HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WEDNESDAY, April 24, 1861.The clerk of the former session, Hon. JONATHAN W. GORDON, called the House to order at two o'clock, P. M., this day in conformity with the Proclamation of His Excellency the Governor, dated April 17, 1861. He stated that Mr. Speaker ALLEN had declined to take the chair till after this proceeding.
He then called the roll, and 77 Representatives Responded, to-wit:
Messrs. Anderson, Black, Brett, Brynn, Bundy, Burgess, Cameron, Campbell, Cason, Collins of Whitley, Collins of Adams, Combs, Cooprider, Crain, Dashiel, Davis, Dobbins, Edson, Epperson, Erwin, Ferguson, Fisher, Ford, Fordyce, Frazier, Gifford, Gore, Gresham, Hall, Harvey, Haworth, Hayes, Heffren, Henricks, Hopkins, Horton, Howard, Hudson, Hurd, Jenkinson, Jones of Vermillion, Jones, of Wayne, Kendrick, Lads, Lane, Lee, Lightner, McLean, Moormau, Moss, Nebeker, Orr, Packard, Parrett, Pitts, Polk, Prow, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Sloan, Smith, of Bartholomew, Smith, of Miami, Stevenson, Stotsenburg, Treer, Thomas, Thompson, Turner, Underwood, Warrum, Wells, Williams, Wilson, Woodhull, Woods, Mr. Speaker.
So it was declared that a quorum to do business was now present.
Mr. Speaker ALLEN. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, as your late Speaker, I here now resign that position. At the same time I present the resignation of AZUR P. NEW-KIRK. Assistant Clerk, and JAMES F. JOHNSTON, Principal Doorkeeper; and I also present a letter of resignation on the part of JONATHAN W. GORDON, the Principal Clerk. The letter was read as follows:
CAMP MORTON, Indiana,
April 23,
1861.
Hon. CYRUS M. ALLEN,
Speaker of the House of
Representatives: DEAR SIR
- The present condition of National affairs makes it improper and indeed impossible for me to remain at home to attend to the comparatively unimportant duties of Clerk of the House. A contest involving the existence of the Union and the Constitution has been thrust upon us by a combination of traitors whose power makes their efforts against the Government formidable, if not dangerous. We are called upon to aid the legitimate authority of the country in breaking up that combination, and if possible, extinguishing the last spark of treason against the freest and best Government in the world. I have resolved to render obedience to the call. I shall go with the armies of the Union to re-establish the Government in the full possession of all its rights of property, dominion and sovereignty in every part of the country, nothing doubting that the people of Indiana, through their General Assembly, will give us every encouragement necessary to our success in so good and so holy a cause; and that He who is supreme over both armies and people, will enable us to return in triumph, bringing back the star spangled banner with not a stripe erased nor polluted, nor a single star obscured, and still "bearing for its motto" that sentiment dear to every American heart"Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable."
I have the honor to resign into your hands, and through you into those of the House, the office of Clerk of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of Indiana, which I do with gratitude for the kindness and confidence that called me to so honorable a position.
I am yours truly, J. W. GORDON.
REORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE.
Mr. HEFFREN. Mr. Clerk, scarcely four months since, you and I met in this Hall as members of two opposite political parties. At that time the honorable gentleman from Knox, (Mr. Allen,) was selected as a candidate for Speaker of this House, by one of those political parties, and I was selected as the candidate of the other political party. Times have changed. The Union that you and I love, and we all love - the star spangled banner, which my hands and the hands of my gray haired friend here, assisted in raising over the dome of this building, is in danger. Union and harmony and concession should now be our motto. Our coming together now falls upon a time when our country is menaced with danger, and when our homes and our firesides should be protected. It is therefore that on page: 7[View Page 7] this occasion, I take great pleasure in having the privilege of nominating for Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Cyrus M. Allen, of the county of Knox.
The CLERK announced the order of the vote to be viva voce, which being taken resulted as follows:
Whole number of votes cast 88, of which Cyrus M. Allen received all.
So the election was declared unanimous.
The CLERK called on Messrs. Heffren, Gresham and Burgess to conduct the Speaker to the chair; which service being performed - The SPEAKER. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: - In this renewed manifestation of your confidence, you will accept my heartfelt thanks. The unanimity with which I have been called to preside over your deliberations during this session, evidences to me that we have come up here actuated sincerely by the desire to promote the interests of our country, the Union, the Constitution and the institutions of civil and religious liberty.
It affords me great pleasure to be able to say that we come up here divested of all party prejudices and actuated by the single, unanimous desire to promote the best interests of our whole country.
We come together under extraordinary circumstances and upon an extraordinary occasion. We have been called together by the proclamation of the Governor to consider questions arising out of the present excited state of the country. Of the reasons for that call it does not become me to say anything by way of address at this time. It is for us, when the Governor advises, to act promptly and efficiently for the best interests of the whole country.
The House will now proceed to the election of a Principal Clerk, that being the first business in order.
Mr. FISHER. I nominate H. M. Crawford, of Floyd county. No other nominations being offered, the election proceeded, and Mr. Crawford was unanimously elected - 85 members voting, and thereupon he received the oath and entered upon the duties of his office.
A message from the Senate, by Mr. Tyner, late Secretary, announced that that body is organized by the election of the usual clerical and police officers, and ready to proceed to the business of the session.
Mr. DOBBIN'S nominated Azur P. Newkirk for Principal Assistant Clerk; who was also forthwith unanimously elected - 86 members voting for him - and, being qualified, he entered upon his duties.
REPRESENTATIVE FOR KOSCIUSKO COUNTY.
On the motion of Mr. FRASIER, Mr. CHARLES G. CHAPMAN, elected recently by the people of Kosciusko county in place of his late colleague, the honorable Thomas G. Boydston, deceased, came forward, received the oath of the Constitution, and took his seat.
Mr. BUNDY nominated John Mathes for Doorkeeper, and he also was unanimously elected - receiving 85 votes.
On motion by Mr. McLEAN, it was
Ordered, that the Doorkeeper appoint John Johnson, of Owen county, to be his Principal Assistant.
On motion by Mr. ORR, it was
Ordered, That the Clerk inform the Senate of this organization of the House of Representatives.
VOLUNTEERS NOT MUSTERED INTO SERVICE.
Mr. GRESHAM submitted the following, which was adopted
Resolved, That his Excellency, the Governor, be directed to make provision for the accommodation of all military companies now here and not mustered into the service of the United States, until otherwise ordered by the General Assembly.
PATRIOTIC SONGS BY SUFFERN'S CLASS.
On the motion of Mr. CAMERON, it was
Ordered, That the House invite the members of the Musical Institute, of this city, under charge of Mr. Suffern, to sing The Star-spangled Banner and The Red, White and Blue.
This order being duly executed, with hearty applause and cheerings - and it being formally announced that Judge Douglas was to speak to the volunteers at Camp Morton -
The House adjourned till to morrow morning, at nine o'clock.
