The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-12-11


portance only 10 that which connects Lake
Erie and Hudson river, and will make one OF
The links in the great chain oil internal navi-
CATION from the North Eastern to the South
Western exlremties OF our growing confed
eracy.
It was stated in quarter entitled to re-
spect and confidence, at a meeting held al
Terre Haute in May last, that if the State
were to pay TO her bond-holders by Stale
lax and otherwise, portion of her public
debt, it was thought that they would be pre-
pared TO take the profits OF the canal for the
balance The gentleman who expressed
this opinion, is now in attendance as the re-
preventative of our foreign hondholders and
has verbally advised me that he will shortly
prepare a communication offering liberal
arrangement, TO be laid before the General
Assembly.
In my last annual message, the opinion was
ex expressed, that the great mass of our fellow
citizens were willing and anxious TO meet a II
our Just obllga tons; that with them it was a
question not of inclination but OF ability, and
that had great confidence if a plan for exrin-
gushing the debt hould be matured aud agreed
upon-one which in terms would be feasible,
aud clearly brought within the ability OF the
State to meet, that anappeal TO the moral sense
OF the citizens for their approval at the ballot
box would not be made in While moth
ing has since taken place 10 change much has
occurred TO strengthen This opinion. More than
two-Ihirds of the State tax now paid by the peo-
pie OF Indiana, is devoted to the payment of the
public debt. This tax has been steadily borne
through years of dlscouAgement and IN the
midst of unjust reproaches. When the domeS
tic debt, existing in the form of treasury potes,
and used as currency, is absorbed In this man
ner, or disposed OF by different or satlsfac-
tory arrangement. all of 0s our State revenue
beyond the current expenses, can be applied to
the payment OF foreign debt. By similar
application of the amount saved by the needed
reform in our county expenditures and by strict
economy in every branch OF the public service,
the amount OF the annual interest due our
foreign debt would be sill further reduced
Should the propulsion be made again on the
part oil our bondhOIders to take the profits OF the
canal for such portion of our public debt as
will enable the State with the aid of the means
above referred to,pay the balance. doubt not
that the people will cheeriuy submit 10 the
necessary burden. W hich, while 1t saves the hon
or, and resuscltates the credit OF the State, will
bylncreased immigration, the enhanced value
OF property, the restoration OF confidence, and
the improvement oil the credit of our citizens IN
diyldually, more than compensate them for their
outlay.
That such an arrangement will be made as
will be satisfactory to our creditors, nd will re-
store the furnished escutcheon OF lndi ana TO its
original brightness, | will not permit myself To
doubt. A searching and thorough reform in ev-
cry branch OF our county expenditures, OF which
| have given a solitary instanc, the growing
determination among our tax payers to pc off
our reproach. aud the liberal spirit and DISPOSE
tion manifested by our creditors TO facilitate
their doing su.-ail look TO the CONSERVATION OF
that much desired result.
The early completion of the canal from La
tayette TO Terre Haute, would, by the increased
revenue to be thence derived, exercise a most
favorable influence upon this question There
are yet some thlrty-six thousand acres of land
granted tor that work, which have not vet been
selected. have hitherto abstained from caus
ing the selection to be made. IN the hope tia,
permission may be Obtained from Congress to
make 1t, IN the Miami Reservation. Such a
measure Guild have most important bearing
upon the completion OF the work. 1t is hoped
thata thorough examination into the causes
which have delayed its progress viii be made,
with The view, II possible, OF applying The ne
cessarv corrective.
As in the expected communication from the
agent OF our creditors, some proposltson us may
be submitted IN relation TO the disposition OF the
lands, and the construction OF the canal, with
the prelcse nature of which, am suffi ciently
acq TAINTED, any expression OF opinion upon
those subjects IS, for The present. deferred.
recommend, however, that provisions be made
TO secure to exIsung settlers upon the lands
granted to the State, suitable indemnity for
their labor, by which the lands have been en-
hanced in value. This is required by Justice.
and Is IN accordance with the former policy OF
the State under like circumstances
cannot consistently with a sense of dutv
omit respectfully calling your attention once
more. to the Propriety Of giving TO justices OF
H.
ty mlsdeineanors, which now punIsha Die
by idictment in the circuit courts, for rea sons
set forth in my last annual message. Concur
rent jurisdiction might also he gwen to them
in some minor offences of a higher grade, as is
now the case IN assaults and batteries, affrays
and other breaches OF the peace, and with the
same restrictions OF securing to the accused
the right OF trIai by jury, where the same is
guaranteed by the c0Hstitu ton, and Of providing
Tor his being recognized Tor trial in the circuit
court, either At his own election, or, where the
Justice shall be OF opinion that the high est
punishment which he may be authorized to in
hIct Will not be adequate TO the offence. The
time of the circuit courts is already so much
occupied with trivial prosecutions, as to ire
quently cause vexatlous delay of justice to
parties IN the most important civil suits, and
the evil must continue to increase with the
growth of our population. The punishment by
hne, although light, ls SO much augmented by
Tue COSTS oi court, ana ON Cr expenses. saying
nothing OF the loss OF time, that it is believed
there is scarcely State IN the Union where
the grade of offences Is visited with SO
much severity.
he vast and growing amount OF our special
legislation, is subject welI calculated to arrest
attention. Much the greater part of the time
Of lhe Legislature is occupied in passing local
and private acts, for most of which, 1t 10 we
worthP OF consideration, whether ample provis-
Ions cannot be made by few general laws
An llustrlatio Ii is afforded in the laws for the
Incorporation of towns and churches. L. Is
true that the former has not prevented applica
uons Tor town charters, but these, 1t Is believed
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