Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-11-25
MESSAGE
GOvERNOR WILLARD,
To TIE
General Assembly of Indiana

NOVEMBER 90, 1865.

made IN this State for annual sessions oil
the Legislature. but the maubcrMQf the
Convention who Fl a1no1G Con
stitution beloved thai 6iebn5ai SESSIONS, af-
ter that period. would in ordinary times,
De sufficient. They provided, however, that
when in the opinion of the Governor, the
public welfare should demand 1t. he might
call special session of the General AS
sembly.l
The thirty-ninth session OF the General
Assembly which adjourned on the 9th day
OF March. 1858, did not pass any law for
the purpose of raising a revenue for the
years 1851 and 1858. Until that time it
was confidently hoped by the people of the
State that their Representatives would at
all times be willing to provide for the ne
cessary means to sustain every department
of the government, established by their
Constitution. They also expected tina;
provision would be made to support every
Benevolent Institution they had approved.
They felt that although imploviient legis-
lation had in former days impaired the
credit of the State, as similar Legislation
had injured the reputation of others. yet,
that for many years. the credit OF Indiana.
maintained in every particular, was to them
a matter Of Just pride and eongratulation.
They felt that although Indiana, in the
days of her improyience, had been unable
to maintain the high character of sovcr-
eign State in responding to all her pccu-
mary obligations, yet she had now attained
to that position of wealth and influence a
mong her sister States that any failure to
redeem every undertaking would be injuri-
Gus to her credit and her honor.
Notwithstanding these and other con
siderations, the members of the last I.egis-
Ilatue, for reasons into which it is not my
duty to inquire, failed to enact the law ne
cessary to sustain the various interests to
which / have alluded. Shortly after snch
adjournment, informed the people of the
State that there WAS necessity for legisla-
ltion, and expressed readiness. whenever
the laws could be passed, TO call the mem
bcrs together. Believing th.t there was
! such a want of harmony among them. that
necessary legislation could not be secured
l declined to exercise the power entrusted
to the Governor, to call a special session
of the General Assembly. But new leg
islature having been elected. have at tho
earliest practicable day exercised the power
, to which / have before alluded.
Although that Legislature failed to APP
propriatc the means which were then in tn,
the treasury to sustain the interests fo
: which they had been raised, the Admins
tration and Executive officers of the Stat,
beloved that such was the regard that tn,
people of Indiana had for the governmen
) they had establishcl--su their anxiet,
r for the maintenance Of their constitution
; and laws, that it was their imperative du
D ty to apply the mon.y in their possession
5 to the purposes for which it was collected
+ From that adjournment ofthe Legislature
: those officers have enleavorcd to sustain
every interest Of Indiana. as provided for b,
/ her constitution and her laws They foun'
that the laws of the State provided tina
!, the Auditors, Treasurer, and Governor
were authorized to procure money to pa
| the interest upon the public debt. Believ
: ing that the welfare of the State would b
promoted by paying such interest, loa,
was negotiated on the 22l of June. 1853
!, with the Board of Commissioners Of til
: Sinking Fund for one hundred and sixty
t five thousand dollars, which was apple
: to the payment such interest After TIL
g State has undertaken to pay all the intere,
II aud principal of her debt. her sovereign IL
!, tegrity demands that her obligations shoul
g be redeemed Sec / Of art 9 Of the cor
stitution declares that at shall be the dut
% of the General Assembly to provide by la
!. for the support Of Institutions for the ell
{ ucation OF the Deaf and Dumb and (
the Blind, and also for the treatment Of Il
J. Insane. ~
No appropriation was made by the Lee
" laturc to sustain those Institutions. but I'll
). money was in the treasury--tlie clear pr,
vision of the constitution that those inst
tutions should be supported. the officers {
D. the State thought should be maintained an
sr executed, and accordingly they applied Il
L. funds in their possession to that purpose
IN The officers of the State have been en
blcd, by an economical administration
ne the public funds. to thus far sustain ever
re department Of the government, AMI pay Il
Sc interest on our indebtedness. leaving ba
at ance in the treasury of Sl3l ,342 %, wit
h. ont making any loan except the one
r. which have before alluded. =
d. No tax having been levied for the yea
Il, 1857 and 1858. all the resources for su
IN tanning the government. or maintaining
fit credit, will at an carly day, be cxhaustc
d. unless the Legislature shall provide fcn
! ely. i recommend to you, therefore, tina
at as early a day as possible, you take i
- to consideration the condition of the trea
- ury, and that tax be levied for the We
> 1853. it5if.s f'ie fstN-
lie. The report of the Auditor Of State wi
to exhibit to you the amonat which it is c
i'll timated will be necessary to raise. If 4
IT. tax is levied at once, it can be collected
ISIS time to meet the ordinary expenditures
Us the government 1t will be necessary
{ negotiate loan to meet The interest viii
.s will be due upon the public debt upon I
10 first day of january. 1859. No Difficult
~ will be found in negotiating such To-
~ provided the levy is made f,r the ye
.ss 1858. z' s asss.
~ Justice to the residents and owners
the property the State demand shat {
g expenses Of the government shorld be pa
SITS tv than o<,t,,lis, oo,<~.l;o~~ t1.ho III.