USA > Indiana > An illustrated history of the state of Indiana: being a full and authentic civil and political history of the state from its first exploration down to 1875 > Part 16
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In 1865, after the conclusion of the war, Governor Morton, in his message to the legislature, summed up the history of Indiana in the war, as follows: "The part which Indiana has taken in the war for the suppression of the rebellion, is a matter upon which the citizens of the State may justly pride themselves. In the number of troops furnished and in the amount of voluntary contributions rendered, Indiana, in pro- portion to her population and wealth, stands equal to any of her sister States. It is also a subject of gratitude and thank- fulness that, while the number of troops furnished by Indiana alone in this great contest would have done credit to a first- class nation, measured by the standard of previous wars, not a single regiment, battery or battalion from this State has
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RECORD IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
brought reproach upon the national flag, and no disaster of the war can be traced to any want of fidelity, courage or efficiency on the part of any Indiana officer. The endurance, heroism, intelligence and skill of the officers and soldiers sent forth by Indiana to do battle for the Union, have shed a lustre on our beloved State of which any people might justly be proud. Without claiming superiority over our loyal sister States, it is but justice to the brave men who have represented us on almost every battle-field of the war, to say that their deeds have placed Indiana in the front rank of those heroic States which rushed to the rescue of the imperiled government of the nation. The total number of troops furnished by the State for all terms of service in the armies of the Union, exceeds two hundred thousand men, much the greater portion of them being for three years; and in addition thereto not less than fifty thousand State militia have from time to time been called into active service to repel rebel raids and defend our southern border from invasion. * * The war has estab- lished upon imperishable foundations the great fundamental truth of the unity and indivisibility of the nation. We are many States, but one people, having one individual sovereignty, one flag, and one common destiny. It has also established, to be confessed by all the world, the exalted character of the Amer- ican soldier, his matchless valor, his self-sacrificing patriotism, his capacity to endure fatigues and hardships, and his human- ity, which, in the midst of carnage, has wreathed his victorious achievements with a brighter glory. He has taught the world a lesson, before which it stands in amazement, how, when the storm of battle had passed, he could lay aside his arms, put off the habiliments of war, and return with cheerfulness to to the gentle pursuits of peace, and show how the bravest of soldiers could become the best of citizens."
CHAPTER XXVII.
GOVERNOR MORTON'S AND BAKER'S ADMINISTRATIONS - EVENTS OF 1867.
THE constitution of the two houses of the general assembly of Indiana, in 1867, stood thus: Republicans; senate 30, house 61; Democrats; senate 20, house 39. Soon after the com- mencement of the session, Governor O. P. Morton sent in his resignation, in consequence of having been elected to the United States Senate. In reply to his resignation, a joint res- olution passed both branches of the legislature, highly compli- mentary to the character and abilities of Mr. Morton, and in January of that year, the chair of the Executive was filled by Lieutenant-Governor Conrad Baker, who was acting Governor during the remainder of Morton's term.
One of the first important measures of this session was a joint resolution ratifying the amendment to the Federal Con- stitution, proposed by Congress to the legislatures of the sev- eral States, "which was intended to constitute all persons born in the country, or subject to its jurisdictions, citizens of . the United States, and of the State wherein they reside, with- out regard to race or color; to reduce the congressional repre- sentation in any State in which there should be a restriction of the exercise of the elective franchise, on account of race or color; to disfranchise persons therein named who shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States; and to declare that the validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, shall not be questioned." This joint resolution was carried to a committee, a majority of which reported favorable to its passage, and a report was also submitted by the minority, taking strong grounds against the
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R.T. BROWN
PROF
W. MEARS
PROF. GEO.
GOR.
PROF. J. A.
PROF
W.B.FLETCHER
WRIGHT
PROF. C. E.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
ratification of the proposed amendments; but the report of the majority was carried by a very decisive vote.
An act was passed dividing the State into eleven congress- ional districts, and apportioning the representation thereto; but the most important measure of the whole session, with the possible exception of the first referred to, was the passage of an act providing for the registry of votes, the punishment of fraudulent practices at elections, and for the apportionment and compensation of a board of registration. According to the measure, this board was to consist, in each township, of two freeholders appointed by the county commissioners, together with the township trustee of such township; in cities the freeholders were to be appointed in each ward by the city council. The members, by this act, are required to file with the auditor of the county, or with the city clerk, in cities, an oath to support the constitution, etc. Twenty days' residence in a township, city or ward, was required to qualify any person to vote therein. The penalty provided, by this measure, for offenses of false registration, or fraudulent personation of reg- istered persons, is imprisonment in the State prison for a period not less than one year, for each and every offense. In all its phases the measure was very strict, and well calculated to secure honest elections. Its aim in this respect has been effective. No State can present a cleaner political record, since this law was enacted (and even from the earliest history of the State,) than Indiana. The two concluding sections of the law are;
SEC. 23. All ballots which may be cast at any election hereafter held in this State, shall be written or printed on plain white paper, without any distinguishing marks or embellishments thereon, except the name of the candidates and the office for which they are voted for; and inspectors of election shall refuse all ballots offered of any other description, provided nothing herein shall disqualify the voter from writing his own name on the back thereof.
SEC. 24. That whereas frauds have been practiced upon the ballot-box - to prevent the same and to secure to the people of this State a fair expression of their wishes at all elections at the earliest practicable time - an emergency is hereby declared to exist, and this act is declared to be in force from and after its passage.
During the same session a law was passed that created con-
GOV. MORTON'S AND BAKER'S ADMINISTRATIONS. 241
siderable discussion. It provided for the protection and indemnity of all officers and soldiers of the United States and soldiers of the Indiana Legion, for acts done in the "military service of the United States, and in the military service of the State, and in enforcing the laws and preserving the peace of the country." We annex the leading features of this law:
SEC. 2. That in all suits and actions, civil or criminal, against individu- als, arising out of acts done by officers or soldiers of the United States, or of the militia of the State of Indiana, in the preservation of order and the suppression of the late rebellion, or in making any arrest, taking or entering upon any property, or in holding or detaining any person or property, it shall be a full defense to prove that the acts done or commit- ted, and for which suit is brought, were done or committed under orders, either written or oral, from any military officer.
SEC. 5. In all actions for libel or slander for imputing the crime of treason to the plaintiff, during the late rebellion, it shall be a full defense to prove that the party complaining was a member of, or affiliated with, any society or organization, other than as a political party, in sympathy with the rebellion, and in any case where, for technical reasons, a full defense cannot be made according to the provision of this act, the measure of damages, in case of recovery, shall be five dollars, and no more, with- out costs.
It was at this session of the legislature that an act was passed making definite appropriations to the several benevo- lent institutions of the State. Several measures were also adopted for the encouragement of education, and charities. First of these was for the establishment of the Soldiers' Home, the corner stone of which was laid on the fourth of July, 1867. The second was for the establishment of a State Nor- mal School, located at Terre Haute, and, to-day, one of the finest institutions of the kind in the west. The erection of suitable buildings for this school was undertaken early in 1867, and the corner stone was laid in August, with interest- ing and appropriate ceremonies. The original building cost over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The legislature also graciously provided for the establishment of a House of Refuge for the correction and reformation of juvenile offenders. According to the law, children under eighteen years of age may be sentenced, upon regular trial, to this Home, instead of being sent to the State prison or county jail. The institution
16
242
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
was admirably established on the plan of an industrial school. Children sent to the House of Refuge by a regular court, are supported by the State, and the county from which they are sent, equally. When sent by the parent or guardian, such person or persons, if able, must defray the expense. This school, or prison, is located near Plainfield, in Hendricks county, and was ready for the reception of the wayward in January, 1868.
After a successful session of sixty days, the legislature adjourned on the eleventh of March, 1867. During the ses- sion the question of the agricultural college - now the "Pur- due University," at La Fayette -was discussed, but not disposed of. The financial condition of the State on the thir- ty-first of October, 1867, the close of that fiscal year, is shown by the following statistics, extracted from the Auditor's report for that year:
RECEIPTS.
General revenue tax . $1,243,013 75
School tax ..
811,632 19
Sinking fund tax 915,033 39
Library tax.
46,041 15
Total $3,015,720 48
EXPENDITURES.
Ordinary . $ 441,850 50
For benevolent institutions
632,186 86
Redemption of stock, interest, etc
Military expenses . 1,671,904 01
66,193 07
School fund, to counties
1,289,097 00
Balance on hand Nov. 1st, 1866 381,521 89
Receipts during the year
4,210,336 44
Total. $4,591,858 33
In that year the total revenue of the common school fund amounted to $1,336,762, which was without a parallel in the United States. The principal of the fund is over ten million dollars, and can never be reduced or reverted from its proper channel.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
GOVERNOR BAKER'S ADMINISTRATION - EVENTS OF 1868.
P OLITICALLY Indiana took the lead in the memorable campaign of 1868. Both parties held conventions early in the year, setting forth the principles on which they pro- posed to conduct the canvass, before any other State became actively interested. The Democrats nominated Thomas A. Hendricks for Governor, Alfred P. Edgerton for Lieutenant- Governor, and R. C. Kise for Secretary of State. The resolu- tions constituting the platform denounced the reconstruction policy of the Republicans, recommended the substitution of United States notes in lieu of the national bank currency, denied the right of the General Government to interfere with the question of suffrage in any of the States, and opposed negro suffrage, etc.
The Republican convention nominated Conrad Baker for Governor, William Cumback for Lieutenant-Governor, and Max T. A. Hoffman for Secretary of State. The platform adopted endorsed the policy of the party in strong terms, defending the plan of reconstruction, and opposing a further contraction of the currency, etc.
The canvass was very excited, and resulted in the election of Conrad Baker for Governor, by a majority of nine hundred and sixty-one votes. The presidential election followed soon after, in which the State polled 343,532 votes, of which 176,552 were for Grant, and 166,980 for Seymour, giving the Republi- can Board of Electors a majority of 9,572.
At the close of the fiscal year the State debt was $7,195,- 085.94. Over three and a quarter millions of this amount consisted of balances of old debts, incurred for internal
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
improvements, of which we have spoken at length in previous chapters. These debts had been adjusted by what is known as the " Butler Bill," in 1846-7, at which time five per cent. cer- tificates of stock were issued to the creditors of the State. Over three and a half millions of this debt, as reported in 1868, were represented by non-negotiable bonds, held by the State school fund, for money borrowed therefrom to redeem a portion of the certificates issued to help the State out of its financial difficulty in 1846-7. The balance of the State debt consisted of six per cent. bonds, issued in 1861, for war pur- poses, and bonds held by the Vincennes University.
In 1868, the State of Indiana was energetically engaged in prosecuting claims on the General Government on account of expenses incurred in the civil war, to the amount of about three millions and a half. The State appointed an agent to prosecute the claims, and during the year $1,958,917.94 were allowed.
During the previous year the legislature had appointed commissioners to hear and consider claims against the State for losses sustained by the "Morgan raid." A report was sub- mitted by the commissioners, in 1868, showing that $413,- 599.48 had been allowed to persons suffering loss of property from the raid.
It was during the year 1868 that Governor Baker, pursuant to the act of the legislature of the previous year, obtained a a site for the then proposed House of Refuge. He purchased one hundred and twenty-one acres of land, near Plainfield, Hendricks county, and expended about forty thousand dollars in improvements thereon. As to other benevolent institu- tions, "the Soldiers' and Seamen's Home, near Knightstown, originally established by private enterprise and benevolence, and adopted by the legislature in 1867," was in a good condi- tion. Up to that date the institution had afforded relief and temporary subsistence to four hundred men who were disabled in the civil war. A substantial brick building had been built for the Home, while the old buildings were used for an orphan's department, in which were gathered eighty-six children of deceased soldiers.
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GOVERNOR BAKER'S ADMINISTRATION.
During this year, 1868, a feeling began to be prevalent in the State, that the processes of law in relation to criminal pro- ceedings were neither prompt nor sure for the punishment of crime. It appeared to be easy, by means of affidavits, no matter how false, to obtain numerous continuances and changes
e
See page 21.
of venue, and in that way delaying, and injuring confidence in the administration of the penal laws. In consequence of this fact " Lynch Law " became of too frequent occurrence in the State. A remarkable case of this kind occurred in 1868, in the case of several robbers of express cars on railroads in
246
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Indiana. "A gang of these desperadoes had operated for many months in the southern counties, and on the twenty- second of May an extensive robbery was committed on the Jeffersonville road, upon a car belonging to the Adams Express Company. Though the perpetrators of the robbery were soon afterwards arrested, and kept for several weeks in custody in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, on the twentieth of July they were put on board a train of cars to be taken to the county of Jackson, in this State, for trial. An armed body of so-called Vigilance Committee of Seymour county, laid in wait for the train, and stopped the cars by hoisting a red signal on the road. They then proceeded to seize the prisoners, and after extorting a confession from them, hanged them without the form of a trial."*
Almost immediately following this outrage, they published, and widely circulated, the following proclamation, which, together with the demonstrations of "Lynch Law " referred to, created no little excitement and comment in the State and Nation :
ATTENTION, THIEVES !
The attention of all thieves, robbers, assassins and vagrants, together with their aiders, abetters and sympathizers, is called to the doings of the Seymour Vigilance Committee last night. We are determined to follow this up until all of the classes above named, whether imported or to the " manor born," are driven forever from our midst. Threats have been made of retaliation in case we should resort to capital punishment. In answer we say, " should one of our committee be harmed, or a dollar's worth of any honest man's property destroyed by persons unknown, we will swing by the neck until they be dead, every thieving character we can lay our hands on, without inquiry whether we have the persons who com- mitted that particular crime or not. This applies not only to Seymour, but along the line of the two roads, and wherever our organization exists. Law and order must prevail.
BY ORDER OF THE COMMITTEE.
Seymour, Ind., July 21, 1868.
In the following October four others of the railroad robbers were arrested in Canada, and taken to New Albany and there confined in prison, and on the night of the twelfth of Decem- ber, the Seymour Vigilance Committee, to the number of
* Annual Cyclopedia.
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GOVERNOR BAKER'S ADMINISTRATION.
seventy-five men, all armed and disguised, entered that city, and forcibly took the keys of the jail from the sheriff, and proceeded to hang the ruffians in the corridors of the prison.
CHAPTER XXIX.
GOVERNOR BAKER'S ADMINISTRATION - EVENTS OF 1869.
E VERY person in Indiana who has taken any interest in the recent political history of the State, will remember the " Fifteenth Amendment lock " in the legislature in 1869. The regular session commenced in January, and after listening to the Governor's somewhat lengthy message, the members proceeded to business, but accomplished very little. An attempt was made to alter the constitution of the State courts, but the Amendment question interfered, and the assembly adjourned prematurely, in March, without transacting any business of importance. During the short session serious complaints were made against the management of the State prisons, and nearly the whole of the two months' session was occupied in investigating the conduct of prison, and other officials.
Party spirit was at a very high pitch, owing partly to the necessity of electing a United States senator to succeed Thomas A. Hendricks. The Democrats were strongly united on Mr. Hendricks, and the Republicans were somewhat divided between Will Cumback and James S. Frazer. The joint con- vention of the two houses occupied nearly the whole of three days, and finally elected Daniel D. Pratt.
The Fifteenth Amendment came before the legislature, and the Democrats, as well as a portion of the conservative Repub- licans, opposed its consideration strongly, on the ground that it would be unfair to vote on the question until the people of the State had had an opportunity of expressing their views at
248
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
the polls. The Republican members, however, resolved, in caucus, to force the ratification through the legislature, while, on the other hand, the Democratic members, in caucus, resolved to resign in a body, and all did so except those who were ordered by the caucus to remain and protect the interests of the party. Accordingly, on the fourth of March, seventeen senators and thirty-six representatives resigned, destroying a quorum in both houses, which stopped legislation.
The rupture left the benevolent institutions of the State unprovided for, as no appropriation bills had been passed. The Governor at once issued writs for special elections of members of the legislature to fill the vacancies made by this wholesale resignation, and on the twenty-second of March issued a proclamation convening the legislature in special ses- sion, summoning the members to meet on the eighth of April. On the day appointed the members appeared, but the Demo- crats, before submitting to the oath of office, compelled a majority of the Republican members to agree that the consid- eration of the Fifteenth Amendment should not be taken up until after the legislation needed for the general welfare of the State had been disposed of.
At this extra session the legislature passed an act introduc ing the study of the German language in the course of study in the public schools; also a measure establishing a female prison and reformatory institution for girls and women, at Indianapolis, to which all female convicts should be sent, instead of to the State prison. This legislation was among the good phases of the political year, as also that locating the Agricultural College at La Fayette, in consideration of the gift of $100,000, cash, by Hon. John Purdue, of that place. This philanthropic gentleman has added $50,000 to the first sum given, and, we understand from his own lips, contemplates enlarging this very considerably. The institution has been, appropriately, given his name, and is now known as the Purdue University. It is in a flourishing condition, and promises to win new laurels for the State's educational repu- tation.
On the nineteenth of May, during the extra session of the
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GOVERNOR BAKER'S ADMINISTRATION.
legislature, the Fifteenth Amendment was again introduced, but, as all the Democratic members, in anticipation of this, had presented their resignations to the Governor, it was claimed that there was not a quorum present. In the senate, however, there was a quorum, and although many of the mem-
CROSSCUR & WEST.PHIL A.
GEORGE W. WOOD, ESQ. See page 21.
bers refused to vote, and declared that they were no longer senators, the president of that body decided that as he had not been informed of their resignation, by the Governor, they were still members. A vote was taken and the resolution was
250
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
adopted. Soon after the joint resolution came up in the house, and although the Democratic members had resigned, leaving no quorum, the chair decided that there was a quorum of the de facto members present, and the resolution was put and the Amendment ratified. The decision of the chair was after- wards substantially sustained by the Supreme Court.
During the session the election laws were so modified as to have elections held biennially instead of annually, the first election under the new law to be held in October, 1874.
The general progress in the State institutions of all kinds was marked with good results. The Hospital for the Insane was enlarged in 1869, and so improved as to become one of the most complete institutions of the kind in the State.
In 1869, the development of mineral resources in the State attracted considerable attention. Rich mines of iron and coal were discovered, as also fine quarries of building stone. The line of the Vincennes railroad passed through some of the richest portions of the mineral region - its quality of richness having been accurately determined by the engineers of the road. Some of the mineral resources of the State, as viewed in 1869, are noted as follows: "Near Brooklyn, about twenty miles from Indianapolis, is a fine formation of sand-stone. It is being used extensively in buildings in Indianapolis, and is considered the best building stone in the State. The lime- stone formation at Gosport, and continuing for twelve miles from that point, is of great variety, and includes the finest building material in the world. Portions of it are susceptible only to the chisel; other portions are soft, and can be worked with the ordinary tools. It is said to be the most durable building material in the world. At the terminus of this lime- stone formation a sandstone formation commences and extends a distance of seven miles, to a point about sixty miles from Indianapolis, when an extensive coal bed is reached, consisting of seven distinct veins. The first is about two feet in thick- ness, the next three feet, another four feet, and the others of various thicknesses. These beds are all easily worked, having a natural drain, and are already yielding heavy profits to enter- prising companies.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BAKER.
We make this mention of the mineral resources of the State in connection with the events of 1869, partly because they were first brought to the notice of the public in that year, prominently, for the first time; but in another part of this work will be found a chapter devoted exclusively to this subject.
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