HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY, January 12, 1861.The House met at 9 o'clock.
THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
The SPEAKER laid before the House the message of His Excellency Governor Hammond.
Mr. McLEAN moved that it lie on, the table, and that 500 copies be printed for the use of members of the House.
Mr. HEFFREN suggested to include the accompanying documents; which was accepted, and so the resolution was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. BRUCKER, it was ordered that 200 copies of the Message be printed in the German language.
Mr. JONES, of Vermillion, asked and obtained leave to withdraw the report of the Committee on Stationery.
NEWSPAPERS.
The SPEAKER stated that in the order of unfinished business was the consideration of Mr. Robbins' resolution to order newspapers.
Mr. HEFFREN moved to refer it to a select committee of five.
Mr. ROBBINS preferred to adopt the resolution without the intervention of a committee, that members might have the papers immediately.
Mr. HEFFREN. The very reason he moved to refer it to a committee was that, Monday they will have their report ready for action, and it may be adopted at once. Without a committee, two or three days were commonly spent in talking over the matter, and it usually wound up in taking all the newspapers. He would also add o his motion, that the committee inquire as to the terms on which the newspapers will be delivered.
NORTHERN PENITENTIARY.
The SPEAKER announced the select Committee on the Northern Penitentiary, namely, Messrs. Jenkinson, Bingham, Heffren, Burgess, Breck, McLean and Haworthseven instead of five,by request of Mr. Jenkinson.
DOCUMENTS.
Mr. HEFFREN submitted a resolution, which was adopted, directing the Doorkeeper to obtain from the Secretary of State all the Documents published by law for general distribution, and lay the pro rata share of each member on the desk of the same.
JOINT CONVENTION FOR THE GOVERNOR'S INAUGURATION.
Mr. VEATCH submitted a resolution, which was adopted, inviting the Senate into joint convention with the House of Representatives in this Hall, next Monday at 2 o'clock p. m., far the purpose of comparing the election returns of Governor and Lieut. Governor.
POSTAGE.
Mr. FRAZIER submitted a resolution, which was adopted, directing the Doorkeeper page: 28[View Page 28]to cause three dollars worth of postage stamps to be placed in the possession of each member of this House.
Mr. WILLIAMS made an ineffectual motion to take up the Governor's Message, to enable him to move to refer its consideration to a committee of the Whole House next Tuesday, at 2 o'clock P. M.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr. CAMERON. (H. R. 3,) To amend the 15th section of the act of 1859 to fix the times of holding the Common Pleas Courts in the several counties of this State, &c., so as to provide for the holding of the Common Pleas Court in the county of Newton:
By Mr. McLEAN. (H. R. 4,) To amend sections 70 and 91 of the act to provide for the valuation and assessment of real and personal property in the State of Indiana; for the election of township assessors, and prescribing the duties of assessors, appraisers of real property, collectors, county treasurers and auditors, and the Treasurer and Auditor of State; approved June 21, 1852:
By Mr. JENKINSON. (II. R, 5,) To repeal the power of the Board of County Commissioners in the assessment and collection of taxes:
By Mr. ROBERTS. (H. R. 6.) To amend section 1 of the act to provide for the election of Electors for President and Vice President of the United States. Approved May 20, 1852:
By Mr. WOODHULL. (H. R. 7,) To amend the 13th section of the act defining misdemeanors, and prescribing punishment therefor; approved June 14, 1852:
By Mr. NEBEKER. (H. R. 8,) To provide for the allowance of the clerks of the Circuit and Common Pleas Courts, and the Sheriffs of the several counties for extra services, and repeal all laws inconsistent therewith:
By Mr. EDSON. (H. R. 9,) To amend section 148 of the act providing for the settlement of decedents' estates, prescribing the rights, liabilities and duties of officers and other persons connected with the management thereof, and the heirs thereto. &c.; approved June 17, 1852:
Which were severally read the first time, and ordered to the second reading.
STATE OF THE UNION.
Mr. JENKINSON submitted the following, (Joint Resolution No. 2,) and asked for its consideration:
WHEREAS, The steamer Star of the West, bearing the Stars and stripes of our common country, and freighted with a reinforcement cf men and supplies for the relief of the gallant Anderson, at Fort Sumter, when in the peaceful pursuit of her object, has been fired into by a mob of lawless men at Morris Island, in the State of South Carolina.
SEC. 1. Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That our Senators in Congress be instructed, and our Representatives be requested to vote such supplies, both of men and money, and give the Executive Department of the General Government full power to arrest and punish the traitors that, with fratricidal hand, have dared to strike the flag of our glorious Union.
The SPEAKER decided that the joint resolution must go to the Committee of Thirteen.
Mr. JENKINSON said he desired our members of Congress to know how the State of Indiana stands on this question; that they should know it at once; that the first telegraphie dispatches hence should show that Indiana was all right. The man that strikes our flag should be struck himself. This resolution did not belong to the Committee of Thirteen. It was not a resolution for pacification-not a measure of peace, but of self-preservation and self-defence.
Mr. PROSSER would suggest to the gentle man whether it would not be better that his joint resolution lie over till the Committee of Thirteen shall report. As it was desirable get along peacefully in this matter, the better plan would be not to strike first. The gentleman's view were not in accordance with the good book. He suported the decision of the Chair.
Mr. NEBEKER. With all due respect for the gentleman from Brown, I call him to order. The matter is to be referred without debate.
Mr. PROSSER was through, but had been in order on the point taken by the Speaker.
Mr. JENKINSON was not a Christian as he could wish to be; felt that if a man struck him, he must strike back; must resent an insult wherever given, even if it were in the Court of Heaven itself. All speech and language were futile, idle, in such a case as this. Let our action show to the world that we stand by the flag of our country, and that the man who strikes at it does so at his peril. His sympathies were with his friends at the South, but not with those who wanted to re-open the slave trade, and to make direct trade with Europe.
Mr. HEFFREN did not think this a measure of peace. It was to get up a fight, and he did not want to fight. He had enough of that in the other Hall the last session. [Laughter.]
Mr. JENKINSON. The act he would punish was not war; it was the act of a mob.
The SPEAKER. The Chair decides that the matter goes to the Committee of Thirteen.
Mr. NEBEKER. Then it should go there without debate.
GAVIN AND HORD'S STATUTES.
Mr. HEFFREN. Understanding the Chair yesterday to state that the Doorkeeper had not been able to supply the House with the Revised Statutes, he submitted a resolution, which was adopted, for a committee of five to confer with Gavin and Hord, and ascertain upon what terms the first volume of their statutes can be furnished.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr. KENDRICK. [H. R. 10.] Authorizing county libraries to loan certain funds, and regulating the same:
By Mr. WILLIAMS. (H. R. ll.] Providing for rebuilding and repairing division fences along the lines of railroads:
page: 29[View Page 29]By Mr. HOLCOMB. [H. R. 12.] To amend the third section of the act to establish the Court of Common Pleas, defining its jurisdiction and providing for the compensation of the judges thereof:
By Mr. Speaker ALLEN, (Mr. Sherman in the Chair.) [H. R. 13.] Making provision for the refunding of license money illegally collected under the act approved June 15. 1852:
By Mr. PACKARD. [H. R. 14.] To amend section 1 of the act concerning interest on money :
By Mr. HOPKINS.[H. R.15.] To amend section two of the act concerning the organization of voluntary associations, and repealing former laws in reference thereto; approved February 12, 1855:
By Mr. BLACK. [H.R. 16.] To provide for refunding saline funds to persons who have erroneously paid the same to the treasurer of such funds :
Which were severally read the first time, and passed to the second reading.
STATIONERY, ETC.
Mr. JONES, of Vermillion, from the select Committee on Stationery, returned their report, setting forth that they had appointed James A. Bell, of Vermillion county, clerk of the stationery room, with instruction to procure and dispense. 2. He is to open an account with each member and clerk of the House, and charge him with his orders. 3. He shall not furnish stationery, &c., to any but members and clerk. 4. He is to make a full report at the end of the session.
On motion by Mr. PROSSER, the report was concurred in.
GERMAN NEWSPAPERS.
Mr. SHERMAN submitted an order that the Doorkeeper subscribe for two German newspapers, to he enveloped and placed on the desk of each member.
On motion of Mr. HEFFREN, it was referred to the Select Committee on Newspapers.
The SPEAKER announced the Select Committee on Newspapers, viz : Messrs. Robbins, Sherman, Trier and Fraley; and
The Committee to procure Gavin & Hord's Statutes, viz : Messrs. Heffren, Burgess, Jenkinson, Grover and Prosser.
On motion by Mr. SHERMAN, it was ordered that when the House adjourns, it shall be till Monday.[A message from the Senate by Mr. Secretary Tyner, announced that that body had accepted the invitation for the joint convention of Inauguration next Monday, at 2 o'clock.]
On motion by Mr. WILSON, it was ordered that the stated hours for the meeting of this House shall be 9 o'clock A. M., and 2 o'clock P. M.
The House then adjourned.
