Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-12-06

works would give employment; TO our Ia Dor md n
market tor our produce. and finally, tina. State
deb, would thus be substantially absorbed Provis-
ionmghi be made 10 linn! the sales 10 the unfinish
ed works. TO proven. the cxactlons of cxtravarant
tolls and charges. and that the works themselves
should ultimately rever: to and be the property of
the State. Other restrictions ght be added If,
found necessary for the rights of the respective
parties.
am aware that by an act of our Legislature Of
1912. the privilege was extended 10 our creditors
to purchase from the State all or any part of
these works. making payment therefor III our
bonds al their face. Although bonds have
been received in this way, II may have arisen
from the fact that II not only requires the JOINT
action of a consdera bic number of our bond hold
ers to make such an undertaking feasible or prof
liable, but they might desire further legislative
action to secure their rights.
Power might also be conferred the same
Commissioners to negotiate with creditors in
relation TO the latter mode. subject in like man
TO the ratification of the People, if tho Legisa-
ture full examination of the whole ground
shall deem II advisable.
By tho adoption of some such measure for
ceiving overtures from. and negotiating with.
creditors, Preliminary to final adl ustment of the
whole matter. shall give stronger evidence OF
that sincere doslre, which | satisfied Is felt a
mong us generally, to restore the honor and cred
it of the State and of It's citizens, than by vague
and general professions against reputation.
By the accompanying report of the Adjutan,
General 1t will be seen. that under existing laws,
no returns of the strength of the militia of the
State have been received and that in consequence
we have been drawing our quota OF publc arms
from the General Government ever SINCE tho year
Is52 on the basis of tho report then made of our
military strength to the War Department. That
quota Is estimated at tho yearly value OF $500
90 and population has than doubled
al hof st ValuP.
now the means of reporting our strength. would a
mount 10 at least 5lO,6iO %. Besides the loss
already sustained on this account since ls32. It
will be that IN tho ensuing ten years It would
amount to more than 100000. and that too, with
out taking into consideration our future growth III
population.
By the report of the Quartcrmastcr General
herewith submitted, il will DO seen that no record
or account has been found IN his office of the
arms received by the State from tho General Gov
vernment, under the act OF Congress oil loo8,
until the :Slst of December, 1882, from the
22d Of August, Is y, until the quota received du
ring the present year. although VIC are advised,
by q letter from the Ordinance Office of tho 10Th
of March last, that ''tho State of Indiana has
drawn her regular annual quota up TO and Inciu-
ding the year le13."
In this connection few remarks will be sub
united as TO the security and preservation of the
public arms. The usage has hitherto prevailed
of looming them TO independent companies or
gained from time to time. urdor tho laws. Tho
law Of 1881 rcqired rccei pts TO be taken for all
arms thus distributed ; yet by that report i, Is
shown that bat one such receipt has boon found
that the only record or account found OF such DIS
commences in June, 30, showing that
the public arms thus distributed amount TO the cStl-
mate Of 1857 m,iskcts, amounting, with tho ac-
to S26,519,0O which falls short OF
what received during tho Same period to the
amount Of 24Ol muskets, worth 81 ,6.2 90 tor
which thcro is neither charge nor receipts In
consequence of this omission tho tlinrtcrmastcr
General is mainly dependent on casual lnforma-
ton. for knowledge oftho locality and condition
of the far greater part of tho heretofore DIS
trlbuted. In many cases It Is asccrtalncd that
companies receiving arms have been subsequently
broken up or disbanded, and that the arms have
been scattered and inurcd and in mos, cases,
Especially as to those which wero early disrlbu-
ed. ) it is fea red they have boon entirely lost to
the State. Some public spirited officers, it is un-
dcrsood, have adopted tho precautlon OF keeping
the allotted TO their respective companies, IN
their own care. excepting on days when they are
required for manual exercise. As the command
ant of the company is now made responsible by
law for the safety of the arms, il is respectfully
whether Justice TO him, as we'll rs the
interest of the State, DO not require that his per-
sonal CUSTODY of tho arms. with the limitation re-
ferred TO, should not enter into tho bond which ne
is required to give for their preservation.
Unless just proportion of the public arms
arc duly received and faithfully presorvod' IT IS
NANTES, that tho wisdom and foresight of tho
General Government in providing them at great
expense, for the different States, will, TO great
extent, prove abortve far Indiana is con-
cerned. 1t is therefore submitted to the wisdom
Of the Legislature whether some mhasure should
not be adopted to enable us to receive our right
full proportion of the public arms.
No official information has yet been received
Of the progress made during the present ycar, in
The extension of tho Wabash and Eric Canal from
Lafayette to Terre Haute. 1t is understood, |
however, that the report of the Superintendent,
will soon be communicated to you, and that that
officer, tho contractors and others engaged in the
construction Of tho canal. have been as actively
employed as the emba rrassments connected with
he work would permit.