HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, February 12, 1861.On the motion of Mr. WOODHULL, (Mr. Speaker Allen being absent,) Mr. Bundy was called to the Chair:
HONORS TO THE PRESIDENT ELECT.
The SPEAKER laid before the House a letter from H. C. Lord, President of the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Railroad Co., extending an invitation to members to a free ride over said road to Cincinnati this day, and return to-morrow.
Mr. FRASIER moved that the invitation be accepted.
Mr. HOLCOMB would like to know what legitimate connection this ride could have with the legislation of the State of Indiana.
Mr. McLEAN proposed a substitute for Mr. Frasier's motion, respectfully declining the invitation.
Mr. PARRETT favored the substitute, not without regrets. But the session was so far spent, and we have so much to do, that it seemed to him, we hardly have the right as members of the Legislature to make this trip. He would remark that, while he felt like supporting the substitute, at the same time he believed he had moral courage enough to do almost anything he could both fight and die for the President elect, and the principles he represents-(consent)-yet he could not consent to the resolution offered by the gentleman from Kosciusko.
Mr. WOODHULL appreciated fthe feeling which had prompted the Railroad Company to tender this ride, but he considered that we came here for a different purpose from that of mere personal gratification. We came here to make laws; the session was already more than half gone, and he believed it would be a dereliction of duty on his part to accept the invitation.
Mr. ROBERTS. The object was to pay further respect to the President elect. He could not object to the partizan friends of Mr. Lincoln paying all the respect he deserves, and that belongs to his position; but he Bought the measure of respect extended to him by the body had been sufficient-that the President could not demand more. He considered it due to the people of the State to decline this invitation.
Mr. FRASIER had not any disposition to fight or die for anybody. But taking a trip to Cincinnati this afternoon and returning tomorrow morning, was a very different thing. He was satisfied we could accomplish about as much by going as by staying ; and if any gentlemen have conscientious scruples, he can stay here and fix up the business in committees.
Mr. DOBBINS, for one, was in rather a bad condition in the pocket, to accept this cordial offer of the railroad. He also considered it unnecessary to honor the President elect any further in this way.
Mr. ORR hoped the substitute for the motion would be adopted under the circumstances.
The substitute was adopted, and the invitation declined.
THE CRITTENDEN RESOLUTIONS.
Mr. DOBBINS presented the petition of A. I. Holmes and others, citizens of Fulton county, for the Legislature to instruct request our Senators and Representatives in Congress to use their influence and vote for the passage of the resolution known as the Crittenden Compromise; which was referred to the Committee of Thirteen.
ELECTIONS.
Mr. RAGAN, from the Committee on Elections, returned Mr. Dobbins's bill [110] to amend the 4th sec ion of the act in relation to special elections, reporting-Legislation inexpedient, and that the bill lie on the table.
The report was concurred in.
He also returned Mr. Turner's bill [90] and Mr. Kendrick's bill [125,] with Mr. Purrett's amendment, for a general system of registration of voters, and for the prevention of election frauds, with the expression of opinion that a registry law is not only inexpedient, but of doubtful constitutionality, and that further legislation for the prevention of election frauds is unnecessary. The committee recommend that these bills be indefinitely postponed.
On motion by Mr. NEBEKER, they were recommitted and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
ROADS.
Mr. RANDALL, from the Committee on Roads, returned Mr. Packard's bill [70.] supplemental to section 1 of the supervisors' act, with a recommendation that it be indefinitely postponed.
The report was concurred in.
NEW BILLS
Were introduced and passed to the second reading, viz:
Mr. Grover: [217] Supplemental to the act page: 210[View Page 210] of March 9; 1857, to repeal all laws in force for the incorporation of cities, and to provide for the incorporation of cities, &c.
Mr. Jones, of Wayne: [218] Legalizing the incorporation of towns under the act of June 11, 1852, for the incorporation of towns, defining their powers, &c.
Mr. Roberts: [219] To amend section 1 of the act of June 9, 1852, to amend .the 3d section of the act of Feb. 28, 1855, for the regulation of weights and measures.
Mr. Mutz: [220] To amend section 17 of the act of May 14, 1852, regulating descent and the apportionment of estates.
Mr. Jenkinson: [ 220 221 ] To extend the powers and duties of notaries public.
Mr. Williams: [222] To provide for the organization of life insurance companies.
Mr. Kendrick: [223] Authorizing any person, when necessary, to enter on the lands of another and cut or ditch ; and providing for the assessment of damages occasioned thereby.
Mr. Heffren : [224] To provide for the indexing of documents in the office of the Secretary of State, and appropriating money therefor.
Mr. Parrett: [225] To provide for notice to defendants in certain cases, and supplemental to the justices' act of June 9, 1852.
Mr. Lee: [226] To amend section 10 of the act fixing the times of holding the common pleas, &c., (Sullivan, Vigo and Parke.)
Mr. Veatch: [227] Suppplemental to the practice act, (relative to names on bonds, notes, bills, c.)
On the motion of Mr. ROBERTS and Mr. CAMERON, the House took a recess from 10 to 11:80 o'clock, to admit of the opportunity of witnessing the departure of the President elect.
AGENT OF STATE'S OFFICE.
On motion by Mr. ORR, (the order of business being suspended for the purpose,) the House took up the consideration of the Governor's message of the 21st of January, transmitting Mr. Commissioner Ray's report of his investigation of the office of the Agent of State in the city of New York. The report, and documents accompanying (which were not read,) were referred to the Committee on Public Expenditures.
A NATIONAL HOMESTEAD.
On motion by Mr. FISHER, (the order being further suspended,) the joint resolution of the Senate (S. J. R. 8,) instructing our Senators and requesting our Representatives in Congress to use their influence for the passage of a homestead bill, was taken up, considered and adopted-yeas 69, nays 4.
The Senate amendment, inserting the word "white" before the word "settler," to the House joint resolution, embracing the same matter with the above, with the resolution itself, was laid on the table.
The Senate joint resolution (S. J. R. 6,) proposing an amendment to article 8 of the Constitution, so as to enable townships and cities-to levy taxes for the support of common schools, coming up-
Mr. JENKINSON. The object was to get a set of schools in the towns and cities different from other common schools. He was opposed to that.
On motion of Mr. STOTSENBERG it referred to the Committee on Education.
The Senate joint resolution [12] proposing amendment to the 23d subdivision of the 4th article of the Constitution of the State to provide that cities, towns and townships may raise money for the support of common schools, coming up-it was referred to the Committee on Education.
The Senate joint resolution [13] to amend sec. 2, art. 2, of the Constitution, so as guard against fraudulent voting, on motion by Mr. McLean, was referred to the Committe on the Judiciary.
Sundry bills of the Senate numbered respectively, 77, 79, 16, 18, 26, 44, 56, were severally passed to the second reading.
WORK FOR COMMITTEES.
Mr. Bundy's bill [120] to amend the first section of the act concerning interest On money, coming up-
On motion of Mr. DAVIS, (there being a similar bill in the hands of the Committee of the whole House,) it was laid on the table.
Mr. Smith of Bartholomew's bill [145] to amend section 33 of the assessment act, was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. McLean's bill [147] to amend section. 68 of the general city corporation act, was referred to the Committee on Corporations.
Mr. Parrett's bill [148] limiting the time for prosecuting for crime, coming up-
Mr. McLEAN proposed to amend"amend by inserting 3 years as the statute of limitations, in place of 5 years."
On motion by Mr. ORR, the bill and proposed amendment were referred to the Committee on Rights and Privileges.
Mr. Jones of Tippecanoe's bill [149] to provide for the election of a Surveyor General, &c., coming up-
Mr. FRASIER made an ineffectual motion to print.
On motion of Mr. BRANHAM, it was referred to the Committee on County and Township Business.
Mr. Jones's bill [150] regulating the election and office of County Surveyor, coming up-
Mr. KNOWLTON proposed an amendment, which, without reading, was referred, with the bill, to the Committee on County and Township Business.
Mr. Prosser s bill [151] to create the 14th Judicial Circuit, was referred to the Committee on Organization of Courts.
Mr. Smtth of Bartholomew's bill [153] to re-establish the 2d Judicial Circuit, coming up-
