Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-01-12


lty Of the ballot box, and the security
of the elective franchise. suggest
that you prohibit, under severe penal
ties, against the separation Of all the
officers of an election, until the ballots
are counted. and the result of the poll
is known aud declared.
The attention Of the Legislature is
again called to the consideration of the
subject Of providing suitable build
ings for the State Offices at the seat Of
Government. The proceeds of the
property owned by the State, and the
additional aid that the General Gov
eminent will, doubtless, furnish. will
be sufficient to erecta substantial bull
ding on the "Governor's CIRCLE" for
the accommodation of the National
and State officers. without imposing
any tax on the State Treasury. The
Capitol building should be appropfiat-
ed only to the uses of the General
Assembly. the Representatives of the
people, and the State Library.
An appropriation should be made
for the inclosing Of the capitol grounds
with an iron fence. This is rendered
absolutely necessary, in order to pre-
serve the building and the grounds.
The loss Of snme of our State bonos
by late disaster at sea, suggests the
proprietJ of providing by law, for the
relief Of the holders Of bonds in SINH
lar cases. The law should be well
guarded - requiring proof of loss,
Identification Of numbers, dates, and
amounts--and made apl .licable to all
cases Of loss or destruction Of State
bonds.
The Secretary Of State of the Unit
ed States has transmitted to the Exc
cutive department Of this State, a
copy Of the details Of "Consulor
Convention between the United States
and his majes ty, the Emperor Of the
French" concluded on the esd day of
February last. This document. and
an accompanying circular that ex-
plains the object. OF the transmission,
are herewith presented for your con-
sideration.
The great inequality now existing
in the appraised value Of real estate,
aud the recent rapid progress Of inn
proyements demand, it seems TO me,
a re-appraisemcnt OF lands; and the
expediency Of causing full and COM
plete census Of the State TO be taken,
for the year 1855, is also worthy Of
your consideration.
In accordance with the requirement
of the resolution Of the last General
Assembly, authorizing an examination
into the "stock affairs ofthe State, the
loss of surrendered bonds, and the ex-
cess Of scrip. the Undersigned, in COM
pany with the Treasurer Of State, Wis
tied the Ollie Of our Agency at New
York, in August 1858. The missing
bonds having been found a few days
previously, were carefully counted.
and are now in the Office Of the Urea
surer Of State.
The apparent discrepancy between
the books Of tho Agent Of State and
those Of the Auditor. as to the amount
Of bonds surrendered, was examined
in order 10 correct this discrepancy, u
complete copy OF the books Of the
Agentof the State was made, and care
fully compared in every particular.
This copy is now in the hands of the
Auditor Of State, who, by reference to
it. has corrected the supposed errors;
and it is believed. that the report Of the
Auditor, based upon this examination,
presents correct view Of the State
debt.
Ii had been stated that Indiana had
not received any part of the three per.
cent. fund due her, for lands sod at
Chillicothe and Cincinnati; and in the
course OF the official visit to which /
have referred, the officers before nam
ed, made an examination at the Gen.
eral Land Office, with respect TO the
amount and condition Of the three per.
cent fund due the State from the Gen.
eral Government. submit, herewith
a report obtained from the General
Land Office. showing the condition Of
this fund, up to the date of the report;
and accompanying the report is a let
ter on the same subject, addressed to
the secretary of the Interior, under
the date Of November 10, 1858.
The subject Of the excess os scrip
has been carefully examined by two
gentlemen under oath. Their report
which is herewith submitted, shows the
amount redeemed and cancelled upon
the books, by each Treasurer. The
question of further action. in relation
to this subject, is submitted to your
consideration.
The first and second instruments due
by virtue Of the sale Gin pursuance Of an
Act of the General Assembly, approved
FEBRUARY 2S l652,)of the interest the
State had in the Madison and Indiana.
polls Railroad. have not been paid. A
mortgage was taken upon the road and
all its equipments, and duly recorded in
the seVerhl cOuuuos through winch the
road pasres. Upon the failure to pay
tho first lnstalment Of seventy.fye thou
sand dollars, on the first day Of January,
1854, the claim was placed in the hands
Of able attorneys tor collection. The
report OF the Trustee named in the
mortgage, and the correspondence upon
the subject, together with communica-
tion from, the prosid nf tho Comnnnv
will place befor. you the condition OF
this claim.
Many important questions, all CT
which will doubtless receive your careful
consideration, have, been raised under the
operations Of our new constitution and
Revised Statutes, since the last session
Of the General Assembly. Among the
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