AFTERNOON SESSION.
On motion by Mr. Shockney the resolutions of respect concerning ex-Representative Henry C. Meredith, of Wayne County, was made the special order for 3 o'clock this afternoon.
The Speaker announced that the question before the House was the motion by Mr. Shockney to lay Mr. Heffren's motion to recommit the bill [H. R. 43] with instructions pending when the House took the noon recess.
The yeas and nays having been demanded the vote resulted yeas, 40; nays, 48.
So the motion to recommit was agreed to.
Mr. WILSON, of Marion, moved his bill [H. R. 52] to provide for the construction of a sewer from the Female Reformatory to connect with a sewer in the city of Indianapolis, be made special order for to-morrow at 2 o'clock.
Mr. WILLIAMS, of Knox, moved to amend the motion by providing that the bills [H. R. 39, 51, 103, 134] be made the special order for Thursday at 2 o'clock.
Mr. SHOCKNEY made an ineffectual motion to lay the motion and the amendment on the table-yeas, 40; nays, 54.
Mr. Williams' amendment was accepted by Mr. Wilson, and Mr. McMullen moved an amendment to the motion by adding bill [H. R. 148], which was agreed to.
The motion as amended was agreed to.
THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
The special order for the House being the bill [S. 1] to provide for the better government and management of the State Benevolent Institutions, Mr. Jewett demanded that the special order be taken up, which was agreed to by the House.
Mr. JEWETT stated that this was a very wise measure and had been thoroughly discussed, and as he thought no one would be enlightened by a further discussion of the bill he moved the previous question, which was seconded by yeas 53; nays. 39.
The bill passed the House by yeas, 55; nays. 38.
The SPEAKER decided the special order to be Mr. Jewett's bill [H. R. 26] to amend Section 6 of an act concerning promissory notes, bills of exchange, etc.
The bill was read and by yeas, 41; nays, 52, the further consideration was passed over at present.
The Speaker decided that the special order before the House was the motion by Mr. Shaw to reconsider the vote by which Mr. Shively's bill [H. R. 248] to amend Section 64 of an act concerning proceedings in criminal cases was indefinitely postponed.
Mr. SHAW thought it was a bill of some importance, and spoke in favor of his motion.
Mr. McMULLEN stated that the House had spent some time in the consideration of the question of tile jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace, and he thought it was not worth while to occupy more time, and he therefore moved to lay the motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was rejected by yeas, 29; nays, 51.
The motion to reconsider was agreed to.
On motion by Mr. HEFFREN the report of the Committee was laid on the table, and on motion by Mr. SHIVELY the bill was ordered engrossed.
THE LATE HENRY C. MEREDITH.
On demand by Mr. MERING the special order for the hour was called up, it being the resolution of respect concerning the death of ex-Representative Henry C. Meredith, of Wayne County.
The resolution was read by order of the Speaker.
Mr. MERING said: As the mover of the resolution it will be expected that I make some remarks, and I only wish I was more competent to outline the character of and portray the many good qualities of our deceased friend. But I am glad to know that I will be followed by those who knew him longer and more page: 198[View Page 198] intimately than I; and who will do full justice to one whose life was in every way a worthy example. My acquaintance with Henry C. Meredith, though running through a period of twelve years, was slight indeed. He lived in the west and I in the east of our County. I do not remember of ever having met him save in the city of Richmond, and then but for a few moments conversation. His extended hand and smiling countenance gave at once a passport to his friendship and confidence. I knew him in another way. It was through the popular estimate which the community in which a man lives places upon him and measures and gauges him accordingly. As a rule Its judgment is correct and just. Tried by this standard, he was the peer of any man as a dutiful son exemplary as the head of a family, and performing cheerfully all the duties of citizenship. Bearing the honored name of him who commanded the "Iron Brigade," the eyes of our people were constantly upon him, and it is not flattery to say that their just expectations were always realized. As President of our State Board of Agriculture he was prompt and efficient in the discharge of Its many duties. In his own County, as his father before him, he was at the head in the breeding and rearing of fine stock. Honored as he was by the confidence of his fellow-citizens, he held a seat in this body, and served in the Fifty second General Assembly of the State of Indiana. The summons of death came unexpectedly, but be died as he had lived, calmly and gently entering upon the unknown realities of another existence. He passed away in the prime of his manhood, when it seemed that a career of great usefulness was widening out before him. The last of his name, he sleeps by the monument which he erected to the memory of his loved father, having lived a life worthy of all emulation and bequeathing to us a record full of good deeds.
Mr. BEESON said: I think that on an occasion like this it is fitting and proper that we should stop the wheels of legislation for a time that we pay a tribute of respect to one that so young in lire had obtained such as honorable position in the service of the state. Henry C. Meredith was born near Cambridge County, July 17, 1843, and died, After a short illness, at his residence, near that place, July 5, 1882 He was the last living representative of an old and honored family who had been identified with the history of Eastern Indiana for over fifty years, and was recognized as leaders in all measures for public improvement, education and good morals. Henry C. Meredith's wife was the daughter of Hon. O. B. Claypool, of Connersville, Ind. It was my fortune to have personal acquaintance with him for a number of years, and to those who knew him it is scarcely necessary to speak of his many noble qualities. He was beloved because he was frank, cordial and sincere, and looked with the eyes of charity upon the failings and mistakes of men. This death, how sudden! He was in the prime life. Many years of distinction and honor were apparently before him. His life in this world is ended, his mission accomplished, and he has gone to join the innumerable host in that undiscovered country, from which there is no return. Life is but a span. We determine upon our plans, we lay out our work, arrange the programme for a long term of years-and view it, panorama like; when suddenly, perhaps without warning, our lives are required of us, and the bright future fades into the dark mystery of death. Even now, "our hearts, like muffled drums, are beating funeral marches to the grave." I cordially second the adoption of the resolution.
Mr. HUSTON said: I most heartily concur with the gentlemen from Wayne [Mr Mering and Mr. Beeson] in all that they have said in regard to Henry C. Meredith. I knew him as a citizen, I knew him in society, and I served with him in the last General Assembly. I can say this of him: That Henry C. Meredith was an honest man. He was honest to himself,he was honest to his family, and he was honest to his country. He was a man of strong conviction. He was a man who was actuated by what he considered to be for the best interest of the people. He was not actuated by any selfish motive. Henry C. Meredith lived in the County adjoining the one in which I live, and consequently I knew much of him and the estimation in which he was held by his own people. He was a man of large public spirit; a man who evinced great interest in the affairs of the County and State, He was a graduate of Bloomington University. After his graduation he conducted a paper at Cambridge City. It was a newspaper of the people and for the people. I attended the funeral of Mr. Meredith, and I do not remember of having ever attended a funeral where the people, without regard to party distinction, evinced to much sympathy for a bereaved family as was felt and shown for the family of Henry C. Meredith. His wife is a most estimable woman, a lady whom I have known all my life. I most cordially second the adoption of the resolution.
Mr. FRAZEE stated that it was in the capacity of a breeder of thoroughbred Short Horn cattle that he was most intimately associated with Henry C. Meredith, and that it afforded him pleasure to bear testimony to his strict integrity and high sense of right and wrong. He considered him a gentleman of refinement and culture. In his associations with him he had not heard him utter a word that might not with propriety be uttered in the presence of ladies. Mr. Meredith was fortunate in bis marriage to Virginia Claypool, of Fayette County, a young lady upon whom nature had been lavish of her gifts and i charms She was educated at Glendale College, where she carried off the first honors of her class. By an inscrutable Providence Henry C. Meredith has been called home, ere his sun was in its zenith, in the prime and vigor of his manhood, while his step was yet elastic, and with no gray hairs upon his brow. The last representative of a noble family, his two older brothers, the Major and Captain, had offered up their lives upon their country's altar.
Mr. Deem paid a tribute of respect to the deceased.
Mr. MELLETT was not personally acquainted with Mr. Meredith in his lifetime, but he knew him as an honest, valued citizen-a man whose usefulness in society was acknowledged. He cordially concurred in all that had been said.
Mr. Campbell and Mr. Smith, of Tippecanoe, heartily seconded the resolution.
Mr. Shockney also submitted a few remarks.
Mr. Sutten, as a further mark of respect, moved that the House adjourn.
The motion was agreed to.
