CORNER-STONE OF THE NEW CAPITOL.
Mr. SPANN moved to take up his concurrent resolution (see page 153 of these Reports) for a memorial in the new Capitol building commemorating the services of the Indiana soldiers.
Messrs. MENZIES and BROWN would vote in favor of taking up the resolution at any time when the Senator from Allen and Whitley [Mr. Bell] was in his seat, but in the absence of that Senator they should vote against the motion.
The motion was rejected--yeas, 26; nays, 19--two-thirds not voting in the affirmative, as required by the rules.
Subsequently, on motion of Mr. WOOD, this resolution was taken up--the question being on the pending substitute [see page 183] for the Committee report.
Mr. SPANN said the removal of the corner-stone of the new State Capitol would not involve a breach of contract with the builders, and to fail to place in that receptacle the commemoration of the fact that there had been recently a great war to preserve the hearthstones of her citizens, was a violation of decency and right which no State in the Union has failed to observe since the war, on an occasion of that kind. This is one of the most serious matters that has come before the Senate this session, and it should not be treated any other than a serious manner.
Mr. BELL insisted this is not a matter properly political, and it can not be made so unless by distortions, twistings and perversions. He should not so treat it. With the report of the Committee to which this resolution was referred he had no fault to find. Instead of placing something in the corner-stone whlch might not be seen for 2,000 years, it is part of the plans of the State House Commissioners to have tablets placed in conspicuous places or niches in the building, properly commemorating the deeds of Indiana's heroes where posterity can see and read and be constantly reminded of the heroic deeds of her heroic soldiers. Layers of stone have been placed above the corner-stone, extending all around the building, the plan being from the first to build by putting in layer after layer, in order that the building may settle not in one place more than another. To tear out the corner-stone now would affect the superstructure, and unless it can be shown that an insult was offered our heroic dead, such a thing should not be done. He hoped the substitute would be voted down, and that the report of the Committee would be concurred in.
Mr. GRUBBS demanded the previous question, which was seconded by the Senate.
Mr. SPANN had no intention of hurting the feelings of any one; but the vote on this substitute will go down in history, and the 100,000 soldiers now living will remember those who vote against it. It can not be objected to on amount of expense, because the stone can be removed at a cost not to exceed the sum of $100. He charged on the Commissioners that this omission was not an oversight but surrounded as they were by Democratic influences, it was a slight for the purpose of covering up a record of the War.
The substitute for the Committee's report, instructing the Commissioners to remove and relay the stone after placing therein some memorial of the soldiers of Indiana, was rejected--yeas, 11; nays, 32--Mr. FOSTER withdrawing his negative vote because of his belief that this is a political question--he being paired with Mr. Shaffer.
The Committee's report, recommending that in some way a memorial be placed in said building, which shall be a fitting and equally lasting memento of the gallant part taken by Indiana soldiers in the War of the Union, was concurred in by yeas, 44; nays, 0.
Mr. MENZIES moved to reconsider the vote just taken, and to lay the motion to reconsider on the table.
The latter motion was agreed to.
