HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, January 19. 1863.The House met at 2 o'clock p. m.
Mr. ROBERTS offered the following, which was adopted:
WHEREAS The General Assembly of the State of Indiana, by an Act approved May 6, 1861, appropriated the sum of one hundred thousand dollars to the "Governor's Contingent Fund " and,
WHEREAS, The General Assembly, by an Act approved May 31, 1861, "appropriated, for incidental expenses of the Governor's Office, in addition to former appropriations, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars;" therefore,
Be it Resolved, That the Governor be and is hereby requested, to report to this House, at as early a day as practicable, in compliance with the provisions of said acts, a "detailed statement" of all disbursements by him made out of said funds.
Mr. GRIFFITH offered a resolution, instructing; the Military Committee to report a bill refunding to volunteer surgeons who have visited the battle-fields to Succor Indiana wounded, their expenses in such service, and equitable compensation.
Mr. WOOLLEN moved to make it a resolution of inquiry.
The motion was agreed to, and the resolution, as amended, was adopted.
THE STATE OF THE UNION.
Mr. MILLER offered the following:
WHEREAS, The present deplorable civil war tends to unsettle in a startling degree, the social and domestic relations of the country, and promises no results but vice, misery, sorrow and death; it being manifest to the civilized world that Union, peace and fraternal feeling can never be restored by the sword and the
page: 57[View Page 57]torch; but that a continuance of the war under the present policy of the Administration must eventuate in the utter ruin and decay of our free, renowned and mighty nation. Therefore,
Resolved, That any plan, proposition or overture originating with the people of any section or State, having for its object the restoration of the Union and peace on a basis alike equal and just to all the States would not be humiliating and dishonorable. but an event to be hailed with gladness by every true patriot in the land.
Resolved, That we are willing and desirous to receive the seceded States back into the Union on a liberal compromise, granting to them, ungrudgingly, all their Constitutional rights and guarantees, as equal independent sovereign States, with such additional safeguards as may be necessary to protect them in the enjoyment of those rights and guarantees.
Resolved, That we invite the consideration of all true Union men of whatever party, and especially the Legislatures of our sister States of Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and New York now in session, to this subject, to the end that some definite action may be had thereon.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions, together with the preamble, be transmitted by the Clerk of this House to the respective Speakers of the aforesaid Legislatures.
Mr. HOSTETTER offered a series of resolutions, declaring against the schemes of traitor sympathizers and their freedom of treason, justifying military arrests and the suspension of habeas corpus.
Mr. SHAFFER offered a resolution, treating with contempt any attempt to commit the Legislature of this State to the support of the war, by threats or otherwise.
The above resolutions were severally referred to the Committee on federal Relations.
RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY
Addressed to appropriate committees, were offered, read and severally adopted, to wit:
By Mr. WOODRUFF, respecting necessary legislation to preserve life on railroads.
By Mr. CASS, relative to needful legislation for the payment of soldiers' bounties.
By Mr. HALL, as to reports of Township Assessors to County Commissioners.
By Mr. NEWMAN for protection of turnpikes.
By Mr. MILLER, whether amendments are not necessary to render the dog law efficient.
By Mr. JONES, providing for a direct tax for the benefit of soldiers' widows and families.
By Mr. BYERLE, as to the expediency of organizing the militia of the State, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five.
By Mr. HUTCHINGS, as to the further protection of sheep from dogs.
Mr. WOLFE offered a resolution to print 100 copies of each bill when ordered to be engrossed, which lies on the table for one day under the rules.
PAY OF INDIANA SOLDIERS.
Mr. BURTON introduced a joint resolution, [10] instructing our Senators and requesting our Representatives in Congress to provide, if possible, for the prompt payment of Indiana soldiers now in the Held, and requiring the discrepancy in favor of officers to cease, which was read the first lime and passed to the second rending. It is as follows:
WHEREAS, Indiana has been represented upon almost every battlefield in the present unnatural war; and,
WHEREAS, Her brave soldiers are in no way responsible for the manner in which the war is conducted, nor for the purpose for which it is waged; and,
WHEREAS, Numerous complaints are being heard from these soldiers, to the effect that the Government fails to pay them the small pittance which they have so richly earned, while the officers over them, as a general thing, have been promptly paid, and thus enabled to indulge in all manner of luxury, while the poor helpless privates are compelled to suffer privation and want; and, in consequence of such delinquency on the part of the Government, and such discrepancy in favor of selfish officers, the families and friends of these poor soldiers in many instances are caused to suffer and grieve; and,
WHEREAS, Our Gov'nr O. P. Morton, and our President, Abraham Lincoln, have seemingly lost all sympathy and regard for the white men in the ranks, who are fighting the battles of the country, and turned their entire attention and given their entire sympathies to the negroes of the South, as is evidenced by the fact that they regard with apparent indifference the great neglect and many complaints of the one, while they regard as of the greatest necessity and importance the freedom, and amelioration of the other; therefore,
Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That in justice to all concerned, Indiana asks, yea, demands at the hands of the General Government, a prompt and speedy payment of all delinquencies to her soldiers in the field, and further that the great discrepancy in favor of officers over privates shall cease.
Resolved, That the boasted patriotism and philanthropy of the present Administration both State and National, would be less questionable and better appreciated, did they but turn their attention and sympathy to the poor neglected soldiers in the field, and to their suffering families and friends at home, and see that their complaints and necessities were relieved and satisfied as speedily as possible, instead of troubling, themselves concerning the slaves of the South, whose freedom is not essential to the maintenance of the Union under the Constitution, and who are far happier than if they were free.
Resolved, That, to this end, we instruct our Senators and request our Representatives in Congress, to inquire immediately into the cause of this great neglect on the part of the General Government, to fix the responsibility where it justly and rightly belongs, and to provide as speedily as possible, by bill, or otherwise, a remedy for the evil complained of, that our soldiers henceforth may serve the Government, with the full assurance that they will receive prompt and regular pay for their services.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent as soon as convenient to our Senators an and Representatives in Congress.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following bills were introduced, read the first time and severally passed to the second reading:
By Mr. SPENCER, [46] repealing the 18th section of the act regulating the apportionment of decedent's estates,
By Mr. KEMP of Dubois, [47] legalizing the acts of deputies of civil officers who have entered the military service of the United States.
By Mr. SPENCER, [48] prohibiting Judges of Common Pleas Courts from page: 58[View Page 58] practicing as attorneys in Inferior Courts.
By Mr. LEMMON of Harrison, [49] amending the 4th find 6th sections of the act prescribing the duties of Coroners.
By Mr. KILGORE, [50] requiring Railroad Companies to keep on hand a sufficient number of locomotives and freight cars for the transportation of live stock and other freights, and imposing damages in case of default.
By Mr. REITZ, [51] amendatory of an act regulating sales on execution.
By Mr. MORGAN, [52] amending sections 4, 5. 8, 9 and 11 of the law regulating marriages.
By Mr. KILGORE, [53] requiring all railroad corporations to elect three fourths of their directors from the residents of the State.
By Mr. LEEDS, [54] authorizing County Treasurers to expose lands delinquent for taxes at the Auditor's office.
By Mr. LA3SELLE, L55] amending section 1 of an act exempting property from execution.
By Mr. WATERMAN, [56] relative to road taxes.
By Mr. GARVIN, [57] providing that the value of Government stamps on legal processes be collected among the costs.
By Mr. LASSELLE, [58] amending section 82 of the practice act.
By Mr. LEEDS, [59] empowering Sheriffs to expose property on execution for sale at the doors of Clerks offices.
By Mr. LASSELLE. [6O] amending sections 3, 5, 7 and 9, of an act enforcing the 13th article of the constitution.
WORK FOR COMMITTEES.
House bills were read the second time and referred to appropriate committees, to wit:
Mr. Higgin's, [32] amending section 18 of the town and city act.
Mr. Atkison's, [33] amending section 447 of the practice act.
Mr. Spencer's, [34] prohibiting clerks from practicing law in the courts of which they are clerks.
Mr. Hostetter's, [35] amending section 6 of the township act of 1859.
