THE SIX REGIMENT BILL.
Mr. PROSSER. I understand from a member of the Senate that they did the best they could to obtain a quorum.
The SPEAKER. The Chair would remark that the excuse for absence on the part of the President of the Senate was the intelligence just received by him that his house was fired by an incendiury last night.
Mr. FRASIER moved that when the House adjourn it shall be till Tuesday, two o'clock. page: 77[View Page 77] Mr. SMITH, of Bartholomew, said he had been informed by one of the captains of volunteers that he would go to the camp and bring his men down and mob us.
The SPEAKER. That matter is not before the House. The question is on the motion of the gentleman from Kosciusko [Mr. Frasier.]
Mr. HEFFREN, (in his seat.) I believe I'll join 'em; for the House has not been anything but a mob for two days.
Mr. FRASIER withdrew his adjournment motion for -
Mr. WOODHULL. I move to reconsider the vote by which the House refused to concur in the report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes about the six regiment bill.
Mr. JEKKINSON. Does the Chair entertain that motion.
The SPEAKER. The motion to reconsider is before the Honse.
Mr. JENKINSON. Then I appeal from the decision of the Chair.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Allen will reduce his appeal to writing.
Mr. JENKINSON thereupon submitted the following:
"A motion to concur in the report of the committee of conference having been voted down by the House, and a motion to appoint a further committee of conference having been sustained by the House, and that further committee having been appointed, it is not in order to move a reconsideration of the original motion."
The SPEAKER. The Chair will state that a motion to reconsider is always in order, unless a similar motion has been already rejected. The question is, shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgment of the House?
Mr. WOODHULL said he came here with the Intention of doing what is necessary for the defense of the honor and protection of the interests and rights of the State of Indiana and the General Government; and during the protracted discussion on this and the military bill he had not uttered one word. He had remained here in silence because he knew very little of military matters. He was unwilling now to do anything that is not required by the necessity of the case; but hearing that the border is invaded; that the houses of the members of the Legislature are burned down, he was obliged to regard hesitation here upon any measure for the public defense, as putting dollars and cents in the scale as against the property and lives of our fellow citizens. He considered that in refusing to concur in the report of the committee of conference we have done wrong. He was not for responding needlessly with expensive preparations, but still willing to take the last dollar if necessary. He was decidedly in favor of concurrence. And if a few days in the future should show that there is no necessity for this preparation, if we remain in session a few days until that time, we can repeal the bill. The city of Louisville had voted $200,000 to arm that city alone. How then could it be said that we've done too much in voting $500,000 to arm the State of Indiana? Whilst other States were concentrating on our Southern border, it seemed almost as though we were idle. It has been said that we can arm our men down there. But their men had come up here into camp, and men could not be here or at home and at the point of defense at the same time. He would say, send troops down to the aid of the Southern border, and put arms into the hands of our fellow citizens there. Both these measures of precaution would perhaps be needed, and no man could tell how soon.
Here the House took a recess till 2 o'clock, P.M.
