AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. G. B. GRUBB, the Senator from Hamilton and Tipton, appeared in his seat to-day, having been detained at home since the commencement of this extra session, by sickness in his family.
ROOMS FOR THE SUPREME COURT.
On motion by Mr. NEWCOMB the concurrent resolution, offered by Senator Slack, on Wednesday morning, providing rooms for Judges of the Supreme Court, was taken from the table and adopted.
REORGANIZATION OF THE MILITIA.
The PRESIDENT announced the consideration of the special order for this hour, the militia bill [H. R. 21.] The question being on Mr. Anthony's amendment, offered Saturday morning,
The amendment was agreed to.
On motion by Mr. WOLFE, the bill was further amended in section 101 by making it the duty of the Secretary of State to have published only so much of the rules and articles of war, and the general regulation for the government of the army of the United States, as may be directed by the Governor.
Mr. RAY. I move to amend by striking out in section 33, these words, "with such modifications as the Governor may prescribe." I think it right that the militia should know what the articles of war are, and precisely what they are acting under, and their responsibilities, without leaving it to the regulations of the Executive of the State. I think it highly proper that that portion should be stricken out, inasmuch as it might produce trouble, and great lack of harmony and uniformity in the service.
Mr. MURRAY. This bill provides for the organization of citizens into military companies, and if these rules apply to them when called upon for active service, they ought not to apply to them when not in actual service.
Mr. RAY. They do not. I think the section is right with the modification I propose. It seems to me it must strike every Senator, at a glance, that the rules and articles of war should not be altered or subjected to modification.
Mr. WOLFE. As I understand the proposition, it is to strike out all that portion of the section which refers to the modification of the rules of war by the Governor.
Mr. RAY. The amendment proposes to strike out these words: "with such modifications as the Governor may prescribe."
Mr. WOLFE. I presume that the intention of the person who drew that bill in putting in these page: 81[View Page 81] words was to lessen the vigorous character of these rules, that is, to give the Governor power to lessen their vigorous character. If that be true, in point of fact, I am opposed to striking out. Any gentleman that has read these rules knows they are very vigorous. I can not scarcely consent to vote for the bill unless one of the articles of war were stricken out entirely. It is in regard to the behavior of persons while attending religious services. I think it is unconstitutional in the State of Indiana to enforce that article.
The amendment was rejected.
[A message from the Governor by Mr. Holloway, his Secretary, announced that he had approved and signed Senator Stone's bill, No. 12.]
Mr. DICKINSON proposed to amend the 7th section by striking out the word "seventy" and Inserting in lieu thereof the word "forty," so that the amount of appropriation for a special military fund shall be $40,000 instead of $70,000.
Mr. COBB proposed to amend the amendment by striking out "$40,000" and inserting $25,000.
Mr. MILLER made an ineffectual motion to lay these amendments on the table.
The amendment to the amendment was rejected.
Mr. COBB then moved to amend the amendment by striking out $40,000 and inserting in lieu thereof $10,000; and on that motion he demanded the yeas and nays.
Mr. NEWCOMB. We have seen the necessity of something of this kind in the emergency in which we have found ourselves recently. I would not vote for any bill shorn of its deficiencies as this one would be were the proposed amendment adopted. We have been without a militia for many years, and we see the lack of a proper organized militia when the call is made for troops. We find Massachusetts responding in four days with more regiment? than were called for, all equipped and ready for service. * * * The Colonel of the regiment that went through Baltimore received his orders at 11 o'clock at night, in the midst of a storm; he started off that night and saw his Captains, and so efficient was their system that at one o'clock the next day that entire regiment was ready to march. Two companies of another regiment were called for; the Captains received their orders at two o'clock on Tuesday morning, and at eleven o'clock the two companies were in Fanuel Hall. Could Indiana or Illinois have done that? Not at all. Why was this? For years Massachusetts has been preparing. She has got a military system, everybody there was equipped, ready at the first summons. * * * I deprecate unnecessary expense. I think whatever will give us an efficient military system is economy. I have no doubt we have spent more money for want of a system than this bill would take from our pockets in three years. It is said the operations of this bill will cost $70,000 annually, and I have no doubt the patriotic militia will respond out ot their own pockets in a further sum of $70,000. I hope we will not be niggardly in the starting of a system which Indiana has never had. * * * We can fit out an entire regiment, without half trying, in this city, and two more in the county. Such will be tho spirit all over the State. I hope this appropriation will not be decreased. I had rather vote to increase it to $100,000 than decrease it $10,000.
Mr. DICKINSON. I find myself in the dark with regard to most all the questions coming before this Legislature. All have remarked their utter ignorance of them; and I have to make the same acknowledgment. But I concur with the Senator from Marion [Mr. Newcomb] in that I hope this Legislature will not act niggardly in making the preparations to perfect a military system. I for one am far from that. Rather than have this sum diminished, I would increase it, if necessary, in order to make the system efficient. It did seem to me as though this sum was too large to commence an experiment on; for this is an experiment, and one that Indiana has never known anything about. With this sum we can not insure efficiency. It strikes me if we appropriate this sum, before three years it will have to be trebled, and then we will not have a system that will be efficient. We have been in the habit of performing military duty under a corn-stalk system, without appropriations, and if this appropriation is made, a few will have control of it. The question which presents itself to my mind was, whether the sum of $60,000 would not be as efficient as the sum of $70,000 or $140,000 to start with. I am assured this sum will be increased at a future day, provided a military system is necessary. If it is not necessary, then of course it will not be done; but it will be necessarily increased, I apprehend, and if we commence at a high figure we will have to go at a rapid rate. I do not object to voting just as much means as is necessary, but it does seem to me, in starting out the sum I propose would be as efficient as a larger sum. I do hope the amendment offered by the gentleman from Lawrence [Mr. Cobb] will not be entertained by any member. I hope no captious opposition will be made. When I made my motion it was not done to oppose the system or to prevent its becoming an efficient system; but because I believed the sum I proposed was all that is necessary to commence with.
Mr. COBB. I did not intend to cripple the system as laid down in this bill. My opinion is that $10,000 is sufficient. Now I do not understand that any of the money provided for in this bill is to go into the hands of the privates for the purpose of paying them for drilling and uniforming, but to pay a few officials who are constituted under this bill to organize the militia of the State into service. Now, sir, I understand that $70,000, which is provided for in this bill, is too much. I am confident that $70,000 would pay the judges and prosecuting attorneys of this State, so far as the circuit court is concerned. I understand that bands of music, drums and fifes are to be purchased for the purpose of giving music to the ear if the private when called forth from his quiet home and caused to loose his time in the service of the militia, while officers are to be compensated with this money. I do not see the necessity of this large appropriation for that purpose, believe that in all times like these we have patriots enough in every locality who will volunteer their services, and will muster the militia into service, if they have a law to be governed by; and page: 82[View Page 82] my opinion is we are running wild over this question of war. As far as the privates are concerned, all the duty is imposed upon them, and they have, when they volunteer their services under this bill, to uniform themselves, for I do not understand that any of this money is to uniform companies. Now, if this $70,000 is for the purpose of paying a few officers who may happen to control the men, I think it is too much; I think $10,000 is sufficient. Another thing, I do not believe this bill will ever benefit the State, as far as placing her upon a war footing is concerned. The only reason I would vote for any such a bill is to organize men and put them under the control of officers for the purpose of imbuing in them a spirit of patriotism; for I undertake to say there will not be a single individual that will come out of these organized companies after three years' training, (as provided for by this bill,) with any practical knowledge. As far as spending money under that bill is concerned it is all nonsense. You had better appropriate half a million of dollars and put men upon drill, paying them for their services a reasonable compensation.
Mr. CARNAHAN. I do not know the object designed to be accomplished by this appropriation of money, and I have been waiting to hear some gentleman explain. I am willing, if I become satisfied it is necessary, to vote any sum, I don't care what it is; but to vote for $10,000, or any other amount, without knowing the intention or object, I will not do it. I shall vote against any proposition of the kind, unless I fully understand it. I hope gentlemen will explain, and when they do, and satisfy me that it is necessary, I certainly shall vote for it.
Mr. WOLFE. I agree with the Senator from Lawrence [Mr. Cobb] in regard to one thing. I think $70,000 is too much money to be appropriated in this bill. I think it more than is necessary. And I shall answer the inquiry of the Senator from Posey [Mr. Carnahan] before I take my seat. But with regard to the other points first. I am of the opinion that in order to make a system in this State as effective as the one in Massachusetts it would cost a great deal more money than $70.000. I do not think we ought to attempt to follow in the footsteps of Massachusetts in this any more than in other matters. The system which we establish, to be useful, should be one that would be permanent. If it is to last but for a single year and then be kicked over by the people in consequence of its expensiveness, it would do no good at all. It is not money that is going to maintain this system. If there be an occasion which will justify a military organization throughout the country, such an occasion as shall inspire a military spirit such as is abroad now, the people will go into it whether paid for it or not. In regard to that the observations of the Senator from Lawrence are just. I can assure Senators there is not one dollar of this money to find its way into the pockets of the privates of the companies, yet they are the men to do the great labor. I think the bill requires not less than sixteen days' service every year, for which they are to receive no pay. Under the bill this $70,000 will go for a particular purpose, and that purpose is designated. Sections 5 and 6, I will inform the Senator from Posey, provides the - purposes for which the money is to raised - I will read them:
SEC. 5. One-fourth part of the military fund shall remain in the State Treasury, and shall be drawn on warrant of the Commander-in-Chief, to pay the salary the Adjutant-General, and the Quartermaster-General, and to pay the expenses of State and Brigade Encampment and Brigade Courts Martial, and such other expense's may accrue in the procurement of blanks provided for in this act.
SEC. 6. The balance of the military fund shall fort with be distributed, pro rata, by the Treasurer of State among those counties having an active militia, in proportion to the number of activemilitia in each county, as shown by the Adjutant-General, which money shall be paid to the Treasurer of said Counties, and by them distributed as follows: First. One-fourth of the fund thus placed into the hands of the County Treasurer shall be drawn on the warrant of the Colonel, to pay the actual expenses of the Quartermaster-General of the regiment, for the preservation of the public arms, and to defray the expenses of regimental or battalion drills, parades, encampments, and courts martial. Second. The balance of the fund, after the preceding disbursements shall be distributed on the warrant of the Colonel, amongst the companies of active militia in his regiment, proportioned in accordance with the number of members in each to be used by such companies to defray the expenses of company drills and courts martial, of armories and music and for the procurement of equipments and munitions.
These are the only ways in which this fund is to be distributed. How much money will absolutely be required to do all this work will depend on how many companies and regiments will organized in the State. It is an impossibility for us to make an appropriation that will exactly meet what the expenditures may be, because they are uncertain. There may be six companies organized in each county; there may be three, ten, or they may not average more than one; we can't tell. Suppose that $70,000 will be enough to pay the ordinary expenses contemplated under sections five and six, in the event there are thee companies organized in each county, then if they organize ten companies in each county $70,000 would not be quite one-third enough. This brings me to remark that we must not expect the military system to be kept up in consequence of the money in it. If there is not patriotism enough to keep up this organization, money will not do it I have been willing at all times to vote for all proper amounts for the actual defense of the State or Federal Government or the people; indeed, I have done so with liberality, for I can not weight the defense of our people or the preservation of the best government on earth against dollars and cents. I am willing to vote for such appropriations without waiting for instruction from the people, and where I was satisfied they were necessary for such defense I would vote for them against their instructions, unless very clearly expressed. But this bill I do not look upon as a bill for immediate defense. The present condition of things around us shows that the people will come up to the defense of the country, even without such organizations; yet it would be well to have a military system adopted, with as little expense as possible in it, under which independent companies may organize, ready to be called int active service. The regimental and brigade of; organizations will be of but little use, and great expense. This bill, sir, is very imperfect in other particulars, but I shall not allude to them now. I want it understood that I am opposed to an expensive militia system, but as it seems necessary page: 83[View Page 83] to have some law on the subject, I may feel called on to vote for it, after it is made as perfect as we can get it.
Mr. BLAIR. Although this money does not go into the pockets of the privates, it goes to defray expenses they must pay unless provided for out of the State Treasury. And this is a small pittance to be distributed all over the State. If this money is not required I suppose it will not be used. It may not be absolutely necessary that this $70,000 should be kept up every year, but as long as things are as they are at present we must look to at least this much expense annually.
Mr. NEWCOMB. I am not a champion of this bill, indeed I have scarcely read all of it, but I wish to answer some of the remarks of the Senator from Harrison, [Mr. Wolfe.] The Senator says we will have no discipline or drill under this bill. I do not know how that will be, but I know the bill gives an opportunity and offers some encouragement to learn. The Senator also says the privates get no compensation for fifteen days in which he will have to drill. It don't necessarily take fifteen days in the year, although there may be four parades and twelve drills. I do not know how it may be in the country, but I know what the effect will be in this city. Our companies here have been organized in a sort of patch-work fashion under the old law, and they do their drilling at night. And speaking of the effect of this drilling, we have sent out of these companies four Captains and an Adjutant who, I venture to say, are not surpassed by any men in all the companies, each one being well versed in the duties of their position. We have sent, I suppose, in the neighborhood of two hundred privates and non commissioned officers, many of them capable of commanding a company, simply from the drilling they have received. I know our privates don't want pay for mustering. I have been applied to repeatedly to get a bill through the Legislature that would enable them to pay the rent of their hall. I believe two companies in this city have been paying $150 a year for a hall to drill in; and their music costs them something. Under this bill every company will have an armory. Heretofore men have been in the habit of taking their arms home with them, and the consequence is all the arms in this State have been either lost, taken to Pike's Peak or to Oregon. Where we provide means for an armory and for paying men to take care of the arms they will be ready for service at any time. Under this bill we can calculate on 20,000 volunteer militia. This bill would give a little less than two dollars for each man. It is provided in the bill that this money shall be expended "to defray the expenses of company drills and courts martial, (for this I think it would not take a great deal,) of armories and music, and for the procurement of equipments and munitions." It often happens the State is able to send out a stand of arms when she is not able to send out accoutrements. When you give it all to them the whole $70,000I have no doubt more than that much will be paid out by private members of the companies. There is not a single dollar in the bill appropriated to an officer that commands these companies. The Adjutant-General and Quartermaster-General, who are to be here, have the salaries. The only objection I have is to the amount left in the State Treasury, and the surplus will remain for the action of the Legislature hereafter. The amount set apart for the objects contemplated in the bill, it seems to me, is trifling enough. I know the amount corning to companies in this city would not come up to their expenses, but it would be an encouragement, and the balance would be paid out by the companies. Indianapolis has sent more men in these six regiments than any county in the State, I guess. We had two Zouave companies who have gone bodily almost. We had another company of infantry, whose captain is now with them, gone into the regiment. And that military spirit that has been created and encouraged by these volunteer organizations here has led these men to step into the ranks for the service of the United States. For these reasons I desire this appropriation shall not be decreased.
Mr. Conley and Mr. Cobb demanded the yeas and nays, and they were ordered.
Mr. WAGNER. It is evident we have no quorum here, and that ends this session. I shall therefore move we adjourn.
This motion was rejected. The demand for the yeas and nays being withdrawn-
On motion of Mr. WOLFE, the Senate passed informally over the proposed amendments.
Mr. RAY moved to amend the eleventh section by striking out the words "appointed by the Governor," and inserting the words "elected by the regiment;" so as to make the Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel elective officers.
The Senate also passed informally over this amendment.
On motion by Mr. JOHNSON, the seventh-section was amended by striking out the word "annually," and inserting in lieu thereof the words "for the years 1861 and 1862."
And then the Senate adjourned.
