives from the
county of Clarke.
My father was member of the Legislature
OF 1928, and also of 1884, and
have often heard him talk about the
sessions being held in the old court
house of Marion county, and also about who
sTere then members; but have been unable to
find that any of the Legislature of 1884 are
now alive. Daniel NJ. Bradbury was member
of shat Legislature from Wayne county, and
was taking much interest in this reunion but,
unfortunately, he died since the call was issued,
rs did also Senator George B, Walker, Of Cass
county, and Representative Thomas S. Stan
field, of st. Joseph county, showing how rapidly
these pioneers in the legislation of the State are
passing away.
I i now come TO the Legislature Of 1834-5.
have no knowledge of but one member Of that
body being alive. and that is my distinguished
friend, Col. Richard w. Thompson, whom am
sure you all delight to honor. Incidentally
will state fact in connection with this Legisla.
turs which may be Of interest as it illustrates
The wonderful progress the country has made
since that time 1t LIS that the record shows that