IN SENATE.
SATURDAY, February 28, 1863.Mr. BROWN, of Wells, from the special committee thereon, reported a joint resolution, [17] as a substitute for joint resolution S. 15. (It creates a committee of five, three from the House and two from the Senate, to sit, after adjournment, to investigate the State Quartermaster's Department, which was read the first time.
RAILROAD MANAGEMENT.
Mr. DOWNEY, from the Judiciary Committee, made a report recommending the passage of the bill [H.R.91] providing for compensation for stock killed, by railroads and other public conveyances.
Mr. MANSFIELD opposed its passage in a speech of great warmth, and its passage was advocated, with equal force by Messrs. WILLIAMS, DOWNEY, SHIELDS and COBB.
The bill passed: by yeas 32, nays 8.
Mr. BROWNE, of Randolph, presented page: 186[View Page 186] a memorial from the officers and men of the 19th regiment.
Mr. NEW presented a memorial from the 20th regiment.
Mr. BROWNE, of Randolph, moved their reference to the Committee on Federal Relations.
Mr. COBB did not object to the reference. He simply asked what object was had in that reference?
Mr. BROWNE, of Randolph, did not anticipate a special report. It was simply a guide to that committee in any resolutions they might, hereafter present.
Mr. RAY moved to amend the motion by including in the reference all similar papers. There were a number of them.-- Unfortunately the soldiers in the field labored under the delusion that the Legislature was engaged in some treasonable scheme, He did not know how or by what means this delusion had been created, but the Legislature owed it to themselves and to the army to reply in a temperate manner to these papers.
Mr. COBB desired that the course indicated by the Senator from Shelby should be adopted. It was evident that influences had been used to mislead the soldiery, and he desired that they should be in possesion of the facts connected with the action of this body.
Mr. MARCH did not object to the reference, but contended that the soldiers had ground to be alarmed about the course this Legislature would take. The armistice measures alone was enough, to create alarm in their minds.
Mr. DUNNING (Mr. Corbin in the chair) said it was due to the people of Indiana and the Democratic party to brand the insinuations contained in the memorial with the lie. Since the commencement of this session we have been insulted by memorials and communications sent to this body by men who pretend to understand that we have been engaged in treasonable practices, and still the Senator from Delaware (Mr. March) is unable to point out these treasonable practices. The Democratic party has done nothing to arouse the suspicions of this regiment, or any other regiment in the army of the United States. What has this Legislature done that it should be so charged? Is it because they have thanked General Rosecrans and the men under him for their heroic bearing at the battle of Murfreesboro ? Is it because they have thanked the Governor for his devotion to the sick and wounded soldiers of Indiana? Is that the treason of which these men speak? Is it because the Democratic side of this Chamber have voted $2.000,000 for the purpose of liquidating the indebtedness of the General Government to Indiana volunteers? Is that the treasonable conduct of which the majority of the Indiana Senate has been guilty? He would go as far as the Senator from Delaware, or any other Senator in this Chamber, tor the purpose of upholding the hands of those men who peril their lives and the happiness of their families at home for the purpose of maintaining the Constitution of the United States and the integrity of this Government.-- The minds of the soldiers have been poisoned--they are laboring under misapprehensions--their true friends are to be found in the ranks of the very men they are abusing If they knew what were the intentions and the conduct of the Indiana Legislature, you would, not see such memorials as have been presented here to this Legislature. It all proceeds from the fact that misrepresentations have been, made to them. If these treasonable practices have been carried into effect, or an attempt has been made to indulge in treasonable practices, let them be pointed out-- let public attention be drawn to it, and the men in these regiments are as capable as the same number of any other men, of judging whether a man is guilty of treason, or of disloyal or treasonable practices; but they must have the correct information given to them.
Mr. REED. I cannot do justice to my own feelings and remain silent during this discussion. The memorial under consideration comes from the 20th Indiana, in whose ranks I have endeavored to serve my country by meeting her enemies upon the ensanguined battle field, under the folds of whose glorious war-worn banner my brave, patriotic boy breathed his last breath, and shed his last drop of life-blood in the defense of his county and its star-spangled emblem. When the war-worn veterans of the glorious old 20th, the bones and blood of whose fallen comrades bleach and crimson a score of hard-fought battle-fields, are attacked, either openly or by inuendoes, other may remain silent--I cannot.
It is said, Mr. President, that the Indiana soldiery have been imposed upon by artful and designing demagogues, whose object is to malign the motives and purposes of the dominant party in this Legislature, and in the State, that they may draw to their support the political influence and power of the soldiers on their return from the war. It is said, sir, that the soldiers are made to believe that the Democratic members of the Indiana Legislature are disloyal, and are plotting treason against the State and government; when, in truth, they are of all men most loyal to the country and faithful to its constitution; and they propose to report an address to our soldiers in the field, undeceiving them as to the purposes of the Legislature and of their Democratic friends throughout the State. Well, sir, the soldiery may be misled, and for the good of our beloved country I most devoutly trust there may be no real foundation for their apprehensions of page: 188[View Page 188] bad faith on the part of the dominant party in the Legislature.
But, sir, what are the charges that the soldiery make against the Legislature? They are not, sir, general charges of disloyalty, but they specify the measures which, they have reason to believe are purposed by the majority here, and which they see fit to regard as disloyal. Some of those measures are, 1st--The erection of a Military Board which is to supersede the Governor in his constitutional control of the State, thus crippling her efficiency as a war power by placing her military strength under the control of those who are opposed to the further prosecution of the war; and 2d--An armistice by which the army of the Union would be withdrawn from the rebel territory, and diplomatic negotiations instituted in place of the rifle and the sword, which must necessarily end in a reunion of the States by humiliating and disgraceful compromises with, and concession to, rebels, or a permanent disunion of the States and a recognition of the Southern Confederacy. Another is, encouraging desertions and protecting those who ignominiously deserted their comrades and the flag of their country in its time of need and in the face of the enemy.
These, sir, are some of the charges made, by the brave and patriotic sons of Indiana, who are now offering their lives upon the altar of their country, against the Democracy in the Legislature and in the State. Is there no foundation for these charges? Have the soldiers been deceived? and if so who has deceived them? Is the Democracy of this Legislature and of the State in favor of stripping the Governor of his control of the militia of the State, and placing the management of military affairs in the hands of a military board who are averse to the further prosecution of the war? Sir, I need but refer Senators to the tiles of the Indiana State Sentinel and other Democratic newspapers of the State, containing reports of the proceedings of Democratic meetings for ample proof that this is a favorite scheme of the Indiana Democracy. This scheme has assumed the character of a bill, and is now pending in the other end of the capitol, where its passage could only be defeated by breaking a quorum and stopping legislation. In view of these facts, will Senators persist in saying that such purposes are not entertained by the Democracy of this Assembly--that the soldiers who believe that such intentions exist are misled into that opinion by unscrupulous and lying demagogues for mere party purposes?
But the soldiers have been fraudulently induced, say Senators, to believe that the popular sentiment in this Assembly and of this State is in favor of an armistice. Sir, I have the same kind of testimony to offer in support of the correctness of this opinion of the soldiers. Democratic meetings have lately been held in the various counties of the State, and the leading sentiment of such popular assemblages has been an armistice and negotiations based upon concession and compromise, for the settlement of our national difficulties. Resolutions passed by a number of such meetings have been forwarded to this Assembly inviting its co-operation with them in forwarding the views and opinions of such meetings. Resolutions have been introduced into both branches of this Assembly adopting and endorsing the policy indicated by such meetings, and seeking to force it upon the administration at Washington as the policy; is advocated by every Democratic newspaper in the State and yet Senators will be heard saying that no such policy is proposed by the Democratic party, and that the soldiers have been shamefully imposed upon by designing Republican demagogues for party purposes.
But the soldiers have been fraudulently induced, say Senators, to believe that the popular sentiment in this Assembly and of this State is in favor of an armistice. Sir, I have the same kind of testimony to offer in support of the correctness of this opinion of the soldiers. Democratic meetings have lately been held in the various counties of the State, and the leading sentiment of such popular assemblages has been an armistice and negotiations based upon concession and compromise, for the settlement of our national difficulties.-- Resolutions passed by a number of such meetings have been forwarded to this Assembly inviting its co-operation with them in forwarding the views and opinions of such meetings. Resolutions have been introduced into both branches of this Assembly adopting and endorsing the policy indicated by such meetings, and seeking to force it upon the administration at Washington as the policy; is advocated by every Democratic newspaper in the State and yet Senators will be heard saying that no such policy is proposed by the Democratic party, and that the soldiers have been shamefully imposed upon by designing Republican demagogues for party purposes.
But the soldiers charge that this Democratic party is corrupting the army, promoting desertions, and harboring and protecting the dastards who have basely deserted their comrades and their country's flag in the presence of the public enemy. Sir, whatever may be said of deception upon the mind of the soldiery in reference to the project of a military board, and an armistice, surely, in this respect, it cannot be said that the soldiers in the field are imposed upon and misled by designing politicians at home. If the army is demoralized the soldiers know it, and know the cause also; and if desertions occur the soldiers know that, and the cause far better than we do at home. In that particular, sir, the soldiers have the advantage of us, and cannot be imposed upon by us.
[Mr. REED spoke at length, reflecting severely upon the course pursued by certain Democratic newspapers and legislators, continuing, by consent of the Senate, for nearly double the length of time prescribed by the rules.]
Mr. LANDERS was in favor of having the petitions referred, and a report made on them. They say they have been informed that certain things exist in Indiana. He wanted to know where they got their information. If Indiana is paying to send men into the army to demoralize it, the people ought to know it. They ought to know if the Governor's $100,000 contingent fund is to be expended in that way. The soldiers would not so far forget themselves as to make such charges, if they had not been misled by mischievous politicians who are trying to use the money of the people of Indiana to poison the mind of men in the army.
Mr. BLAIR. The Committee on Federal Relations have had these questions before them now for 52 days, and what have they done ? We have heard no honest. page: 188[View Page 188] outspoken sentiment in favor of these soldiers who are risking their lives for the suppression of this rebellion. Thus far the majority here have done nothing calculated to allay the suspicion of these soldiers.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. WILLIAMS spoke in defence of the Democratic party from the charges against them, and ably defended them, and vindicated the Democratic members of this and the last Senate against said charges.
Mr. CLAYPOOL spoke warmly on the other side, not charging the masses of the Democratic party with treason, but contending that they were being led astray by aspiring men.
Mr. COBB demand the previous question.
The demand was seconded by the Senate--yeas 27, nays14--and the motion to refer was agreed to.
SHERIFFS' SALES.
Mr. HORD introduced a bill, [172] to amend section 1 of an act to amend an act entitled an act to revise, simplify and abridge the rules of practice, &c., approved June 18, 1851, which was read the first time.
BILLS ON THE THIRD READING.
The following described bills were read the third time and finally passed:
Mr. Howk's. [H. R 149 ] supplementary to an act incorporating manufacturing and mining companies; by yeas 44, nays 0.
Mr. Hord's. [S.23 ] amending the Justice of the Peace act so as to authorize suits in replevin at any place whore property may be found; by yeas 36, nays 2.
Mr. Johnston's. [S. 78] to amend the 8th section of the act in relation to County Treasurers, so as to require such officers to retain from county orders presented the amount due by the holder for taxes, by yeas 34, nays 3.
Mr. Landers'. [S. 87] to punish election officers for receiving ballots of persons not entitled to vote, for abstracting or destroying ballots, for substituting ballots, and for allowing false names to be entered on poll books, or false counts to be made; by yeas 37, nays 0.
Mr. Davis, of Cass', [S. 138] to amend the title of an act to provide for increasing the capital stock of railroads; by yeas 38, nays 1.
Senate bill 110, (see page 129,) was taken up and ordered engrossed, as was 158. (p. 168,) after being read the second time.
NEW PROPOSITION.
Mr. RAY introduced a bill, [173] to amend sections six and twenty-eight of an act entitled "an act authorizing the construction of plank, McAdamized and gravel roads," approved May 12, 1852.
Senate bills 167 and 168 (introduced yesterday) was real the second time and referred to appropriate committees.
