Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-05-22
By G. A. & J. P. CHAPMAN.


is worthy of MENTION being the very first breach
ever made on the integrity of the original system. In
my remarks on the engroSsment of this bill or which
the files of the Democrat for February, 1889 you
viii find the following paragraphs; which define,
distinctly enough, the position of the opponents of the
system and exhibit also the taunts with which they
were assailed
at is too late to talk about receding now That
the question before you, sir and those who
ed with you, in the session of 1856. You assum-
ed the responsibility; you decided that question; be
your decision for good evil it is made and cannot
be recalled We have put our hands to the plough,
and may not look back. We have spent, not thou
sands, not hundreds of thousands-we have spent
MILLIONS already The system is fastened upon US, in
spite of ourselves. You remember, perhaps, the old
story of Snbad the sailor how, deceived by his hu-
mainly, he took deformed old wretch upon his back
how the creature twined Its legs around its victim,
and when the luckess sailor sought to cast it off,
clutched him by the throat, till he fam to deslst
and how last he freed himself from this strange
load by giving the cid fellow an extra cup of wine.
Sir, Sinbad's is with this difference, that
we cannot rid ourselves of the burden by administer
ing intoxicating draught and further, that if we
do not let the old get the upper hand of us,
may chance, after carrying him about few years, TO
make him good, profitable servant at last.
''The day of notification, them is gone by; but
the days of prudence and forethought past also Is
there manliness-is there common sense, in saying,
that will shut eyes the prospect before
Are the breakers ahead so frghtfu that we will not
even look upon them Shall the vessel of State drift
on her helm deserted her crew below in the cabin,
listess, improvident; eating and drinking, even y
tomorrow they diel
Sand when some among undertake the labori-
Gus task Of examining present condition, of est
mating probable expenditure, of calculating our
future resources it is somewhat too much that those
who, meanwhile, have sat with folded hands, and
shrunk from the labor of such inquiries-it is
what too much, say that they should now taunt US,
as they have with the epithets of croakers prophets
Of evil, birds of i'll omen, overshadowng, with raven
wing, the bright prospects of the future" (These
were the expressions applied, by Lane of Montgom-
cry, to me) We have not, very justly might,
accused them Of Incidence and indifference. We have
but fulfilled duty which they have neglected; and
they, of all others, should refrain from blaming on
that account" $780,
Ar the close of tI,, sa1ne session meeting of the
classiers, modifers, they were then beg inning
to be termed of both branches, was called and Twas
appointed chairman prepare address on the sub
jec to the people of the State. wrote the address.
1t was unanimously adopted, and signed by AZ men,
bers. You will find il in the Indiana Democrat Of
February %, 1888. 1t reiterated the opinions
already given.
At last, during the third and concluding session Of
my service in the State Legislature the modification
party, after severe struggles obtained majority
and ultimately succeeded in carrying the well known
Modification Bill - a bill re-oreahizino the entire
SYSTEM remodeling and reducing the board restrict
ing the annual expenditure, and providing for the
transfer of lettings from unpromising works. This
bill was drafted and introduced by me; and became
law with very slight amendments on the original draft
You will find the remarks Its engrossment by con-
shlting the files Of the Democrat for January 1889.
have these remarks now before me. They CON-
mence thus:
alt behooves any one who proposes change so
radical and important that incorporated in the bill
which have introduced into the House, to offer very
good and sufficient reason for that change
then proceeded to review the condition and future
pecuniary prospects of the State showing the burdens
that awaited us, and the dangers in which we stood
and said, In conclusion
"Sir, have done. If, unwitingly, have colored
too highly the picture of present situation if
have erred in estimating the amount of our future
burdens If have too anxiously anticipated the diff
culties that be befo.e us if have confded little in
the growing Of the State at the least, no
one will rejoice than myself to be pointed TO my
error; to be taught by experience, that my fears
were gfoundless and my warnings out of place."
The bill in question was the first that ever arrested
the progress of the System " and the editor of the
Sun stated but that which the journals and debates Of
our House record, when he said that was its author
and introducer.
To all this evidences that in the various plans to
arrest and alter the dgested and reckless SYSTEM
which has brought Indiana to her present condition.
took an active part, what do you oppose! The
fact, that, during my first session, approved and
voted for what was usually called the 'calf bill bill
that would have added two millions TO the system
and that then expressed the opinion, that such an
addition might be made, without endangering the
credit of the State.
In the first place. reply that this accusation against
me is an accusation equally against every classifel
then In our Legislature; every one OF them having
voted for the bill in question If, for this VOTE an
to be set down as friend of our Internal Improvement
System, there was not member, IN either branch
who was its opponent. 81.
But, in defence of the classi6ers and in my own
remind you, that, at that time, the friends of the
system constantly asserted and its opponents took i
for granted, that it to cost but ten millions o.
dollars We supposed, that, in adding tnco, we were
but making it flcelue All our calculations were
founded upon that erroneous suppositicn. Upon /
alone based the opinion expressed by me in advo
eating the " calf bil and quoted by you against me
that we need not anticipate serious difficulty. s.
soon as / discovered that had been misled, ant
ascertained what the cost Of the proposed works
actually was that opinion Immediately changed
and the opposite opinion again and again expressed
as those who served with me in the Legislature wei
know And if you still put i forth as just cause o
accusation against me, that did not earlier prob
this matter to the bottom, my reply is, that when, q
the next session. collected and laid before the Hous
official documents then first brought together, showing
that the probable cost Of the system would be doubl
what had been first asserted so new and startln,
were these truths to most OF my colleagues IN tn
Legislature, that hardly member would believe
was not grossly exaggerating, or had not who'll
erred in my calculations and it was not until thes
were backed by subsequent report Of the Chic
Engineer, fhet they Obtained full credence.
It must be remembered also, that most of those VIII