IN SENATE.
SATURDAY, June 1, 1861.Mr. CONNER moved that the Senate recede from its adherence to its amendments to the paymaster bill H. R. 70.
Mr. C. stated that unless the bill was passed, which could only be done by the Senate action indicated in his motion, there would have to be appointed, under the regular military regulations, a paymaster for each regiment, which would, of course, involve a much heavier expense than that contemplated in the bill. He thought this action would make the bill a law, as the bill was passed on yesterday.
The PRESIDENT substantiated these remarks and suggested the propriety of agreeing to the motion without objection.
The motion to recede was taken as agreed to by consent.
EXPENDITURE OF THE $100,000 MILITARY FUND.
The following communication was received from the Governor, at the hands of Wm. R. Holloway, Esq., Executive messenger:
STATE OF INDIANA, EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT,
Indiadapolis, June 1, 1861.
To the Senate of the State of Indiana:
At 8 o'clock last evening, a resolution, passed by your Honorable Body, calling upon me to give a detailed statement of the expenditures of the one hundred thousand dollars appropriated as a military contingent fund to the Governor, was laid before me.
In the brief period allowed for the answer, it will be impossible to give all the items, which would involve an examination of over two thousand vouchers. These vouchers are on file in the office of the State Auditor.
From the records in my office, a general statement can be given. On the 4th day of May last I drew from the Treasury $10,000. Of this amount, $6,000 was immediately paid to J. H. Vajen, Quartermaster General, on account of debts already accrued. $616 63 was paid for telegraphing; the balance, $3,383 27, was deposited to the credit of the State as a reserved contingent fund, and is still unexpended. Since that time I have examined and passed vouchers to the amount of $133,177 78. Of this amount, $2,500 was paid by a loan made from the Bank before the meeting of the Legislature. The above sums were all expended for the subsistence, clothing, equipment and transportation of the troops raised in this State for State and Federal purposes, and incidental expenses connected therewith. It will be seen that the fund is exhausted. This results from the fact that the troops were on hand and had to be provided for, and that the second ap-
page: 252[View Page 252]propriation was not made until the 30th of May, two days ago.
All of which is respectfully submitted. O. P. MORTON, Governor.
Mr. MARCH, from the Judiciary Committee, submitted the following report:
MR, PRESIDENT - The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred Senate resolution No. 2, directing the committee to inquire whether there is any law now in force providing for the trial of causes where there are affidavits of prejudice against the judge, or the judge is counsel for, or related to either of the parties, have had the same under consideration, and directed me to report the same back, and recommend that it lie on the table, as, in the opinion of the committee, there is ample provision for the trial of such causes,if the judges discharge their duties.
The report was concurred in.
ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE.
Mr. BEESON offered the following, which was agreed to:
Resolved by the Senate (the House concuring therein,) That this Legislature will adjourn sine die, at 11 o'clock A. M. June 1, 1861.
BREVIER REPORTS, LAWS AND JOURNALS.
On motion by Mr. WILLIAMS it was -
Resolved, That the Secretary of State procure, and send to each member of the Senate, and to the officers and reporters thereof, two copies of the Brevier Reports, also two copies each of the Senate, House and Documentary Journals, and two copies of the acts of the present session. All to be bound in full sheep.
THANKS TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
Mr. RAY offered the following:
Resolved, That the thanks of the Senate are due, and they are hereby tendered to the President of the Senate, for the able and impartial manner in which he has discharged his duties during the present session of the Senate.
Mr. JOHNSTON moved to amend by including the Secretaries.
Mr. MARCH moved to further amend by including the Doorkeepers and Pages.
The motions were withdrawn.
The resolution was adopted nem. con.
THE QUARTERMASTER'S DEPARTMENT.
Mr. HULL, from the select Committee thereon, submitted a lengthy report, complimentary, &c.
THANKS TO THE SECRETARIES, ETC.
Mr. JOHNSTON offered the following, which was adopted nem. con.:
Resolved, That the Senate hereby tenders a vote of thanks to the clerks, doorkeepers, and pages of this Senate, for the faithful and efficient manner in which they hare discharged their respective duties.
COMMITTEE TO WAIT UPON THE GOVERNOR.
On motion of Mr. TURNER it was -
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to act with a similar committee on the part of the House, to wait on His Excellency the Governor and inform him that this General Assembly has finished all the business before them, and are now about to adjourn sine die, unless he has some further communication to make, and that the House be informed of the passage of this resolution.
THANKS TO THE HOUSE.
Mr. BEESON offered the following:
Resolved, That the sincere and most dispassionate thanks are hereby tendered to the honorable House of Representatives for the able, dignified and patriotic manner in which they have discharged their duties.
The resolution was adopted amid laughter and cheers.
A STATE ARMORY.
Mr. CULVER presented a memorial, (to which was appended about 110 names of citizens of Tippecanoe county,) praying the officers and members of the Legislature to request our Congressmen to vote for a law authorizing the General Government to make a survey for the purpose of establishing an armory in this State and for such other legislation as may be necessary to place the State of Indiana in a well armed condition.
A message from the House announced the passage by that body of a sheriff's mileage bill. H. R. 59.
MURDER OF COL. ELLSWORTH.
Mr. MARCH, from the Committee on Federal Relations, in obedience to a resolution of the Senate, submitted resolutions lamenting the assassination of Colonel Ellsworth. After remarks by Messrs. Claypool, March Steele, White and Line -
The report was concurred in and so the resolutions were adopted.
On motion by Mr. BLAIR, it was -
Resolved, That the Secretaries of the Senate be directed to prepare and have published a list of the acts and joint resolutions passed at the present session of this General Assembly, particularly specifying those acts that are accompanied with an emergency clause.
And then came the recess till 2 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION
Mr. MARCH submitted the following:
Mr. President - The Committee on the Judiciary to whom were referred the petitions of Joseph Milligan, J. W. O'Brien and others; also of Joseph Crabs, John Crawford and others, both in relation to relief committee; also sundry resolutions upon the same subject, have had the same under consideration and directed me to report the same back and recommend that they lie on the table, as the Legislature has already cited an ordinance with the wishes of the petitioners and the spirit of the resolutions. The report was concurred in.
THE STATE FAIR GROUNDS.
On motion by Mr. WILLIAMS, it was -
Resolved by the Senate (the House concurring), That the Governor be and is hereby authorized to settle with the State Board of Agriculture, and pay the same out of the general appropriation bill for war purposes, for all damages done to the State Fair Grounds and improvement by the use of same for a military encampment for the State and United States troops.
page: 253[View Page 253]Mr. RAY, from the Judiciary Committee, returned the bill [H. R. 55] and the bill [S. 45] recommending that they lie on the table.
Mr. MARCH submitted the following:
Mr. President - The Committee on the Judiciary to whom was referred Senate bill No. 52, entitled, "a bill to amend the first, eleventh, and twelfth sections of an act entitled an act to exempt property from sale in certain cases," approved February 17, 1852, with accompanying amendment have had the same under consideration and directed me to report the same back and recommend that it lie on the table as there is not time for action.
The report was concurred in.
Mr. MARCH submitted the following:
Mr. President - The Committee on Federal Relations to whom was referred Senate resolution directing to inquire whether the Hon. Jesse D. Bright is a citizen of the State of Indiana whether he can truly represent the people of Indiana in the Senate of the United States, and whether his position on the questions engrossing public attention does not render his continuance in that body inconsistent with the public interest and safety, have had the same under consideration and directed me to report and recommended the adoption of a resolution declaring that the Hon. Jesse D. Bright is no longer an inhabitant of the State of Indiana; no longer takes any interest in the public affairs; his position on the questions now engrossing public attention is wholly unknown to the people, therefore, he has forfeited all the claim that he may have heretofore had to represent this State in the Senate of the United States, and that honorable body is most respectfully and most earnestly requested to per mit him no longer to occupy a seat therein as the Representative of the State of Indiana, but to declare the same vacant. - The report was concurred in.
Mr. RAY submitted the following:
Mr. President - The Committee on the Judiciary to whom was referred Senate bill No. 45, have had the same under consideration and have instructed me to report the same back to the Senate, and recommend that it be laid on the table.
The report was concurred in.
Mr. MARCH submitted the following report:
Mr. President - The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred Senate resolution No. 22, a resolution instructing the Judiciary Committee to inquire whether there is any law authorizing the granting of new trials in criminal cases before justices of the peace, have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report the same back and recommend that it lie on the table for want of time. It may be added that the majority of the committee are of opinion that justices have power to grant new trials under existing laws.
The committee have also directed me to report back a resolution referred to them in regard to amending the law in relation to decendent estates, and recommend that it lie on the table, as there has not been time at the present session to make the amendment suggested.
The PRESIDENT appointed Mr. March upon the committee created during the regular session to audit the accounts of the officers of State during the recess of the Legislature, in place of Senator Wagner, ineligible.
Senator Mellett was appointed a committee on the part of the Senate, to act with a like committee on the part of, the House, authorized to audit accounts in accordance with the appropriation bill.
Mr. TURNER submitted the following report:
Mr. President - The committee appointed to wait on the Governor and inform him that the General Assembly were now ready to adjourn sine die, beg leave to make the following report, to wit: that they find that His Excellency is not in the city, and the presumption is that he has no further communication to make to this body.
On motion by Mr. MARCH, the Senate adjourned till to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock.
