ELECTION FOR TRUSTEES OF STATE ASYLUMS.
Mr. CULLEN offered a concurrent resolution that the two Houses of the General Assembly, at 3 o'clock P. M. to-morrow. January 22, 1867, by concurrent vote, proceed to the election of three Trustees of the Benevolent Institutions of the State, each to serve for the term of four years from the second day of April next.
Mr. STEIN. Would it not be well to have this election postponed till the committee appointed to investigate certain charges against some of these institutions shall report to the Senate? I understand such a committee was appointed last Friday.
Mr. CULLEN. There was no special committee appointed for that purpose. The question was simply given to a standing committee.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. A resolution of inquiry was referred to a standing committee.
Mr. HANNA. It was referred, in the nature of instructions, to the committee to investigate that question; so it stands be fore the Senate as if it was an original resolution.
Mr. CULLEN. I believe that is true, but I am not in favor of putting off this election until the committee report in reference to that matter. This question of postponement was discussed a day or two ago. We have made our nominations; the men are still here; we have got rid of the balance, and I want to get rid of these. There has been no charges made against any of the parties we propose to vote for, nor indeed can there be; and I hope, unless somebody presents something that we can see, hear or handle against these men, that this election will not be stopped. There have been some vague insinuations made in public print against some of the employees of the Insane Asylum, but that has nothing to do with the men we propose to elect. The law provides that these parties may be turned out if corruption is proved upon them, as I remarked the other day; and if the committee finds any thing tangible in this thing I will go as heartily with these gentlemen to censure them, and put them out of power if possible; but until then I am opposed to stop ping this election. As properly remarked by the Senator from Decatur, the other day, some of these men we know to be honorable and high-minded, and it is not fair that even insinuations should be thrown against good men. If the gentleman would make a charge himself, I might be willing to postpone; but upon these vague and uncertain charges I am opposed to putting off the election. As well might we stop and say we will not go into the election of Governor Morton, to the United States Senate, because, forsooth, some paper sees proper to villify his character. If any body has been guilty of the outrages spoken of let him be named; if there are any charges to be made on the floor of this Senate, let the man be designated. I am opposed to any further postponement, and I hope the Union men on this floor, unless some tangible charges are made, will proceed at once to prepare for the election of the men we have nominated.
Mr. HANNA. It seems to me that the Senator from Rush [Mr. Cullen] is a little over sensitive about these charges. It has been brought to the knowledge of the Senate that there is some ground for an investigation of the charges; and I won't say the gentleman's haste is indecent, but it seems to me that it is unnecessary, to say the least of it. There is no harm in having an investigation of this matter, indeed it is proper on our part to give these gentlemen an opportunity of having the charges investigated. If the charges are true, it is a question of importance to the people and the Senate. The fact that we delay the election is no charge, no insinuation against these gentlemen. Their term of office does not begin till the 2d of April, and this session lasts till the 11th or 12th of March. It seems to me it is in good taste, if there is any probability that there has been corruption manifested in any of these departments that we should have it investigated properly. The question is now in the hands of the gentlemen's friends, in a political sense - one of the regular committees of the Senate, composed of honorable gentlemen, and I have no doubt they will investigate this question fairly and properly. I can see no harm in having this election postponed.
Mr. STEIN. I wish to have it distinctly understood that in favoring a postponement of this election, I by no means lend myself to the charges made against any parties connected with any of these institutions. As I understand it, the charges do not refer to the parties put in nomination last Friday: they refer to other parties, but it occurs to me that since the action of last Friday has been taken back, the question stands open before the Senate, and as a reference of the supposed charges has been made, it would be well to postpone this election till the committee has reported.
Mr. CULLEN. If the charges are not made against any man we propose to page: 68[View Page 68] elect, what good will investigation do as far as they are concerned?
Mr. STEIN. I must confess that I am not disposed to press my objection very far; but it appears to me, as a matter of propriety, we had better delay this election till a report can be had from the investigating committee.
Mr. MILLIGAN. If it is in order I move to lay the concurrent resolution on the table for the present. I think it unnecessary to press this election at this time. I think we owe it to the friends of these Institutions and to ourselves that this committee should report before we proceed to the election.
The yeas and nays being demanded, ordered and taken on this motion, they resulted yeas 18, nays 16.
So the concurrent resolution was laid on the table.
