The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-13
THIRTEENTH DIsTRICr.
INDIANA SENATORIAL STRUGGLES.
The Infamous Record Made by the Leaders
of Democracy in the Past

INDIANA SENATORIAL STRUGGLES
The Infamous Record Made by the Leaders
of Democracy in the Past
". 81. g.. in Cincinnati commercial Gazette.
Indiana, in her history a State. has had
three memorable senatorial contests in two of
which, at least, the Democrats won by chicanery
and fraud. The first was in 1872 when the
Legislature was evenly divided between the
Wings and the Democrats Oliver II. Smith
was the Wing candidate and Gen. Tilghman A.
toward the Democratic. Neither of the two
candidates could command the full vote of his
party. On the first ballot Mr.. Smith received
seventy-two votes and General Howard seventy
four, the others being divided between Hannegan
aud Marshall Six ballots taken, when
Mr Hannegan received seventy-six votes, and
was declared elected. Two men controlled the
election-Dayid Hoover. of Wayne county, and
Daniel Kelso, of Switzerland. They both had
been pledged for Smith.
The former was a Democrat, but had been
elected from Republican county the distinct
pledge that he would vote for Smith but he
violated the pledge, casting his vote for Hanne-
gan. Neither Hoover nor Kelso would vote for
Howard, and he withdrew from the race. Han
negan proved to be one of the most brilliant and
srratic men ever in the Senate. He was slave
to drink, and only served one term The defeat
of General Howard soured his whole afterlife,
and he became political misanthrope. In the
summer of. 1874 he appointed, by President
Tyler, charge d. affares to the Republic of Texas
but died within few days after reaching his
place of destination. Three years afterward his
remains we're brought home at the expense of
the State.
The second great contest occurred in 1845,
when the Democratic tactics of chicanery were
first developed in the State The Wings had a
majority of ten on joint ballot, but were cheated
out Of the senatorsnip The Senate was tie,
with Jesse ID. Bright as Leutenant-governor.
There was no United States law fixing the time
and manner of choosing United States Senators.
The rule in Indiana had been to do so by joint
convention of the houses of the General Assem-
BLY, it was the custom for the House to pass a
resolution inviting the Senate to meet in joint
convention on a certain hour, on a day named,
and specifying the object for which the conven-
ton was to be held This invitation would be
formally accepted, and the two houses would so
meet.
The House, which was Wing, by majority of
ten, passed the customary resolution of invita-
ton, time and again, but the Senate refused it,
By the casting vote Of the Lieutenant governor.
Joseph G. Marshall was the Wing candidate. but
Bright hoped by staving off an election for two
years. the Democrats would have majority and
he would be able to seize the prize for himself.
There was reason why the Senate should not
go into the election. but to aid the am bition OF
one demagogue the State was left for two years
without its representation in the United States
Senate, and the Wing majority defrauded of its
rights. Two years later the Legislature was
Democratic, and Bright was sent to the Senate
In 1856 was begun another great contest The
Senate, by the advantage given them by the
holdovers, was Democratic by two majority-the
House, however SO to ~ in favor of the opposi-
ton, As in 1916. the House sent resolution after
resolution to the Senate inviting it to meet in
Joint convention for the purpose of electing a
Senator, and for filling the various State offices
required to be filed by the General Assembly,
but the Senate, in revolutionary spirit, stead
tasty refused, and again the people were cheated
in the interest of Democracy. No election was
held. and for two years Jesse ID. Bright was the
only representative Indiana had In the Senate.
This time, Also JosephG Marshall was the can
didate of the opposition. He had thus been twice
defrauded out of his well earned in the
Senate. By the refusal TO go into convention
all the patronage was left in the hands of Demo
cratic. Governor.
In 1857 the Legislature was again Democratic,
but as it happened, while the House Demo
cratic, the Senate, by the changes In the hold
overs, was Republican by majority of four.
Two Senators were to be elected-one for the
vacancy made by the Democratic refusal to 60
into joint convention in 1855 and one to succeed
Mr.. Bright, whose term would expire the en-
suing 4th of March. The Republicans in the
Senate offered to 60 into an election by each
House voting separately. and claimed that they
were entitled to the seat out Of which they were
cheated two years before when they had car
ried the State by majority of $4,000, and had
fourteen majority joint ballot. This the
Democrats refused
The Constitution requires that the votes for
Governor and Lieutenantgovernor shall be
counted in the presence of both houses of the
Legislature and the Democrats determined to
spring trap on the Republicans in the joint
convention for counting the votes, and elect two
Senators. The Republicans held that the Con-
stitution OF the United States provided that
Senators should be elected by the Legislature.
and that the State Constitution defined the Leg
islature to be the Senate and House, and re-
aured ali of legislation by them to be
ceded to by majority of the entire member
ship to each, acting separately.
At the proper time the House sent to the SEN
ate a resolution inviting them to be present
to open and publish the returns of the cleo
ton. The Republicans offered to concur,
with the promise that the convention should ad-
iourn as soon as the votes were counted and the
newly elected officers sworn in. While this ques-
ton was pending, and before any vote was taken
on it, and half an hour before the time fixed in
the resolution. the Democratic Senators, led by
Lieutenant governor Willard, who was also the
GoVernorelect vacated their seats and repaired
TO the hall of the House, leaving the Senate still
in session. When they arrived in the House. the
Speaker called the sham convention to order
When the votes were counted, instead of ad.
ourning the presiding officer. without any mo-
ton having been made on the subject or any
vote taken, adjourned the convention till the I'd
day OF January. He gave no reason for this
action, but automatically assumed the right to
fix the Day The Democratic Senators then re-
turned to their own chamber Four days before
tho time fixed for the reassembling OF this sham
convention. the Senate passed resolution de-
nonncing the scheme and protesting against it..
When the day arrived for the reassembling of
the convention. the Democratic Senators again
left their seats while the Senate was in session,
nd repaired to the hall Of the House. but moth