The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-12-12

| our creditors, preliminary to a final adjustment
OF the whole matter, we shall give stronger evil
dence of that sincere desire. which am satis-
he'd is felt among us generally. TO restore the
honor and credit of the State and Gifts citizens.
than by vague and general professions against
reputation n.
By the accompanying report of the Adjntant
General IL will be seen, that under existing | avs
no returns OF the strength of the militia of the
State have been received. and that IN conse
quence we have been drawing our quota from
The General Government ever since the wear lo.
%, on the basis of the report then made of our
military strength TO the War Department.. That
uois is estimated at the yearly value of S.
$40 90. and as our population has more than
doubled since that period, the just annual value,
had we now the means Of re sporting our strength
would amountto at least $i0.640 90. Besides
the loss already sustained on this account since
1882, 1T will be seen that in the ensuing len years
1t would amount to more than $4,000, and that
too, without taking into consideration our future
grow III III population.
BY the report of the Q-uartermaster General,
herewith submitted, it will be seen that no re
cord or account has been found in his office OF
The arms received by the State from the Gener-
al Government. under the act of Congress of
BOB, unulthe 3lst of December, 1882, nor from
the 22d OF August. 1887, until the quota receiv-
ed during the present year, although we are ad
vlsed, by a letter from the Ordinances office, Of
the goth OF March last, that s.the State of Indi-
ana has drawn her regular annual quota up to
and including the year l843."
In this connection a few remark swill be sub
united as TO the security and preservation OF the
public arms. The usage has hith ert o prevailed
of loanlng them to Independent companies, or
ganlzed from time TO time, under The laws. The
law OF 1881 required receipts to be taken for all
arms thus dIstrIbuted; yet by that report il is
shown that but one such receipt has been found
| that Iht only record or accnunt fauud of such
distribution commences in June, 1885, showing
that the public arms thus distributed amount TO
the estimate OF 1857 muskefs. amounting, with
the accoutrements, to S26,279 90, which falls
short Of what was received during the same
period to the amount OF 240I muskets, worth
S3l ,622 90, Tor which there is neither charge
nor receipts. In consequence of this omission,
the Quartermaster General is mainly dependent
on causual information, for a knowledge of the
locality and condition Of the for greater part of
the arms heretofore distributed. In many eases
it is ascertalned that companies receiving arms
have been subsequently, broke ell up or disbauded
and that the aTns have been scattered and in
jured; aud in most cases. especially as to those
which were early disuibuted.) it is feared they
have been entirely lost TO the State. Some pub
&c spirited officers, it is understood. have adopt
ed the precaution of keeping the arms allotted
TO their respective companies, in their own care.
excepting on days when they are required for
mau al exercise. AS the commandment of the
cOHhPahF II now maue TespOuSlOie Oy law LOT tue
safety oil the arms, il ls respectfully submitted
whether justice TO him, as well as the interest OF
the Slate, do not require that his personal GUS
tody OF the arms, with the Limitation referred TO,
should nolenter into the bond which he is now
required TO give for their preservation.
Unless our Just proportion OF the public arms
are duly received and faithfully preserved, it is
manifest that the wisdom aud foresight OF the
r General Government in providing them at great
expense, for the different States, will, TO a great
extent, prove abortive so far as indiana is con
cerned. II is therefore submitted to the wisdom
OF the Legislature whether some measure should
not be adopted. to enable US to receive our
rightful proportion OF the public arms.
a No official information has as yet been receiv-
ed oil the progress made dursng the present year
IN Inc extension Of the Wabash and Erie Canal
3 from Lafayette to Terre-Haute. 1t is under
stood, however, that the report Of the Superin-
/ tendent Will soon be communicated TO you, and
4 that that officer. the contractors and others en-
gagged in The construction OF the canal. have
y been as actively einpl0 we'd as the embarrass-
ments connected with the work would permit.
1t is respectfully recommended that every Ia
: cility consistent with other interests. be afford
n ed 10 that important enterprise. As II will be
D attended with no further ex expenses to the State,
ii the lands granted by Government being deemed
5 sufficient for its constructions. the sooner it is
: completed, the better will it be for very interest
Il concerned.
y Under the authority of a joint resol ution OF
last session John II. Roberts, ofPutnam County,
Edwin J. Peck, of Marion County, AMI William
D Wines, OF vigo County, were appointed immed-
1 tately after the adjournment to examine the
tedndaiion, materials, workmanship, and pro-
gress of The new State Prison. As their report,
J. under the resolution might, by its requirements,
{ render early action on my part advisable. to d
e void delay, | repaired to JeffersonviIle, to afford
e all necessary assistance. Mr.. Wines being pre-
h vented from meeting his colleagues there, his
place was supplied by the appointment of BEN
n Jamin Cornelius, of Floyd County. The report
8 of these gentle man made it my duty, under the
D resolution, according TO my Judgment, ito cause
tn e work to be suspended.' On looking into
c the contract, IT was next thought expedlent TO
:. endeavor to compound with the contractors Tor
It's REIMBURSEMENT. as authorizedb by the resolu-
4 ton. As the contractors would entertain no
5 terms of compromise, whatever, a new contract
!. was entered into, by which ample security was
!, provided for the future-the number OF cells or
$ iginally contracted for. and the form, dimen-
e sions, and materials OF the work to be hereafter
y constructed. were mat de subject to alteration by
the Executive, or the Legislature. 1t was also
provided that all claims Tor damages or cOmpen-
sation on the part of the contractors, by res soH
$ OF the deviation from, or stoppage of the origi.
y mai contract, were thereby relinquished. Fail
ing to effect a compromises, as before remarked.
b the Question whether any, and if any, what
compensation should be paid for the work con-
/, demned by the examiners. Omitted principally,
IS If not wholly, to the foundation of the QUITE
e wall) was. by the new contract, Left opeu for the
y future action of the Legislature. The report OF
V the examiners, exhibiting the condition of the
d work in detail, is subject to the inspection ofthe
0 Legislature, aud their report, as yisiters of the
II old State Prison, will shortly be submitted Il
you.
The report of the superintendent of the work
y under the new contract, will also be laid before
- you when receive d..
- aT'ho ronaration Of a 49, fr fba N N nc.