Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-04-30
after you had given them their solemn In

Inc mouse OF Representatives, Ut Tue
last session of the Legislature. on the oh
day of March. 1857, passed can act ma
king general appropriations for the years
1857 and 1885," which on the same day
was reported to the Senate. This act con-
tanned the necessary allowances to support
these Institutions; but majority in the
Senate refused to pass said act.
Thus you find yourselves in this condi-
ton. While you have paid your taxes for
the year 1856 into the State Treasury. part
Of which you intended should be applied to
the support of these Asylums for the pres
ent year. this majority in the Senate has
refused to allow it to be paid out for that
purpose. thereby compelling the return Of
the pupils and patients to their various
counties; thus burdening you with addition
al expense and taxation.
Again; on the 10Th day of January. 1916
the Legislature passed an act to provide for
the funded debt of the State. in which
your faith was solemnly pledged for the
payment of the interest on said debt; and
on the 9th of January 1847. another act
of the Legislature was passed, repeating
the obligation given in the previous year to
the creditors of Indiana.
Ever since these acts were passed the
State has maintained her faith and credit,
the result of which has been to encourage
the introduction Of population and capital
into the State. Every department of bus
mess has revived and prospered. Your
splendid system of railroads WAS carried
on-the improved facilities for transport
ing the products of your soil increased rap
idly the value of your real estate. Yet
this same majority of the Senate refused
to pass any law providing for raising any
revenue for the years 1857 and 1858. by
which the interest on said debt could be
paid for the year 1858. The House OF
Representatives. on the 9th day of Feb
ruary 1857, passed IAN act to raise Reve-
nue. for State purposes. for the years 1857
and 1885," and on the same day, said act,
was reported to the Senate. This act pro-
vided for assessing fifteen cents on each
500 worth Of real and personal property
in the State, and the majority of the Sem
ate refused to pass said act So that if the
officers Of State shall be able to borrow an
amount of money sufficient to pay the in
terest as it may come due. you will in the
future necessarily have the taxes Of three
years assessed in one, the inevitable con-
sequence Of which will be to encourage
migration from the State. and depreciate
the value of your property.
Again; there has been no revauation OF
your real estate since 1851. In the inter
mediate time, the relative value of ills
class Of property has materially changed,
SO that the burthens Of government fall un-
equally on the tax payers. The House Of
Representatives passed an act providing for
such revaluaiion, but it failed to command
the appreciation of a majority of the Sen
ate.
am satisfied that large majority Of
the cilizens Of the State are in favor of all
these measures; indeed, for tie last twelve
years, however much they may have diff
Tered concerning the policy to be pursued
in the administration of the Federal Gov
eminent, they have generally agreed upon
our domestic policy. This conclusion will
be fairly arrived al when you reflect with
what unanimity you adopted your present
Constitution, which expressly provides for
similar measures. And no man elected as
representative to the General Assembly,
while canvassing for your suffrage. occu-
pied the position of hostility to any Of them
If then, you. the people Of the State. are
In favor of these measures, and your Rep
resenta;ives have failed to carry out your
will, you inquire what is the remedy for
this failure to act on the part of the Sen
ate? see none. unless the Senators. upon
reflection. shall change their opinions on
these questions. or those entertaining diff.
ferent opinions are elected by you.
You provided. in Sec. 90, of Art. 4 Of
the Constitution, that the regular session OF
the General Assembly should continue for
81 days That session was duly held and
continued for the full constitutional term,
and You have seen the result. You provi-
ded also. in sec. Of said Art. 4. that. "it
in the opinion Of the Governor. the public
welfare shall require it. he may at any time
by proclamation. call special session."
entertain no doubt that the public welfare
would be promoted by the passage of the
acIs which The Senate refused to pass; al
If which could be done in a session of no,
exceeding ten days. But what is the hope
of such a result? There was no want o,
time for the Senate to pass these laws