MR. PRESIDENT: I am directed by the Governor to inform the Senate that he has signed and approved Senate bill No. 47, "An act to fix the times of holding the Courts of Common Pleas in the Twentieth Judicial District of the State of Indiana, and repealing former laws on the subject, and declaring when this act shall take effect," and has caused a copy of the same to be filed in the office of the Secretary of State. The Senate resumed the consideration of the matter pending at the time of the adjournment for dinner. On motion by Mr. Williams, The resolution was amended by striking out from the resolution the resolving clause, and inserting the following: Resolved, That the Senator from Vanderburg, and the Senator from Marshall, be added to the Committee on the State's Prison. Mr. Wolfe moved to lay the resolution, as amended, on the table. The ayes and noes were demanded by Messrs. Wolfe and Cobb, and being taken, resulted as follows: ayes 35, noes 6. Mr. Corbin offered the following, which lies over one day: Resolved, That the Committee on State Prison be reduced to a number not exceeding eight. Mr. Williams introduced the following resolutions, which were adopted: Resolved, That the members and officers of the Senate have received, with deep sensibility, the melancholy intelligence of the death of the Hon. Thomas Shoulders, late Senator from the county of Dubois. Resolved, That, in token of respect for the memory of the deceased, the members and officers of the Senate will wear the usual badge of mourning during the remainder of the present session of the General Assembly. Resolved, That the members and officers of the Senate will form in procession at the Farmer's Hotel, on Illinois Street, on the 30th inst., at 7 o'clock, A. M., and from thence attend the corpse to the Union Depot. Resolved, That his Excellency, the Governor, the Judges of the Supreme Court, and other officers of the State, now at the seat of Government, be invited to unite in the procession, and that joint participation on the part of the members and officers of the House of Representatives be requested. Resolved, That the President of the Senate be directed to appoint two Senators to accompany the remains of our departed friend to his late residence in the county of Dubois, under the charge of the Sergeant-at-arms. Resolved, That the President of the Senate transmit a copy of these resolutions to the family of the deceased. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to make the requisite arrangements for this mournful occasion. Feeling and eloquent eulogies were pronounced on the public and private character of the deceased, by Senators Cobb, March, Ray, Shields, Wolfe, Corbin, Ferguson, Claypool and White. The President makes the committee, to accompany the body of the deceased to his family, to consist of Senators Williams and Shields. Mr. March submitted the following: MR. PRESIDENT: The committee appointed to make arrangements for the funeral of the Hon. Thomas Shoulders, have performed the duty assigned them, and submit the following report: Order of arrangements for the funeral of the Hon. Thomas Shoulders, late member of the Senate. The procession will form at the Farmer's Hotel, the late boarding house of the deceased, on January 30, 1863, at precisely 7 o'clock, A. M., and attend the funeral cortege to the Union Depot. The Pall Bearers will consist of Messrs. Mansfield, Bearss, Teegarden, Campbell, Landers, Johnson, Gaff and Jenkins. The procession will be under the direction of WILLIAM H. MONTGOMERY, Doorkeeper of the Senate. 1st. Pall Bearers. 2nd. ORDER OF PROCESSION: Governor and Officers of the State. 3rd. Judges of the Supreme Court. 4th. Senate, preceded by its President and Principal Secretary. 5th. House of Representatives, preceded by its Speaker and Principal Secretary. 6th. Citizens generally. The President makes the Committee on Funeral Arrangements to consist of Messrs. March, Ray and Cobb. On motion by Mr. Williams, Resolved, That as a further token of respect for the deceased, that this Senate do now adjourn. The Senate met. FRIDAY, 9 O'CLOCK, A. M., The journal of yesterday was read. Mr. Downey introduced Senate bill No. 74. Entitled an act to fix the time of holding the Common Pleas Court in the Fifth District, and to repeal all other laws on the same subject; Which was read a first time, and passed to a second reading on to-morrow. Mr. Landers introduced Senate bill No. 75. Entitled an act to amend the first section of an act entitled an act providing for the election and qualification of justices of the peace, and defining their jurisdiction, powers and duties in civil cases; Which was read a first time, and passed to a second reading on to-morrow. Mr. Gifford submitted the following: MR. PRESIDENT: The Committee on Phraseology and Arrangement of Bills, to whom was referred Senate bill No. 15, being an act authorizing railroad companies to make extensions or branches in certain cases and to take stock in railroad bridges, have carefully examined the same, and have found the engrossment correct. Mr. Wolfe offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Judiciary committee be instructed to report a bill abolishing the office of Common Pleas Court Prosecuting Attorney, and taking from the Common Pleas Courts all criminal jurisdiction. Mr. Wolfe moved to amend his resolution as follows: Resolved, That it is inexpedient to abolish the Court of Common Pleas. Mr. Mellett moved to amend the amendment as follows: Add in the proper place: And the jurisdiction of the said court in civil cases. On motion by Mr. Murray, The Senate adjourned. 2 O'CLOCK, P. M. Senate met. Mr. Ray moved to refer the resolution and amendments to the Judiciary Committee, with the following instructions: With instructions to act in conjunction with the Committee on the Judiciary of the House, and determine the expediency of abolishing the Common Pleas Court, and instituting a substitute with probate jurisdiction, and if found expedient, to prepare and present a bill for the purpose. Mr. Cobb moved to lay this motion on the table. The ayes and noes were demanded by Messrs. Cobb, and Browne of Randolph, and being taken, resulted, as follows, ayes 19, noes 18: |