HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Monday, March 9, 1863.The SPEAKER announced a Committee--Messrs. Puett and Griffith to wait upon the Governor and inquire if he had any further communications to make.
The committee, returning, stated that His Excellency had none. He would have went in an answer to the resolution printed on page 159 of those Reports but for some days past there being no quorum, he had for that reason not done it.
The Senate resolutions in reference to the appointment of an auditing military board of two Senators and three Representatives, were concurred in.
Mr. WOOLLEN, from the select committee to investigate the charge made by Mr. Branham, of Jefferson, that there were members on this floor in consultation with emissaries of the Southern Confederacy; reported that Mr. Branham had been subpoened but had declined to appear. The committee therefore conclude that Mr. Branham had no foundation for his charge, and made it simply for political effect.
Mr. CASON objected to the reception of the report, because, as a member of the committee, he had never been notified to meet with it, and also because Mr. Branham had not been notified to meet the committee till last Friday night.
Mr. WOOLLEN stated that Mr. Branham said he could give no information himself on the subject.
Mr. CASON asked: Did he not offer to produce witnesses before the committee to testify as to the communication of members with representatives from the South?
Mr. WOOLLEN did not remember that Mr. Branham had made such an offer. The committee had not been called together before the bolt of the minority, because of his own absence.
Mr. HANNA, offered a resolution which was adopted, that the communication of the Governor relative to the distribution of arms be placed in the hands of the Librarian for future inspection and legislation.
Mr. BROWN offered a resolution, which was adopted, appointing a committee of three to act with a committee on the part of the Senate to investigate the affairs of the Quartermaster General's Department.
THANKS TO THE SPEAKER.
Mr. GRIFFITH offered a resolution, which was adopted. [Mr. Donaldson in the chair,] Tendering the thanks of the House to Hon. S. H. Buskirk, for his ability and impartiality in presiding over the deliberations of the House.
On motion of Mr. BROWN Mr. Buskirk was made a member of the Military Auditing Committee. Messrs. Niblack and Kilgore were added by the Speaker.
The journal was expurgated, by resolution, of everything relating to the arraignment of the Doorkeeper, Barnabas Burns.
The Senate resolution in reference to the fraudulent live per cent, stocks was concurred in.
SPECIFIC APPROPRIATIONS.
The Committee on Ways and Means submitted a report on finance, which was placed on the journals.
Mr. FERRIS submitted a report from a select committee on hospitals in the city, complimenting the surgeons in charge for their care of the sick.
page: 237[View Page 237]Mr. PACKARD (for Mr. DONALDSON who temporarily occupied the chair) offered the following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Secretary of State procure and send to each member of the House and to the officers thereof, two copies each of the House and Senate Documentary Journals, two copies of the BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS and two copies of the acts of the present session; all to be bound in full sheep.
Mr. HARNEY offered a resolution to allow J. J. Bingham $5.000 as part pay for printing for this assembly, to be paid from the Legislative Fund but withdrew it because of a demand for the yeas and nays.
The Senate resolution in reference to an adjournment sine die was taken up and concurred in.
Reports from the Committees on Quartermaster's Department, and on Arsenals, were made and spread on the journals.
Mr. LEE entered his protest against the appointment of a Military Auditing Board because two of its members were Republicans, and also because it had no control over the Governor's contingent fund.
Mr. BROWN offered the following:
WHEREAS, On the 25th day of January, 1863, several members of this body belonging to the Abolition party did, without just cause and without permission, absent themselves from this body, and have remained away ever since; and,
WHEREAS, In consequence of said members being away as aforesaid, this General Assembly has been unable to pass any appropriation bill whatever, or to perform and complete the necessary legislation required of it, there being a sufficient number of the members aforesaid absent to leave no quorum of this body to transact business; therefore, be it
Resolved, That said members are not entitled to, and should not receive, any compensation as members of this body for the time they have been absent, and that the Speaker of this House is hereby directed not to issue any warrant or certificate to any member who has been absent as aforesaid, which warrant or certificate would entitle said member to receive pay as a member of this body for the time he was absent, as aforesaid.
Mr. HOLCOMB offered the following amendment, which Mr. Brown accepted:
Resolved, That the Speaker of the House be directed to certify to the Auditor of State the amount of pay that has been forfeited by members absenting themselves from the House without leave during the present session, and not received by the members, and that the said Auditing Committee be authorized and directed to draw a warrant for the full amount so forfeited in favor of the Military Contingent Fund, to be used for the benefit of the sick and wounded soldiers of our State.
Mr. BROWN demanded the previous question.
The yeas and nays were demanded, and being ordered and taken resulted yeas 37, nays 7.
There being no quorum present a call of the House was ordered and but 51 members answered to their names.
The House being notified that the Senate had adjourned sine die--
The SPEAKER arose and said:
Gentlemen of the House of Representives:The resolution that was this morning adopted which contains a reassurance of your confidence in me as your presiding officer, is certainly very gratifying to my feelings and will be gratefully remembered by me. I can say in all truth and sincerity, that I have honestly labored to discharge the duties of presiding officer faithfully and impartially. That I have committed many errors, no one will pretend to doubt. I desire to say to members of the House that I feel grateful to you all, for I have received the most generous and cordial support from each member of this House, and the Chair has at all times been treated with the utmost respect and courtesy by members of this House. We assembled here under peculiar circumstances--in stormy times--and the debates have assumed a bitter and acrimonious character at times. We assembled as strangers but I trust, however much we may differ upon political questions, that we will at least separate as personal friends.
Permit me in conclusion, gentlemen, to say it is a matter of regret to the people of the State of Indiana that the business that was requisite to be passed by this Legislature has not been done. That we return home without having accomplished our mission, I say, is a matter of serious regret, I trust, to every member of this House and to the country at large. Permit me to say that when we go home let us do justice to our political opponents; let us hold our political opponents responsible for all that they are justly and fairly entitled to be held responsible for and no more; and I ask of them to do the same by the majority on this floor; for upon our course when we go to our respective counties will depend, to a great extent, the good will and harmony and peace of the people of our respective counties. I insist, therefore, that when we address the people at home, either in public or private we will deal fairly and justly with each other--that we of the majority will not attribute to the minority that they are not guilty of, and that they will look to the record which has been made in the Senate and House to see what the majority have endorsed and not attempt to hold them responsible for what they have not endorsed. I make these suggestions believing that upon our action before the people the peace and harmony and good will existing between neighbors may be preserved.
Gentlemen, returning to you my most sincere thanks, for the many favors I have received at your hands, and asking from you your generous indulgence for the follies and errors I have committed as presiding officer of this House, I will close my remarks.
Mr. DONALDSON (interrupting.) I move that the speech of the Speaker be written out and placed upon the journals. All in favor of the motion say "aye."
The motion was agreed to nem. con.
The SPEAKER. I declare this House adjourned without day.
