HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WEDNESDAY, February 4, 1863.The reading of the Clerk's journal of yesterday's proceedings was dispensed with.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
On House bills 5, (see page 35;) 33, 34, and 39, (see page 54;) and 64, (see page 458;) recommending that they be laid on the table, were severally concurred in.
SOLDIERS VOTING.
Mr. ANDERSON, from the Judiciary Committee, reported that (be joint resolution [H. R. 9] to amend the Constitution so that the soldier vote may be taken, is inexpedient and unconstitutional, as such an amendment can not be made while other are pending.
The question being on concurring in the report of the committee--
The yeas and nays were demanded by Messrs. Cason and Roberts, and being ordered and taken resulted--yeas 42, nays 33 as follows:
YEAS--Messrs. Abbett, Bird, Blocher, Cass, Cook, Donaldson, Ferris, Garvin, Given, Griffith, Hall, Hardin, of; Washington; Hardin, of Perry; Harney, Hetfield, Hon, Howell, Howk, Humphreys, Kemp, of Vigo; Lake, Lasselle, Lee, Lemmon, of Harrison; Lemmon, of Spencer; McGauchey, Miller, Mutz, Niblack, O'Brien, of Hamilton; O'Brien, of Martin; Osborn, Pendleton, Ryan, Shaffer, Shoaff, of Allen; Shoaff, of Jay; Spencer, Veach, Wolfe, Woollen, and Mr. Speaker--42.
NAYS--Messrs. Anderson, Atkison, Baker, Branham, Budd, Cason, Chambers, Davis, Forester, Gregg, Gregory, Hershey, Hostetter, Hutchins, Johnson, Jones, Kendrick, Lamb, Leeds, Mason, Moorman, Mustard, Newman, Noyes, Perry, Pettibone, Richardson, Roberts, Robinson, Stone, Tarkington, Waterman, and Woodruff--33.
So the resolution was laid on the table.
Mr. FERRIS offered a resolution, which was adopted by yeas 40, nays 30, empowering the Chairman of the Committee on Arbitrary Arrests to detail four members to sit during the sessions of the House, to take testimony in such cases, or visit any part of the State for the same end.
Mr. MASON offered it resolution that as there has been, and is being, a great quantity of arms imported into Hancock and Boone counties, within the past few days, the Military Committee inquire for what purpose they have been distributed, and report immediately.
Mr MASON charged that such arms had been imported into Hancock county, and had been used for the suppression of free speech.
Mr. BROWN thought, as we had already called upon the Governor for information in the regard, it would be respectful to give His Excellency time for a hearing.-- He (Mr. B.) knew that arms--muskets, and ammunition for the muskets--were being shipped to Jackson county, and were distributed in that portion of the count densely populated by Abolitionists.
Mr. ATKISON said arms sent to Hancock county were furnished to regularly organized company, as could have been learned if the gentleman had gone to the Auditor's office. As to Jackson county, the arms had been sent io a township giving 80 Democratic majority.
Mr. CASON said those sent to Boons county were to an organized company.
Mr.'ROBERTS thought there was no occasion for alarm or distribution of arms now. It was proper that this General Assembly should know for what purpose these arms were distributed. The people should demand of the military authorities an account in this matter. They might be driven, by the unwise conduct of those authorities, to force, to assert their rights.-- He hoped such a thing would not occur ; but it might and would if the people's rights were continued to be trampled on.
page: 115[View Page 115]Mr. JOHNSON said there had been arms imported into the very township where the late conflict took place, and placed in the hands of men who know how to use them, in the hands of Democrats. There was an organized military company in the county, who were armed, but had injured no one. Had that company been in Green township when the law was set at defiance, it is likely the guerrillas would have suffered. There were was many arms in the hands of Democrats as of any other men.
Mr. WOOLLEN had been informed by responsible gentlemen that a quantity of revolvers had been shipped to Johnson county, and placed in the hands of Republicans. He objected to the placing of arms by the military authorities in the hands of the people. If we wished peace if we would have peace arms must not be put in the hands of the people by those in authority. The people had a right to bear arms of their own, but the times were such now that it was hazardous in the extreme for the authorities to take any steps in the direction indicated.
Mr. HARNEY said that the distribution of arms by those in authority had been going on for some time. It had awakened a deep feeling throughout the State. These arms had, mysteriously enough, been placed in the hands of those friendly to the Governor. It was evident to this mind that these arms were not distributed for the purpose of defence or for maintaining the public tranquility. He was for sitting the whole matter at once.
On motion of Mr. BROWN, the father consideration of the resolution was postponed until Saturday next at 10 a.m.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following bills were introduced, read the first time, and severally passed tot he second reading:
By Mr. GREGORY, [135] amending 13th section of Common School law.
By Mr. MOORMAN, [136] amending the act relative to the Sinking Fund, for the relief of borrowers.
By Mr. FORESTER, [137] supplemental to act relative to interest on money.
By Mr. BROWN, [138] an act applying certain moneys therein named to the payment of the public to disburse sinking funds in purchases of five and ten and a half per cent. stock of the State by the Agent of the State.
AFTERNOON SESSION
On motion of Mr. DONALDSON, the two Senate resolutions appointing Apportionment Committees (printed in pages 91 and 92) were taken up and the House concurred therein. the committees heretofore appointed on the part of the House (see page 82) were designated by the Speaker to serve under these concurrent resolutions.
Messrs. Howk, Branham and Bird were appointed on the part of th House as a committee to investigate, with the Governor, the disbursements of appropriations for military purposes.
PRAYER MEETING.
Mr. ABBETT offered the following, which was adopted:
WHEREAS, God hath said by the mouth of his apostle that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men and for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty, and that this good and acceptable in the sight of God and our Savior, who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth therefore,
Resolved, That all the members of this House, and the attachees, who are desirous of worshipping God in sincerity and truth, and who believe that there is a God of Peace as well as a God of War, who rules the destiny of nations, and who are desirous of peace on earth and good will toward mankind, meet in prayer meeting in this hall, on Wednesday evening next, the 11th inst. and supplicate the Lord to so direct our counsels as speedily terminate this unnatural, fratricidal, and desolating war, believing, as we do, "that war is disunion, inevitable and eternal."
WORK FOR COMMITTEES.
House bills 110 and 134 (introduced last Friday and yesterday) were read the second time and appropriately referred.
BILLS ON THE THIRD READING.
The following described House bills were read and third time and finally passed:
Mr. Miller's [4] to amend the 406th section of the Practice Act--by yeas 75, nays 0. The main provision of the bill is to keep the judgment alive, after five years, where the party chooses to issue execution after execution.
Mr. Brown's [18] to amend section 6th of the estray act--by yeas 51, nays 24--It raises the printer's fee for advertising from $1 to $2.
Mr. Given's, [22] to amend section 27 of the divorce law--by yeas 73, nays 1. It authorizes where suits are brought in the Common Pleas Court, the Prosecuting Attorney in the Common Pleas Court to appear and defend when the defendant does not, as is the case in the Circuit Court.
Mr. Lamb's, [28] to amend the game law--by yeas 54, nays 21. It changes the time of prohibiting the killing of game from November first to October first.
Mr. WOLFE made an ineffectual motion to recommit the bill with instructions to amend by extending the time of taking quails one month in the spring. Mr. Miller's, [29] to amend the 37th section of the misdemeanor act, (see page 29)--by yeas 67, nays 7.
Mr. Packard's, [31] to punish violation of injunction by attachment by yeas 67, nays 6.
Mr. Leeds, [59] empowering Sheriffs to offer lands for sale at other places than doors of Court Houses in certain cases--by yeas 57, nays 12.
