Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1842-12-06
INDIANA STATE SENTINEL
Governors Message.
Genficmes Of me Senate

of,-r lives tor the 5nunties Of MS goodness. be-
nchcent Providence has smiled upon since the
last annual meeting of the Legislature, and Ne yet
ENJOY all the elements of0ar national gre ltnes and
prosperity. We htvc been once more permitted 10
convene rs the Representatives Of free people
convene ia peace % convene after season OF az
rIcultulal plenty eud general health. The recent
treaty with Great Britain has baulscd all apprc-
hcesion Of war from our borders, and has secured 10
bloodle,s and satisfactory adjustment Of an an
pleasant controversy witi great aud powerful na-
ton. And although there is much ~ the depressed
condition Of our monetary affairs. and IN the uncer
AMI unlixed chsrlcter of the national legIsla-
ton, which may well awaken regret and dis1p-
pointment yet We have much. as a people, when
cOntrasted with others, % bow oar hearts with uu
fclgncd thanktulnc-s 10 the Giver of all Good. and
10 inspire with new ardor TO pcrscvcre IN the
work 81 tr1usm ting what we thus enjoy o. those
who shall come after II is - lie sincerely hop
cd, that tbs spirit OF gratitude and patriotic de-
termination the Representatives. Of Indiana have
AZ this time assembled IN the discharge Of their
high and honorable dstes. 1t is u be hoped that,
ca the exercise Of the important and exciting trusts
winch now devrlvc upon them a bright example
viii be held forth to the world, Of integrity fairness,
and moderation; of respect for the laws, and Of
Ermncss IN their execution that the spirit Of law
lcssness and faction wh ca has been elsewhere IN
brdled, vii b. promptly rebuked, and that the ut
most harmony viii chnrlcterize the agtatlng du-
ties Of The present session.
- rccting our attention to the sphere Of our i'm
mediate duties. find but few subj cts 10 engage
the labors Of the Legislature yet these few OF
pressing concernment to our citizens. Among the
most important OF these is the condition OF our cur
rency. In The year l539. the Legislature, for the
purpose Of paying contractors on the public works,
authorized an issue Of treasury notes 10 the amount
ct 81 .jOO eco. These notes formed very consid
cradle part # orr circulation, and passed at par
I'll about seven months since, when they suddenly
deprecated IN vaigc between forty and fifty per
a..
these notes IN circulation and the immediate ct
feet .as not only to leave IN the hands Of the con-
muHty a circulating medium that answered bat
few Of the purposes # money, but was also equal
10 n clear Joss % the people, by tbs sudden depre
Grafton Of ucrTy h1lf million Of dollars But this
was not all. Shortly afterwards the state Bauk
resumed specie payments, and thas n strong line of
demlrcation was drawn between It's notes and ,h)se
ISSUED By the State. This however is not all the
Injury that has been suffered. Nothing operates
more iriuriou-ly upon the business Of any people
than % ilvc two kinds of circulating medium sus-
tanning different values. The worse currency is
forced upon the people by every pretext which Gu
pidtty suggcst, while the better circulation is
great extent withdrawn from lis legitimate en-
pioymcut, and applied. in the hands Of the broker,
70 dealing ia thu Deprecated currency.
The effect of these treasury votes the State
Treasury Viii demand your consideration. Nearly
the entire state revenue Tor the pact year, from PIE
sent ind cations, Wll be paid IN this currency. This
leaves the treasury nearly destitute of means 10
pay the members of the Legislature, the various
public officers and the current expenses Of the gov
rrnmcnt. The shyrc Indiana is entitled TO receive
from the distribution OF the proceeds OF the public
lands is s25.sl1 g. The General Government
has withheld, OF tins sum, Sl3 915-t0 pay back
interest due ON the bonds Of the State purchased
by the General Government. aud invested in the
Chickasaw aud Choctaw annuities, leaving 4 bal
To the credit ofthc State Of SIP 902 66. This
hc set 81 nj mr. l. 4
tual money to meet the expenses of the State for
the present year. The deficiency is 10 be supplied
IN such manner the Legislature my direct The
devisng Of ways and means 10 dciray the expenses
of the Government Is the peculiar province Of the
immediate representatives, Of the people, with
which may not interfere but cannot press too
strongly your consideration, the necessity of us
ing every cXCrton for the earliest practic bic
dcmption OF the treasury notes to save the people
from further loss, and relieve the revenue OF the
State from cmb 1rrlssment | would also call your
attention impolicy Of issuing treasury notes
that have been received a, the treasury. If it
can possibly be avoided. As the amount IN circu-
Iatiou is diminished, their value viii he proportions
ably increased, but this advantage VIII Be entirely
lost by throwing them again aholt. The faith of
the State is pledged for their redemption, and for
the sake OF our credit and for the interests Of the
community, It must be done speedily. In addition
q the payment of the revenue, aud other means
heretofore provided for the redemption of the
curry notes, and winch ought 10 be made available
far practicable, every other means which the
State consistently with her Just DBL cations 4 p
ply to tins object should be brought into requsl-
ton. Very many of our citizens are indebted to
the State IN various ways, and on account OF vari
funds. and after looking the whole grounds,
and viewing the ADVERTISEMENTS 10 which we must
b, subjected until the treasury notes all
deemed by the State, | can sec no better plan than
10 make them receivable for all State dues far
II can be done. 1.-THE State will not receive money
OF her own creation for her own dues, she cannot
and ought not to ask the people TO give It that cred
1t as circulating medium which she refuses to
accord 10 it.
As :egards the condition ofonr foreign debt there
has been no material change since tie last meeting
of the Legislature. No part of the interest has
been paid. The suspended debt has been made the
subject of very considerable investigation by the
state agent, and the result is 70 strengthen the pro-
liability that nearly the whole Of the amount Will
prove total loss. OF the collateral securities il
Is not probable that more can be realized from them
than hall million snd even to save this amount
viii require much care and attention.
The failure Of this and several other States TO
meet the interest their public debts, has been the
subject OF much comment al home and abroad. This
was to be expected but | must be permitted
IN the name Of the whole people OF Indiana, 10 pro-
test against that ndlscrmnate censure and re-
prOach which place those VINO have become unable,
by unavoidable circumstances, to discharge their
Jnst liabilities on the same level with the wful re
pudator IL true, that the helrtess usurer is in
capable OF distinguishing between blamcless ina.
bilty 10 pay and that fraud which avoids an honest
debt " Ith the latter have no connection
but We arc compelled 10 rank ourselves with those
who cannot promptly pay their just liabilities. We
are borne down by accumulated burdens and diff
cuites. The sources OF employment and means
arising from the disbursement Of large sums OF mon
ey Which now constitute those debts which have