AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. BRADLEY, from Finance Committee, reported back the bill [S. 106] to provide for the prompt payment of the soldiers from Indiana, with amendments. The amendment appropriate $2,000,000, and that the officers of State be associated with the Governor in the negotiation and management of the fund.
Mr. HORD did not know that he was prepared to vote for the appropriation just now. The Senate had asked the Governor, by resolution, what amount was due to soldiers from this State, and his Excellency would not condescend to reply. The State might borrow money and pay interest on it, and a large portion of it might not be required, and thus it would lay in the vaults of the treasury--the interest a dead loss to the State. It was asking but little to be informed of the amount required, and yet that little remained unanswered.
On motion by Mr. DOWNEY, the bill was amended, by adding in the proper place the following:
Provided however, that if there is not enough to pay both the officers and soldiers, the non-commisioned officers and soldiers shall be paid the amount due them, before any sum shall be paid to the commissioned officers.
Mr. COBB moved to amend so as to confine payments exclusively to non-commissioned officers and privates.
The amendment was warmly urged by Messrs. LANDERS, COBB and WOLFE, and opposed by Messrs. CLAYPOOL, McCLURG, RAY. MANSFIELD, REED and MARCH.
Mr. SHIELDS demanded the previous question which was seconded.
The amendment was rejected by yeas 11, nays 23.The bill was then ordered to be engrossed.
LEGISLATIVE APPORTIONMENT.
On motion by Mr. COBB the bill [S. 111] was taken up and passed by yeas 26, nays 18.
A NATIONAL CONVENTION.
Mr. BROWN, of Wells, notified the Senate that a special order existed for this hour, which was the consideration of bis resolution introduced yesterday, instructing the Committee on Federal Relations to report, on Saturday, in favor of an armistice and peace convention.
Mr. WOLFE moved to postpone the special order until this day two weeks.
Mr. BROWN, of Wells, said that he would call the yeas and nays on that question, he desired to see what Senator here would thus refuse to meet she questions involved in the resolution which was to be considered at this time. The people of the Mate shall know what Senators upon this floor are not disposed to carry out the wishes of the people in this direction. If the Senator from Harrison (Mr. Wolfe) could go back to his people without representing their will on this subject let him go; he (Mr. Brown) could not go back to his constituency with a clear conscience if he did not exert his efforts, humble though they were to secure to them the objects contemplated in the resolution.--But he trusted the motion to postpone would be withdrawn for the present, in order that the views of the people upon these topics might be represented here.
Mr. RAY said the question would call up an exciting party debate, and he was opposed to such debates now.
Mr. BROWN, of Wells, said that it was well known that the joint resolutions, referred to in the resolution now before the Senate, had been introduced by him, and had been the subject of much comment-- He had been branded as an enemy to his country; had been grossly assailed in the other end of the Capitol, and it was but just to him that he should have an opportunity to be heard in defense of his measures. If the question to postpone prevailed, the resolution would be defeated. Two weeks from today the Senate would not be in session. The Senator from Jackson (Mr. Shields) intimated a desire to have the resolution go to the Committee on Federal Relations. The success of such a motion, equally with the motion to postpone, would kill the resolution by consigning it to an everlasting sleep.
Mr. WOLFE explained that his object was not to stifle the gentleman. The Committee on Federal Relations would soon report, he could then be heard. He withdrew his motion.
On motion by Mr. SHIELDS the resolutions were referred to the Committee on Federal Relations by yeas 32, nays 13.
page: 175[View Page 175]FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
On motion by Mr. WOLFE, bill 97 to protect the liberty of the press, was called up.
Mr. MELLETT moved to recommit, with instructions to provide that if it should be proved that any paper whose press had been destroyed had uttered treasonable or disloyal sentiments, no damage should be collected; yeas 16, nays 26.
The previous question was demanded and seconded, and the bill passed by yeas 26, nays 17 as follows:
YEAS--Messrs. Bradley, Brown, of Wells, Cobb, Corbin, Davis, of Cass, Douglass, Dunning, Ferguson, Finch, Gaff, Gifford, Graves, Hartley, Hord, Jenkins, Johnston, Landers, McClurg, Marshall, Moore, Murray, Ray, Shields, Williams, Wilson, and Wolfe--26.
NAYS--Messrs, Bearss, Berry, Blair, Browne, of Randolph, Claypool, Dickinson, Downey, Grubb, Mansfield, March, Mellett, New, Pleak, Reed, Tee-garden, White, and Wright--17.
On motion by Mr. Claypool it was--
Resolved, That when the Senate adjourn it adjourn until Friday morning next.
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
Mr. BROWN, of Wells, from the select committee appointed to investigate the State Quartermaster General's Department, reported a joint resolution [15] granting leave to the committee of the senate and the House to set jointly, after the adjournment of the Legislature, for the transaction of the business for which they were appointed. The joint resolution was read the first time.
RAILROAD MANAGEMENT.
Mr. WILLlAMS called up the bill [H.R.94] to enable railroads incorporated in other States with their termini on the line of this State to acquire the right of way and make connections in this State, &c., which was read the third time and passed by yeas 42, nays 2.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
Mr. COBB called up his bill [S. 47] for the government of benevolent institutions.
Several ineffectual motions were made to stave off the vote.
The bill was read the third time and put upon its passage. The vote stood--yeas 26, nays 6--no quorum voting.
