IN SENATE.
THURSDAY, January 29, 1863.The PRESIDENT announced the special committee authorized by the resolution to inquire into the conduct of the State Quartermaster General's Department, to-wit: Messrs. Brown, of Wells; Cobb, Downey, Browne, of Randolph, and New.
Also, the committee on the part of the Senate on the resolution adopted yesterday concerning the $1,100.000 appropriations, to-wit: Messrs, Corbin and Claypool.
Also, the following committees:
On Congressional apportionment, one from each District, viz. Messrs. Fuller, Wolfe, Shields, Pleak, March, Ray, Chairman, Wilson, While, Teegarden, Graves, and Brown, of Wells.
On Legislative apportionment, one from each District, viz: Messrs. Williams, Chairman, Bradley, Hord, Gifford, Mellett, Blair, Johnston, Culver, Corbin, Hoagland and Grubb.
REPORTS PROM COMMITTEES
Recommending that Senate bills 14 and 23 (see pages 55 and 61 of these Reports) be laid on the table, were severally concurred in.
RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY
Addressed to appropriate committees were offered, read and severally adopted, to-wit:
By Mr. MOORE, "into the expediency of passing a law exempting the property of all soldiers from execution while absent, from home in the service of the United States or this State."
By Mr. COBB, "into the expediency of repealing the act approved March 9, 1861 empowering'the Bank of the State of Indiana to lay off and create additional bank districts not exceeding five in number and to locate and establish Branches of said Bank in each of said districts."
By Mr. GRUBB, as to change of law Compensating the officers of Boards of Elections, so that the pay shall be drawn from the civil fund of Townships.
Mr LANDERS offered a resolution, which was adopted, that the Governor furnish the Senate a detailed statement of his proceedings under the act for the defense of the State.
A NATIONAL CONVENTION.
Mr. BROWN, of Wells, introduced a joint resolution [6] proposing a general Convention of all the States in the Federal Union, including the so-called Confederate States, with a view to the restoration of the Union with all the dignity, equality and rights of the several States unimpaired which was read the first time and passed to the second reading.
It is as follows:
WHEREAS, We believe that the following language: "Suppose you go to war, you cannot fight always, and when, after much loss on both sides and no gain on either, you cease fighting, the old identical questions as to terms of intercourse are again upon you," embodies great truths and wisdom; therefore.
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That it is the imperative duty of the Chief Executive of the nation to proclaim, and we, therefore, for and in the name of the people of the State of Indiana, demand the establishment as soon as practicable of an armistice to the end that a Convent en of all the States may be held for the adjustment of our national difficulties.
Resolved, That we hereby instruct our Senators and request our Representatives in Congress, to labor to provide, and for and in the name of the people of the State of Indiana, we demand that the present Congress shall provide for a Convention of all the States, to be holden at some suitable point at the earliest practicable period, with a view to the restoration of the Union with all the dignity, equality and rights of the several states unimpaired.
Resolved, That, in the event of the present Congress failing to provide for such Convention, we hereby, in the name of the people of the State of Indiana, invite each and every State in the Federal Union, including the so-called Confederate States, to meet delegates from the State of Indiana, in Convention at Nashville, Tennessee, on the first Monday, it being the first day of June, 1863, each of said States to send as many delegates to said Convention as shall equal the number of Senators and Representatives to which such State is entitled in the Congress of the United States, according to the census of 1860.
Resolved, That for the purpose of carrying out, on the part of the State of Indiana, the object set forth in the two last foregoing resolutions, there shall be elected, on the first Monday in April 1868, in the usual manner and at the usual places of holding elections, thirteen delegates from the State at large, to represent Indiana, in said Convention at Nashville, Tennessee; unless the present Congress shall provide for a Convention as in the second of these resolutions designed, in which case said delegates shall be certified to the Governor of the State, and commissions shall issue to them in the manner, as nearly as the same may be practicable, provided by sections 44 and 45 of the act regulating general elections. And further, in the even of the present Congress failing to provide for a Convention as designed in the second of these resolutions, said delegates shall be entitled to a per diem of Five Dollars during their attendance upon said convention at Nashville, and mileage at the rate of five cents per mile for every mile necessarily traveled in going to and returning from said Convention, which per diem and mileage shall be drawn from the State Treasury upon the warrant of the Auditor of State, issued to the Treasurer of State, upon certificated of service from the presiding officer of said Convention.
Resolved, That the Governor of this State transmit, or cause to be transmitted, a copy of these resolutions to the President of the United States, the Congress of the United States and the Governors and Legislatures of each and all the States in the Federal Union including the so-called Confederate States.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following bills were introduced, read the first time and severally passed to the second reading:
By Mr. MELLETT [69] to amend section 76 of an act providing for the settlement of decdent's estates approved June 17, 1852.
By Mr. HORD [70] to amend section 156 of the practice act.
By Mr. CLAYPOOL [71] to amend the 1st and 2d sections of an act relative to page: 101[View Page 101] the salaries of public officers approved March 5, 1859.
By Mr. GAFF, [72] to amend section 42 of an act to repeal all laws now in force for the incorporation of cities, provide their powers and rights and the manner in which they shall exercise the same and to regulate such other matters as properly pertain thereto.
By Mr. GRUBB, [73] to amend section 14 of an act authorizing the construction of plank, macadamized, and gravel roads, approved May 12, 1862, and to extend the time in which companies and organized under such act shall commence and complete the construction of their road.
WORK FOR COMMITTEES
Senate bills numbered 60 to 68 inclusive (introduced yesterday) were read the second time and referred to appropriate committees.
The House memorial to the Governor and Legislature of New York was referred to the Committee on Federal Relations.
BOUNTY TO DISABLED SOLDIERS.
The Senate joint resolution [5] introduced yesterday, was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed.
IN AID OF RAILROADS.
The bill [S. 15] authorizing railroads to construct branches and to take stock in bridge companies, was read the third time and passed by yeas 40, nays 2.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. Corbin's resolution to authorize one half of the Prison Committee to visit the prison North, and the others the prison South,and to make the committee consist of sixteen members, coming up.
Mr. WILLIAMS moved to amend by striking, out all after the resolving clause, and insert the following: "that the Senator from Vanderburg (Mr. Finch) and the Senator from Marshall (Mr. Corbin) be added to the committee on the States Prison."
The amendment was adopted.
On motion by Mr. WOLFE the amended resolution was laid on the table.
Mr. CORBIN offered a resolution that the committee on the State Prison be reduced to a number not exceeding eight, which lays over under the rule for one day.
DEATH OF HON. THOMAS SHOULDERS.
Mr. COBB. Mr. President, I rise to announce to the Senate the death of the Hon. Thomas Shoulders, the Senator from Dubois who departed this life this morning at ten minutes before four o'clock.
I deeply regret, sir, my physical inability, as well as my want of knowledge of the history of the deceased, to render the proper tribute to his memory. My acquaintance with the deceased commenced two years ago, when he first took his seat as a Senator in this chamber. My relations with him since that time have been of the most agreeable character. I ever found him a true and honest friend.
The deceased was born in Marion county, Kentucky, January 25th. 1806, consequently at his death he was fifty six years of age. His father, Cader Shoulders, immigrated to this State in the year 1823, and located in Dubois county, in the neighborhood of the residence of the deceased. By occupation his father was a chair maker, but the deceased was raised to the occupation of a farmer, to which the greater part of his life was devoted. His education was limited, being confined to that afforded by the common schools of those early times in the history of Indiana. In his nineteenth year, and after his immigration to this State, the deceased was married to Miss Polly Boler, of Kentucky, and soon thereafter commenced housekeeping in the county of his residence at the time of his death, it being at that time almost a wilderness.
The deceased and his wife had to contend with the hardships and difficulties incident to pioneer life, but by energy and industry they overcame all obstacles and secured a competency against want. In 1831 the deceased received a commission as Captain of the militia, which position he held four years, when he was promoted to the position of Colonel of the Forty-third Regiment of the Indiana militia, in which capacity he served five years. In 1838, he was appointed by the Board of County Commissioners a Collector of the the Revenue of the county of his residence which he filled for one year, when he was elected Associate Judge of the same county which position he held for five years.
In 1856 was elected to represent Dubois county in the other branch of the Legislature, where he honestly and faithfully performed his duty as Representative. In I860 he was a candidate for State Senator for his district, and was elect over his opponent by thirteen hundred and twenty-nine majority. His first vote far President was for General Jackson in 1828. The deceased was honored at home and abroad by those who knew him. He was truly an honest man.
Mr. WILLIAMS offered the following:
Resolved, That the members and officers of the Senate have received with deep sensibility the melancholy intelligence of the death of the Hon. Thomas Shoulders, late Senator from the county of Dubois
Resolved, That in taken of repeat for the memory of the deceased, the member and officers of the Senate will wear the usual badge of mourning during the remainder of the present session of the General Assembly.
Resolved, that arrangements be made at the expense of the State to convey the body of the deceased to his family residence.
Resolved, That the members and officers of the Senate will form in procession at the Farmers Hotel, on Illinois street, on the 30th inst. at 7 1/2 a.m.,
page: 102[View Page 102]and from thence attend the corpse to the Union Depot.
Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor, the Judges of the Supreme Court, and the other officers of the State now at the seat of Government, be invited to unite in the procession, and that joint participation on the part of the members and officers of the House of Representatives be requested.
Resolved, That the President of the Senate be directed to appoint two Senators to accompany the remains of our departed friend to his late residence in the county of Dubois under the charge of the Sergeant at Arms.
Resolved, That the President of the Senate transmit a copy of these resolutions to the family of the deceased.
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to make the requisite arrangements for this mournful occasion.
Mr. MARCH concurred most heartily in the resolutions. The Senator has fallen suddenly at his post, almost as suddenly as if he had been stricken down on the battlefield, and it was right and proper to pause and reflect at such a moment. It should teach members upon this floor how short was life, and it should impress stingily upon the minds of all the obligations upon them to devote the energies of a short life to the service of their country and the good of mankind. Mr. March paid a beautiful tribute to the private worth of the deceased Senator.
Mr. RAY could not let this moment pass without giving a slight tribute to the departed. He had scarcely noticed the vacant seat, so short was the last sickness, until the sad announcement was made that it's late occupant was dead. He had formed the acquaintance of Mr. Shoulders two years ago, when he occupied a seat by his side. He was a man of fine natural abilities. He did not possess the advantages of education that the young men of the present day enjoy, but he a was man of clear judgment and sound common sense. It was these qualities that recommended him to his neighbors, and he had been honored and confided in by them to a remarkable degree. The solemn admonition should have its effect upon his brethren here and teach them to throw aside those bitter bickerings that are apt to creap into bodies of this kind. Mr. Ray spoke eloquently of the loss to the country and to the community in which he resided, and to the family of the deceased.
Mr. SHIELDS bore testimony to the worth of the deceased. He knew the estimation in which he was held in the district in which he lived. There he was regarded as the noblest work of God--an honest man.
Mr. WOLFE paid an eloquent tribute to the deceased, and spoke beautifully of the lesson pointed out by the death of one against whom there was not a breath or whisper that would cast a shadow upon his memory.
Mr. FERGUSON. I cannot let the present moment pass without saying a few words in tribute to the memory of the deceased, at least to express my concurrence in all that has been said of his noble qualities. I recollect well the last time I ever saw him. It was in the Governor's room, whither he had gone for the purpose of obtaining some information as to the locality of the regiment to which his son is attached in the service of his country. I found the venerable man tracing the map with his finger to ascertain the locality of the regiment, probably for the purpose of sending some message to his brave son, doomed to be the last message of an affectionate father. Little did I then think that that was to be the last I was to see of him in life, and no doubt he little thought that the shaft of death, that had hitherto been turned aside from the son in the smoke and peril of battle, should so soon strike down the father. True it is that
"Leaves have their time to-fall,And flowers to wither at the North wind's breath;
And stars to set--but all,
Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death!"
May it not be a consolation to the bereaved ones at home, and the soldiers in the field, to know that while our departed friend met his death in the service of his country in the capacity of a legislator, he was not forgetful of the obligations of an affectionate parent. May his sudden death be a warning to us all and better prepare us for the future.
Mr. CLAYPOOL preferred to remain silent, as grief was best expressed by silence, but least silence might be misconstrued, he could not refrain from adding his tribute to the deceased. He formed an acquaintance with the deceased two-years ago, during a stormy session, and he could judge him at such a time. Mr. Shoulders was a man of strong will, and, although a partizan, he was fair to his opponents, manly and frank. It was always known where he would stand. At the extra session, when party feeling was thrown aside, he rose with the occasion, and no man exhibited a more lofty patriotism. He asked no higher tribute than had been paid to the memory of the deceased by those who knew him well that he was an honest man.
Messrs. CORBIN and WHITE also spoke in appropriate terms of the deceased.
The resolutions were adopted unanimously.
The PRESIDENT announced as the committee to accompany the remains home, Messrs. Williams and Shields.
The PRESIDENT also announced as the committee of arrangements, Messrs. March, Cobb and Ray.
And then--
On motion by Mr. WILLIAMS, it was--
Resolved, That as a further token of respect for the deceased, this Senate do now adjourn.
