Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-04-17
The Benevolent Institutions and Gov.
Willard.


We publish this morning, says the Indi-
annapolis journal of the Attn inst, the pro-
! ceedings of joint meeting of the Trustees
of the State Benevolent Inrtitutions, and of
a separate meeting of the Trustees of the
Insane Hospital, from which it will be seen
that second effort was mad, to obtain the
consent of Gov. Willard TO call session
of the Legislature; and failing, the Trustees
of the Insane Hospital have been compell-
ed to close it, and notify the county author
tiles to take back the patients belonging to
their respective counties. a resolution de-
claring it necessary to close ALL the LIS l.
tutions was votel down by a small major
+ ity in the joint meeting, but the Trustees of
the Insane Hospital felt compelled, by their
construction of the law, to close their lnsti-
tuition without waiting for the concurrence
of the rest. What action the managers of
the Deaf and Dumb and Blind Asylams
will take we are not advised, but think it
not improbable they will follow the exam
pie Of the Insane Hospital. This course is
ncccssitatel by the want of means to keep
up the Institution.
We do not propose to dilate on the evil
of this necessary abandonment of our Asy-
lums. Every reader will see its full length
and breadth in moment. What we de-
sire chiefly to ask attention to, Is the course
of the Governor in the matter. Some days
ago at Joint meeting of the Trustees OF
these same Institutions, request was re-
specially made by unanimous concurrence,
that the Governor would call session Of
the Legislature to remedy the neglect of
the late session in not passing the necessary
appropriation bills The Governor replied
that che would call session if he had any
assurance that the Legislature would pass
/ the bills This reply was deliberate in
suit to the Trustees and to the people of
nc knew that session ought to be called,
AMI that it was his duty to call it he would
not do his duty till he felt satisfied that
one hundred and fifty other men would DO
theirs. This is the natural an | necessary
import Of his language. If there was no
nsed of a called session, he, of course,
would not promise to call it at all, upon
any condition. And promise to call 1t, if
he could be satisfied Of certain thing, is
y,
delayed because he didn't think other mem
bers Of the State Government were as hon
est as he We defy him and all the apol-
ogists his weakness may neel or his money
procure, to make anything else of his letter
to the Trustees convention. 1t was an in
territorial dodge" He did not mean, and
has never, since the Legislature adjourned,
entertained for a moment thespurpose, to
call an extra seseion. And he made that
cvasive and insulting answer, as the best
mode ofescaping the odium of a blunt but
honest refusal. lie will find that in this
design he has made an egregious mistake
People can pardon honest ignorance or O.
pen malice, but cunning dishonesty, detcc-
ted, has no friend in anybody.
The second convention ofT'rus.ees again
asked him to call en- extra session. The
! Trustees by very large majority are Dem
ocrats be it remembered. The Republi-
cans have but four or five oat OF the whole
number. This time, to compel direct an
swer, and certain what they had to expect,
so as to shape their course Unlerstandingly,
they sent committee to wait upon the Gov
crnor aad solicit an interview AMI an answer
lie told the committee just what he told the
convention before. tina. he ''wouldnot hes
i.ate to call session If he hal any assur-
ance that the Legislature would attend to
; their Legitimate duties and not engage In
political squabbles. This answer is a
repetition and aggrava.ion Of the first in
suit. No man with proper re- ect for the
coordinate branches of the Government,
endowed with as nigh prerogatives, and en-
trusted with more important duties than
his own, or even with proper respect for
himself, could use such language. 1t is
the declaration of a conccted and assum-
ing man, made giddy by an elevation that
he has not brains to endure. He "would
not hesitate to call a session if he knew the
members would attend to their business"
1t is not his business to decide what their
business is. The Constitution fixes that.
And it is not his business to see that they
attend to their duties. Uis duty is the mat
ter for him to regard, and when he has
| done that, he may leavcfhe Legislature to
the people. This lordly way Of assuming
the guardianship Of the Legislature would
be ridiculous, if there were no lamentable
consequences to transfonnit from the pre-
tentious folly of weak man into the mis-
chcvious acts of bad officer.
| This second action is confirmation of
our statement that lie never intended to call
the Legislature together. If lie really de-
sired to relieve the State Of the embarrass-
ment his party has produced, he would call
a session, as he declared it was his duty to
do, and leave the Legislature to answer to
! their masters and his for their conduct
He would do all lie could, and that done
he might trust to the Legislature for dis
charge of their duty. II they failed lie
would not be blamed. That he did not
take this course is proof that he never in
tended to take it. But if othe, proof were
needed it is to be found in his language and
his conduct. A man resolved to do his
Best to remove an evil, ordischa -ge duty.
never makes his effort condition Of any
other mans conduct. He goes right ahead
and leaves the consequences with Heaven
Mr.. Willard, however, acknowledges that
a. session ought to be called, but won't do
4 - .