Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1855-01-11

maintenance of such policy, TO exempt
from taxation at least those funds that
have been bestowed by private munif-
cence. for the moral and intellectual train
ing of the youth Of the State.
The affairs of the State University. al
Bloomington. requires some prompt and
decisive action on the part of the General
Assem- By. In the early part OF the year
1854, the main college building. and the
very valuable Library that it contained.
were destroyed by Ere. The Trustees i'm
nlediateiy adopted energetic aud econom-
zeal means to repair the damages. and
new aud commo5ious edifce designed for
the principal department Of the Uniyer-
sity, is now nearly completed.
You are aware that, for some years the
affairs of this Institution have been EN-
barrassed by the progress of law suit,
which involved about sixty thousand dol
lars of its funds, and which grew out of
controversy between the State ana the
Vincennes University. The suit has been
decided against the State, but no decision
has been made in any controversy
wherein the State University was party;
and ii is believed the judgment of the
Court cannot. without further legislative
action, be carried into effect by any trans
fer of the funds in question, to the Vim
cennes University.
Having no doubt of the power of the
Sta lie 20 adjust this diGiculty, Tin which
-. -, n , :
arose under the old constitutional by any
means a; her command or Oh time. /
earnestly recommend the adoption of
measures for the early settlement. of this
controversy. IN some way that will not
deprive the State University of its presen,
resources. The suit, to which reference
has been made, was instituted under the
authority of an act of the Legislature;
and, whatever opinions may be entertain
ed as To the results OF future litigation Oh
the part of the State University, the inter
ests Of The people Of The State, of the In
stitulion. and OF he community in which
it is located. require on early and final
settlement OF the question.
4 statement of the condition Of the
funds of the State University will be
placed before you. in the report OF the
Trustees. These officers, in the course of
the past year. obtained loan of six thou
sand dollars from the sinking Fund ; and
they should be invested with authority to
mortgage part OF the college lands to
secure the payment; Of this loan. The
whole subject of The sale of the lands
granted by Congress and amounting to
about twenty four thousand acres, Is re-
spectfully submitted for the consideration
and action of the General Assembly.
In the late revision Of the Statutes OF
Indiana. the laws on the PROCLAMATION of
the Sabbath. were. i; seems. Gnintention-
ally overlooked aud annulled ey the gen
eraI repeating clauses. The observance OF
this day. as day OF rest from the com
mon secular concerns Of life, is not only
religious duty, but il is political aud
social interest. which no enlightened
people may disregard with impuni,y.
From the past. and from the present. :nany
sad examples rise up before US. TO warn
US of the inevitable decline Of strength.
and virtue. and prosperity, in nations and
States where the legislators and he peo-
pie have looked with Indifference on the
profanation of the Sabbath
With respect to this subject. the pre-
seat General Assembly will, doubtless,
take into consideration the proprie,y of
reenacting those laws which, up 10 a re
cent period. and through all changes. have
stood among our Statutes since the ioun-
dation of the State Government.
The law Of 1888. on the subject Of the
traffic in intoxicating liquors. has been
rendered imperative by decision o. the
SuD~eme Court Of this State and an un-
usual G~gree OF excitement has prevailed
among the people. in rel. ton to he laws
that should be passed by the General As
ssmbly, for the purpose OF restraining the
dssolating evils Of iniemperance. The
necessity Of restraining th'se evils by the
force Of law, has beea acknowledged by
eur legislation. from the orAsnizat:Hn OF
the Government. TO the present iln.c; arr
in the course of the past year. dis SUI
ject. involving the happiness and pros
periiy of our race. ana rising far abeve
all party considerations, was forced. in
some measure. to assume the nature OF a
political issue.
Some of the best citizens OF the State
entertain serious doubts. not only as 10
the constitu,ionality. but the expediency
of adopting stringent legal means for the
suppression OF Incompetence aud IL is
neither pruden. nor just to assume from
this fact, that such men are among the
foes of temperance All xpericnceshows
that very stringent penal laws against
privileges and habits long INDUCED. are
calculated to produce reaction in public
sentiment.
We have, in our State, some counties
in which. EVEN under our defective laws.
not solitary dram-shop is 10 be found
and In which. no persons could find
support as retailer Of spirituous liquors
to be drank as beverage. Here, .aen.
are examples Of the prevalence of sound
public opinion in com munitiss where
agitation, discussion. and moral influences
have effected a reformation. and where
the people now require only sound legis-
lation TO protect them i'm the enjoy me nj
Of their happy condition.