Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-01-23


for the sale and drainage of the Swamp
Lands. would result in the fritteriug away
and waste Of the fund, have been fully
confirmed. In some portions Of the state
much good has been accomplished, by re-
claiming large bodies Of lands, making
them source Of revenue to the state,
and promoting the general health.
Two years since, the Auditor Of State,
who has yearly tho entire management Of
this trustreported to me. that the Tresu-
rer Of Jasper county was largely in de-
fault to the fund; which allegation tina
officer denied. Upon examination Of the
facts in the case, Ideemed II my duty to
remove him from Office, and to appoint
successor The validity Of the appoint
mont was contested, and tho question has
not yet been decided by the court
Largo contracts for draining land have
been lot by tho officers of Jasper county,
in manner not con formable to the law
These transactions IL will be your duty to
investigate thoroughly; andif any Of tho
officers Of state shall be found TO have
participated therein you viii not hesitate
to apply tho proper corrective. Undcrno
possible circumstances, should titles have
been delivered TO the contractors, for any Of
tho lands, until the completion ofthcir res
pcctive contracts. Immediately, upon Boz
ing informed Of tho existence Of these
contracts, | promptly refused the execu-
ton OF further patents. l am advised
that, In these cases, large sums Of money
had been advanced for work In draining
and ditching. As tho work was progress
sing, spectators would buy up the lands,
a. fast as they wcrc ditched. To obviatc
this, advance certificates wero issued, and
bond and security taken for the compile
ton Of tho work, and in this way, secure
| the land TO the contractor and laborer. In
extention OF the policy adopted, u may
be found, upon examination, that large
bodies Of land have been drained, and re-
claimed, which would otherwise, have re-
NAMED valucless Similar contracts were
made in Gibson county, which resulted
satisfactorily to tho State, and to tho peo-
pie. II would, however. have been more
creditablc to the parties TO these contracts.
IL they had been laid before the Lcgisla-
ture Cor approval.
Some modification Of tho law will DO
required TO enable the state to complete
tho system Of drainage, and mako the un (.
tsold lads marketable. The propriety Of
reducing and graduating the price Of tho
remaining lands, situated like those In
Knox, and other counties, Is, also sugges-
ted.
Alags body Of lands, in Lake county,
10 oycrhowed by the waters Of the Calumet
in consequence Of dam erected In ILL
nois, for tho supply Of the Illinois and
Michigan Canal. A communication on
this subject, from the Trustees OF that ca
nal, Is herewith transmitted.
Iregret TO say that no selection has been
made for tho location Of tho site Of the
contemplated House Of Refuge. Under
tho restrictions and limitations contained
in the Act Of the General Assembly,
your officers could not make selection
suitable for such building and purposes.
II is very desirable that, whatever action
may be taken on this subject, the matter
may receive your attention at an early
day, in order that tho House Of Refuge
may DO commenced with the opening Of
Spring. The propriety Of establishing
three House, Of Rcfugc-one North, one
South, and enc at the eenter-is worthy Of
special consideration.
We shall be nniaithful to the trust re-
posed in US by the people Of Indiana, un'
less we address ourselves to her future
with determination to cherish and aug
ment her good name. Amid all the pri-
vations and hardships Of frontier life
and under endorsements destructive ol
ordinary energies and integrity, she has
fulfilled all her obligations, and clothed
herself with prosperity and peace. Hel
broad fields, reclaimed from the sturdy
! forests. arc pouring their wealthy harvestl
into the granaries Of the East, North and
South. With her Increasing facilities O.
transportation, her growing population
: her multiplying schools and institutions o.
learning, she is rapidly acquiring strength
In all the elements which constitute {
goat. a powerful, and a prosperous state
IN this survey Of her condition and
: prosperity, one Of the most gratifying re'
Elections is, that IL is not for herself alone
bit also for her sister states, to who's,
wealth she contributes generous portion
as well as to the strength Of that confed
eracy in which she has received countless
! blessings, and to tho peace and perma
hence Of which she deems 1t her duty
her pleasure, and her pride to contribute
OF small account were our own pros
perity. or our contributions to the materi
al wealth Of others, were ii not that w
can proudly say Of Indiana, that. from tn
beginning up to the present hour, distin
guished fidelity, in all her political rela
tons to her sister confederates, marks ant
adorns her history. Central in position
, in this great family of states-borderinl
upon those which widely differ her il
domestic policy-she has invariably rec
ognized the co-equal sovereignty, aud per
: feet equality of those around her, and ha
ever checrfully accorded, within her ju
risdiction, to all citizens of the Unior
those rights which are clearly guarantee
by the federal constitution-denying n
> right of property, and imposing no res
= trictions upon opinions, discussions, Q
. forms Of political action. Regardless G