INDIANA LEGISLATURE.
IN SENATE.
THURSDAY, January 8, 1863.
This being the day prescribed by the Constitution of the State of Indiana for the regular biennial meeting of the Legislature, Senators assembled in the Senate Chamber of the Capitol at ten o'clock, a.m., and were called to order by THOMAS M. BROWNE. Esq,. Principal Secretary of the last session.
Senators holding over answered to their names as follows:
- From the counties of Clark and Scott--Charles P. Ferguson.
- From the counties of Delaware and Blackford--Walter March.
- From the counties of Elkhart and Lagrange--Chas. L. Murray.
- From the counties of Fayette and Union--Benjamin F. Claypool.
- From the county of Fountain--Henry Campbell.
- From the counties of Gibson, Dubois and Pike--Thomas Shoulders.
- From the counties of Hamilton and Tipton--George B. Grubb.
- From the counties of Hendricks and Boone--Solomon Blair.
- From the county of Henry--Joshua II. Mellett.
- From the counties of Jennings and Jackson--Medy W. Shields.
- From the counties of Johnson and Morgan--Franklin Landers.
- From the counties of Laporte and Starke--Abram Teegarden.
- From the counties of Miami and Fulton--Daniel R. Bearss.
- From the county of Montgomery--Michael G. White.
- From the counties of Noble, DeKalb and Steuben--Timothy R. Dickinson.
- From the counties of Putnam and Clay--Archibald Johnston.
- From the county of Rush--Edward H. M. Berry.
- From the counties of Shelby and Hancock--Martin M. Ray.
- From the counties of Vigo and Sullivan--Henry K. Wilson.
- From the counties of Washington and Harrison--Simeon K. Wolfe.
Senators elect were then called, and the following appeared, presented their credentials, and took the oath of office at the hand of Judge SAMUEL E. PERKINS of the Supreme Court, (which is in the following words: "You and each of you do solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Indiana, and that you will faithfully discharge your duty as Senators during your continuance in office, so help you God.") to-wit:
- From the counties of Adams, Jay and Wells--Geo.S. Brown.
- From the county of Allen--Pliny Hoagland.
- From the county of Bartholomew--Francis T. Hord.
- From the counties of Benton, Warren and White--Alfred Reed.
- from the counties of Carroll and Clinton--Learner McClurg.
- From the counties of Cass, Howard and Pulaski--John Davis.
- From the counties of Crawford and Orange--Henry Jenkins.
- From the county of Dearborn--James W. Gaff.
- From the county of Decatur--J. D. Pleak.
- From the county of Floyd--Augustus Bradley.
- From the county of Franklin--Thomas Gifford.
- From the counties of Huntington and Whilley--A.J. Douglass.
- From the counties of Jasper, Lake and Newton--Ezra Wright.
- From the county of Jefferson--John L. Mansfield.
- From the counties of Kosciusko and Wabash--Wm. C. Graves.
- From the counties of Knox and Daviess--James D. Williams.
- From the counties of Lawrence and Martin--Thos. R. Cobb.
- From the county of Marion--John C. New.
- From the counties of Madison and Grant--John D.Marshall.
- From the counties of Monroe and Brown--Paris C.Dunning.
- From the counties of Ohio and Switzerland--Alex. C. Downey.
- From the counties of Owen and Greene--GW. Moore
- From the counties of Parke and Vermillion--Oliver P. Davis.
- From the counties of Perry, Spencer and Warrick--Benjamin L. Fuller.
- From the counties of Posey and Vanderburg--Geo. W. Finch.
- From the county of Randolph--Thomas M. Browne,(to fill a vacancy.)
- From the county of Ripley--Wm. L. Hartley.
- From the county of Tippecanoe--Moses C. Culver.
- From the county of Wayne--Othniel Beeson.
ORGANIZATION.
On motion by Mr. JOHNSTON, it was
Ordered, That the Senate now proceed to election of a President to preside over the deliberations of this body.
Mr. WILLIAMS nominated PARIS C. DENNING, of Monroe.
Mr. MELLETT nominated OTHNIEL BEESON of Wayne.
No other nominations being made--
The Secretary called the roll and the result of the first ballot was as follows:
Senators voting for Mr. Dunning were--
Messrs. Bradley,Brown of Wells, Cobb, Davis of Cass, Douglass, Downey, Ferguson, Finch, Fuller, Gaff, Gifford, Graves, Hartley, Hoagland, Hord, Jenkins, Johnston, Landers, McClurg, Marshall, Moore, Ray, Shields, Shoulders, Williams, Wilson n, Wolfe--27.
Senators voting for Mr. Beeson, were--
Messrs. Bearss, Berry, Blair, Browne, of Randolph, Campbell, Claypool, Culver, Davis, of Parke, Dickinson, Grubb, Mansfield, March, Mellett, Murray, New, Pleak, Reed, Teegarden, White, Wright--20.
Mr. Dunning having received a majority of all the votes cast, was declared by the Secretary, to be duly elected President of the Senate, and Senators Reckon and Williams were appointed to conduct him to the chair.
The PRESIDENT, having been conducted to the Chair, said : Gentlemen of the Senate, in return for the distinguished compliment just conferred upon me by this election to the Presidency of the Senate, I promise you, in the discharge of the arduous and responsible duties which the Constitution imposes, all the ability of which I am possessed.
The Senate of Indiana has assembled on this occasion under inauspicious circumstances. Our country which was once happy and united--which was prosperous, which was the greatest among the nations of the earth is now involved in civil war the like of which the history of the world gives no account. The Constitution of the United States has been imperilled, the integrity of the Union has been lost, and every attempt which a powerful people can make for the purpose of prostrating this government is now going on. These things should admonish us, that in our deliberations we should have harmony and co operation--that we should throw aside partizanship and act as statesmen. I trust that the legislation of this session will be characterized by statesmanship, and by the enactment of such laws and the expression of such opinions as will tend to put down this rebellion as will tend to uphold the Constitution of the country and to the reconstruction of this government. I promise you, Senators, co-operation on my part, and I trust there will be co-operation on the part of the every member of this body.
Your duties are responsible--I repeat, your duties are responsible: Your constituents are looking to you with anxiety and not only your constituency, but the people of the world are looking to the legislation of Indiana as well as to the legislation of every loyal State of this Union to see what direction that legislation may take.
I trust, I say, that our legislation may be characterized by such a spirit and by such tendencies as will restore peace and harmony to this once glorious country, but now divided and now distracted. That such may be the result of our legislation, if I may be permitted, I pray Almighty God who rules the every destiny of men, as well as the destinies of nations, to inspire us with the proper spirit for the station we occupy. I thank you, gentlemen, kindly, for the honor you have conferred upon me.
I can say upon this occasion truly to my Republican and to my democratic fellow-senators, that I take this place without ever having uttered a word directly or indirectly, by way of seeking the intervention of any friend, for my election to the seat you have given me.
The Senate pursued the organization.
MR. COBB nominated for Principal Secretary James H. Vawter, of Jennings.
Mr. CLAYPOOL nominated Azel P. Newkirk, of Fayette.
Mr. Vawter received 27 votes, and Mr. Newkirk 22 votes. Mr. Vawter was declared duly elected.
Mr. WILSON nominated for Assistant Secretary Samuel R. Hamill of Sullivan.
Mr. MARCH nominated John R. Cravens of Marion.
Mr. Hamill received 27 votes, and Mr. Cravens 22. Mr. Hamill was declared duly elected.
Mr. SHIELDS nominated for Doorkeeper W.H. Montgomery of Martin.
Mr. BERRY nominated Samuel G. Thomson of Wabash.
Mr. Montgomery received 27 votes and Mr. Thomson 22. Mr. Montgomery was declared duly elected.
Mr. WILSON nominated for Assistant Doorkeeper Bruce Shields of Jackson.
Mr. BROWNE of Randolph nominated Frederick F. Needham of Randolph.
Mr. Shields received 27 votes and Mr. Needham 21. Mr. Shields was declared duly elected.
As each office was elected he forward and was sworn by Solomon Claypool, Judge of the Sixth Judicial District.
On motion by Mr. RAY, it was--
Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of the organization of the Senate.
PARTIZAN DECLARATION.
Mr. CLAYPOOL offered the following:
WHEREAS, The suppression of the rebellion, the restoration and preservation of the Union of all the states is the great and paramount object of all loyal citizens. Therefore, be it
page: 9[View Page 9]>Resolved, That the members of this Legislature will vote for no man for office who is not in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war, and who is not unalterably opposed to the severance of any State or States from this Union.
Mr. COBB moved to postpone any action on the resolution until next Tuesday week.
Mr. MARCH had not come here to shirk from any duty to avoid or dodge the-expression of any opinion. While he had no disposition to pass judgment in advance, upon rumor, as to the loyalty of any candidate to he presented, yet it could not be denied that there were rumors out, and it was proper that the Senate should now define its views. He was prepared to vote for it now, but would consent to the postponement of the resolution until members could have time for consideration.
Mr. WOLFE had no objection to a resolution on that subject, properly worded. There were some things in it that were proper, but there were other subjects that orient to be in that are not.
Mr. CLAYPOOL thought there was nothing in the resolution that ought not to meet with a proper response now. If gentlemen wished to amend it, now was the time. Its object was that when it became necessary to elect officers none but those of undoubted loyalty should be voted for.
Mr. McCLURG said the resolution should he more comprehensive in its wording. It should be definite and positive in its sentiments. No one could object to the war, if it be not prosecuted in a profligate manner.
He withdrew his motion upon the suggestion of--
Mr. WILLIAMS who moved to refer the resolution to the Committee on Federal Relations.
Mr. MELLETT was not uneasy about being gagged. He was ready to vote for the resolution because it was a simple proposition and right in itself.
Mr. MANSFIELD, as one of the minority, would throw no obstacle in the way of the majority, but this question was a simple expression, and if gentlemen were willing to postpone elections until an expression was had on this resolution he would consent to postpone action on it now. He offered an amendment providing that the present Legislature shall not enter upon the election of United States Senators until action is had upon the subject embraced in Mr. Claypool's resolution.
The PRESIDENT (Mr. Johnson in the chair.) deemed the amendment out of order.
Mr. RAY advocated the reference to the Committee on Federal Relations. The resolution was not fall enough, and should go there to be perfected. There were many patriotic and loyal Senators who were in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war, who thought the olive branch should accompany the sword. Others were satisfied that war alone could never restore the Union. He could assure Senators that, no man whose loyalty had a shade upon it would ever be elected to any high or responsible office.
Mr. CLAYPOOL, to test the question, made an ineffectual motion to lay the motion to refer on the table--yeas 22, nays 27.
The motion to refer was then agreed to--yeas 27, nays 22.
Mr. MANSFIELD offered the following:
Resolved, That the present Legislature enter upon no election of officers, until the resolution denning the position of the nominees for office, upon, the questions involved in the resolution, offered by the Senator from Fayette [Mr. Claypool] shall have been acted upon.
The resolution was rejected by yeas 23, nays 26, as follows:
YEAS--Messrs. Bearss, Beeson, Berry, Blair, Browne, of Randolph, Campbell, Claypool, Culver, Davis, of Parke, Dickinson, Downey, Graves, Grubb, Mansfield, March, Mellett, Murray, New, Pleak, Reed, Teegarden, White, Wright--23.
NAYS--Messrs. Bradley, Brown, of Wells, Cobb, Davis, of Cass, Douglass, Dunning, Ferguson, Finch, Fuller, Gaff, Giffod, Hartley, Hoagland, Hord, Jenkins, Johnston, Landers, McClurg, Marshall, Moore, Ray, Shields, Shoulders, Williams, Wilson, Wolfe--26
NEWSPAPERS.
On motion of Mr. COBB, it was--
Ordered, That the Doorkeeper be directed to contract for and place upon the desks of Senators and officers of the Senate, three copies of the Daily Sentinel and Journal, Provided they report and publish the proceedings of the Legislature in full: two of the aforesaid paper, to be wrapped and Stamped ready for mailing.
A message was received from the House announcing the organization of that body.
NOTICE TO THE GOVERNOR.
On motion by Mr. RAY, it was--
>Ordered, That a Committee of three be appointed to act with a like Committee on the part of the House to wait upon his Excellency the Governor, inform, him of the organization of the General Assembly, and inquire of him when it will be convenient for him to deliver his Message to the General Assembly.
The PRESIDENT made the Committee to consist of Messrs. Ray, Hoagland and Davis, of Parke.
page: 10[View Page 10]8TH OF JANUARY.
Mr. MARCH offered the following:
Resolved, That on this day rendered ever memorable and glorious by the victory achieved at New Orleans over the trained armies of a foreign foe, by American citizen soldiers under the lead of Andrew Jackson, we here renew our pledges of loyalty to the national constitution and Government, and of unalterable devotion to the Union of all the States, and adopt as our motto the living words of the hero of New Orleans: "The Union, it must and shall be preserved."
Resolved, That in honor of the day, and of the living and departed heroes whose deeds have made their names immortal, the Senate do now adjourn until to-morrow morning at nine o'clock.
On motion of Mr. RAY, all after the word "adjourn," in the last resolution, was stricken out, and the resolutions as amended were adopted--yeas 28, nays 19.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Senate was called to order at 2 o'clock.
On motion of Mr. MOORE a call of the Senate was ordered and being taken 29 members answered to their names.
There being no quorum present--
Mr. BROWNS, of Randolph, hoped that the Senate would excuse the Republican Senators who were absent. It was the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans, and the absent gentlemen desired to celebrate it with appropriate ceremonies.
Mr. COBB stated that the Republican Senators would not be present this afternoon. Of this he was well assured. He therefore moved that the Senate adjourn, until nine o'clock to-morrow morning.
The motion was agreed to.
