Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-04-29


fatal an opponents position admit and which it
would be exceedingly announcement reply the shortest
way IL il be MOI the sarest to shut il out altogether
JOHx D. returned the manuscript.
WAS sorry 'twss TOO long,
Bot II truth be told the words were not
Too many, too strong.
ANOTHER WITNESS CALLED TO THE STAND
/ To THE Eprroa OF THE JorENAL-S1:-I am not
so sensitive but that take joke in good part
paper of this morning But trust you will allow me,
ia reply few brief Statements in order, Mr. Benton
would express it, to "yindicate the truth Of history"
The Mammoth Bill !" it usually called, which
passed during of 1885, year before either
Governor Wright or myself was member, embraced
works. Of which the probable cost was then supposed TO
that bill passed, there were estimates in existence
setting down the cost at nearly sixteen millions But
up close OF ray first session had these
and think that only the few initiated knew ol their
existence The rest OF u.s. as the debates show, had
been led 10 believe that ten millions was the estimated
cost. In these works about half only Of the
ties of the State were directly interested.
Now il Is quite true, that the representatives oil the
remaining half of the counties, among them Governor
Wright and myself, did, during the session Of 1861,
endeavor to pass supplemental act, very currently III
Supposed an addition Of million and half 20 the ten
million system. Why, you ask, did We do tlsf Allow
call the witness stand, and iaerrogate on the
subject my old friend ZEsoR, OF Harrison county, as
good WbiQ and honest nan as there Is ia the
State.
Question Friend ZkNoR, have the goodnes to inform
Mr.. Dcfrees, whether YOU were ever friend OF the
great Internal improvement system.
Mr. ZsHor. TO Mr.. Deirees) Have you copy oil
the Debates Of the Constitutional Convention, the first
volumel
Mr. Dsfrees. Yes, here is one
/ Mr. Tenor. Then can show you an answer to the
question: made by in public last year Here il is at
| page 675 first column.
Mr. Orea Please to read il.
i i ,anaisor Of ha
sature at that eventu period in the financial history
of State, when the Mammoth Internal Improve
menl b' was fought through; and anu proud to say,
ha, OF the Spartan band, who opposed IL al
every inch of its progress, from its first Introduction to
| its hnal vote"
Quesiion. Did you afterwards vote Tor supplement
tai BILL calculated 10 add million and half 30 the
i original systemf
Aaswer. did.
Question (by Mr.. Defrees) How happened il, Nir
Zenor that you thus opposed to the SYSTEM and others
i claiming to be its opponents, gave such a votef
Answer. Turn to the same page of the Debates and,
the second column You will find the explanation, than
which, think, nothing can be simpler or more satfsc-
tory Here il is The next year. the gentleman from
Posey (Mr 0wEN) and .ayself came up to the Legsla
ture and, while condemned the passage OF the
Mammoth BILL vera obliged, in order to satisfy the
people Of District to ash Tor an extension OF the sys
them, aa other parts OF the State not included
in the great bill. Our constituents opposed the
system, but nasmuch they were taxed Tor the appro
pratons expended other portions Of the State from
an extension Of the system their part Of the State
In accordance with their Wishes and in conjunction with
members whose constituents were In the same position
asours, got up what y now knowa as the calf 6Hf
Question (by Mr.. Defrees } Do you know JosEPH
A. WRIGHTf
-ansper. (srnilng,) Yes have seen the gentleman.
Question. Did he vote for the calf blli
| -4RsIoer. He did and for the reasons sup
pose, that influenced my vote and Mr.. Owens
| Questioa. (by DIR. Owen) Do you recollec. Dir.
Wright Introducing classification bill other words,
proposal take up and finish the public works sngly
by classes, instead Of going with them all at oncei
-aasper- Perfectly; it was the 18th of January
1897. Mr. Vandeveer moved TO reject il. M
Question. Did yol vote against its rejection.
-7nsoey. Certainly, 5Ir. Owen aud aud all the
friends Of the caf bill" voted, at all times for CLASH
acatOn and hence the name we went By.
Question. What name
-dnsser. The of classifers. Ia those days,
there but two parties in the legislature system
men" and "ClassiHers.n
Question. Do you mean TO say, that Of all the hun.
dred and fifty then composing the House and Senate
every one was either Clsssifier or System man.
9Hsleer. Every one, without single exception.
/ Question They went currently by these namesi
5Rsirer. As currently politicians called W hgs
and Democrats; with this exception only, that
political opponents, when they feel bitter sometimes call
US FederaIsts the System men, when they got warm
used loudly denounce cassihers NrlIifers and
Dsstruetires.
Question. by Mr.. 0wea) Don't you think, friend
Zenor tina, is little hard that in those days when
system popular, We should nave been branded
nu6ers and destruciiyes for seeking TO arrest its
headong progress and that now, when il has failed
should be accused Of having been its special endsi
.fnswer. (Smiling,) Why, thought, friend Owen,
you were too much OF philosopher complain Of what
happens TO public men every day.
Mr. ODsH. I'm afraid sometimes get credit for
more philosophy than possess But not specially
complaining only asked for Information Much obliged
friend Zenor, for your testimony. Nothing could be
more opportune.
And now, Mr.. Editor, few words in conclusion.
We, who came in after the great bill had passed and the
works were ia progress Of construction considered the
system as fastened upoa rs, beyond recall The only
open question was, how should II be conducted. then
believed, that il was better and Just, that eighty
counties should be benefited by expenditure Of eleven
millions and half than that forty counties should reap
the advantages Of ten million system for which the
eighty counties were tared TO pay think so still.
Then believed, that the classification project, first
brought forward by Dir. Wright and voted for by all
the friends Of the calf bill would have saved to the
State millions Of money and much reputation. Now,
alter hfteen years experience, know this. Had In.
diana taken up and completed work at time, in
stead Of commencing, with frantic haste dozen stimuli
taneously. sometimes at both ends once,
doubt that our State would have been fsyed from
preach and temporary insolvency.
would not have You understand however, Sir, that
claim 70 have been fifteen years ago, my first
trance nto public lie, exempt from the influence Of the
Authorization which then prevailed, alike among the
people and their representatives, the subject
lc works Mady as my adopted State had rushed into
The SYSTEM still hoped. and expressed the hope thar
her young energies would bear her honoraby through
But this may say: If erred, II only where all
were in error. II, even as a eassiRer, I too much
the crime, II crime il is TO be imputed, Of
which every individual Of the hundred and ffty who conn.,