The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-06-20
IRE DErALcArros in the Ohio Treasury

IRE DErALcArIoN in the Ohio Treasury,
which is likely to be increased by the investi-
cations in progress, to nearly one million of
dollars, is likely to entail very serious conse-
quences to the State of Ohio and its infu-
ences will be felt upon the credit of every
State in the Union. The available funds in
the Ohio Treasury appear to have been all
distracted and used. There are no resources
to pay the interest on her State debt due on
the first of July, and her public officers have
no credit or law to enable them to borrow
the bonds. The only resource is to call
an extra session of the Legislature to pro-
vide the means to supply the deficit; this can
not be accomplished without several months
delay; in the mean time her coupons will go
to protest and the State viii be dishonored.
Ohio has heretofore stood in the first rank of
financial credit. Her bonds have ranked
with those Of New York and Massachusetts,
in the foreign and domestic markets. Du-
ring the severest pressures-even in periods
Of specie suspensions-she has always met
the interest and principal of her bonds as
they became due. If she proves delinquent
through the dishonesty of her public officers,
confidence in the official integrity of the gov
eminent of every State will receive shock;
and new difficulty will arise in the use of
the public credit for the benefit of the people
when it shall be necessary expedient to
resort to it to accomplish great public ends.
To the enquiry in regard to tie resources and
ability IF Stata onI
ton to meet their engagements, will be adj
ded another, more difficult one to satisfy:
what is likely to be the character of her pub
lie officers who are to be entrusted with the
administration of public affairsl The peo-
pie may pay their debts, but a doubt may
arise that after it gets into the treasury
whether the money will ever reach the hands
of the public creditors. The rule of the
demagogues-thed Generalization of party pol
itics-which are increasing day by day
makes an alarming feature to the eve of the
capitalist who is asked TO take public securi-
ties-oficial integrity and official response
bility are becoming by-words everywhere
among US. The public treasures are becom-
ing the subjects Of plumber by unprincipled
Office holders, who strive after the popular
favor TO get chance to pilfer uuder the i'm
munities of Office.
This degradation of government has be-
come a fearful evil, to be arrested only by
the union Of al honest and good men of all
parties-forgetting all mere factious differ
ences-determined &c purge the administra-
ton Of the government, and rescue it from
the hands Of trading, mercenary and unprin-
cipled politicians No State in the Union
needs such reformation more than the State
of Indiana. Let the people of this State re-
member that in a few months, the sacred
trust funds Of the State-accumulated with
so much care, labor and sagacity for the edu-
cation of the youth Of future generations
viii come into the public treasury, and be
subject to the control of the demagogues OF
some triumphant party, elected perhaps for
their inscriptions morals, to open the locks
of the public Golfers, to give those who place
them in power a chance to run away with
the public funds, as the Treasurer and Aud
itor of Ohio have probably done. The hon.
est portion of the people of the State must
give luOTc tllhC dflt SCilOuS tuouSHb W tuCil
public affairs-they must no longer expec
their government to take care of itself-they
must no longer look upon politics as a mere
rival contest between parties and men-ir
whichunjust personal prejudices-o irration
al, traditional and partlzan antipathies anC
prepossessions are to be gratifed. The affair
of the State are serious trust, in which tn
interests, the honor and the welfare of tn
present and ell future generations are en-
trusted to the care of the voters of the pres
emit day, and as they may discharge thei
duty to themselves and their State will b
the veal or the woe-the glory or dishono
of their country. Let them set their seal O
reprobation on the men who proclaim as tn
motto of their. political principles ''to tn
victor belongs the spells.