The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-02

The Kind of . Man Who Il to Be Made Chief
Justice.

The Kin of q Man Who Il to Be Made Chief
Justice.
Bloomington (II.) Pantagraph.
The record of Mr.. Fuller, who has been nou-
mated by President Cleveland for the high Office
of Chief-justice of the United States may be of
interest to the loyal people of the country. Dur
ing the dark days of the rebellion, in the early
part OF 1863. the Democracy had control Of both
branches of the Legislature of Illinois, until it
was prorogued by Governor Yates, on the 10th
of June. 1863. Mr.. Fuller. of Chicago. was in
that famous Legislature as a member of the
House.
His record may be found in the House Journal
Of Illinois, 1868:
Jan. 5-Melville Fuller, sworn in as a member
Of the b use OF Representatives Hous Jour
Jan. bill for IAN act to make United
States leeal-tender treasury notes, and postage
currency receivable for taxes. and for redemp
ton from tax sales" passed. Yeas 70; nays, ?.
Mr.. +. voted in the negative.-Pp. &c, 67.
Jan. 7-Mr. Fuller introduced . bill. for
Gan act ~ratifyirg amendment to the Constitu-
ton Of the United Statea"-P. II.
1T will be remembered that on the I'd Of
March, 1861, just before the expiration of
Buchananis administration, Congress proposed,
as a peace Offering, an amendment to the Con.
%stitution known as the Ccrwin amendment, pro
hibiting Congress from abolisning o. inter-
fering with slavery 10 any State. And it will
also be remembered that Lincoln's final Procla-
A1ssA0o "a VINO iGoaCa VII luO .
of January, 1863. Hence the significance Of Mr..
Fuller's act and intent on the 7th Of January
1863
Feb. 12.-Later in the session. Feb. II, the
committee on federal relations submitted q bill
Tor 'An act r~atifyinR q certain amendment to
the Constitution of the United States" aud
recommended its passage. Tbereupon Mr.
Lawrence submitted the blowing minority re-
port, and moved to substitute the same for the
report of the committee: 1.-THE minority of the
committee on federal relations. to whom was
referred a bill for An act ~ratifying an amend
mont OF the Constitution OF the United States
beg leave to report that while no portion of the
people of the United States were in actual
armed rebellion against the authority thereof,
we, with the entire people Of the loyal North,
were willing TO amend tho federal Constitution.
a. q peace Offering, but since this proposition
was scorufuliy rejected by the people now Ia re-
bellion, and they have made their appeal TO force,
to effect a separation. of the States Of the Union.
We believe the passage of the act referred to
your committee would be degrading to the peo-
pie of the State of Illinois, State which has
sent l40. 900 Of her sons to crush the rebellion
and would expose us to the contempt Of the civil
liked world" The minority thereup-
on recommend that the ~enacting clause bs
stricken out. II was decided ia the negative.
the bill. The bill was passed.-Pp. $50, 535.
Jan. 6-Mr. Fuller submitted the following
resolution:
Resolved, That we are profoundly convinced Of the
truth of the declaration of General Jackson. in his
farewell address. that 1.-The Constitution cannot be
maintained nor the Union preserved in opposition to
public feeling. by the mere exertion or coercive DOW.
ers of the government the foundations must be laid
in the affections of the people, in the security it gives
70 life, liberty and property in every quarter Of the
country. and in the ~fraternal attachment which the
citizens of the United States bear to one another. "a
members of one political family. materially contrib
uting TO promote the happiness of each Other. "--P.
rs.
Jan. s-wiliam O'Brieu offered the follow
ing resolutions:
Resolved. That the administration has broken ;ts
faith. violated its repeated pledges. deceived the peo-
pie, betrayed the army. and ha- almost succeeded IN
making the restoration of the Union q hopeless i'm
possibility.
Resolved, That the ~proclamations Of Abraham Lin
eoln, issued, respectively. Sept. %, 1862 and Jan.
1. 1868. proposing TO give freedom to the slaves of
the Southern States on said LIST day of January.
1863. are alike unconstitutional, contrary to the
rules aud usages of civilized warfare, calculated TO
bring shame, disgrace and eternal infarny upon the
hitherto unsullied flag of the Republic, and that iii.
nois, ever ready and willing TO battle for the Union
and the Constitution, will protest against any war
which has for its object the execution or enforcement
of said p~roclamations
Mr.. Brentano offered the following substitute:
Resolved. That the proclamation issued by Abra'
ham Lincoln. President Of the United States, on the
22d OF September. 1862. and the supplementary
proclamation issued on the LIST Of January, 1908.
viii inaugurats . most important epoch IN American
history; that this proclamation. whsn Tigidly snforeeds
VIII deprive the rebels Of thar principal element IN
support Of this infamous rebellion; that r. almo ab0V