Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-30

rem. Rather than yield an inch to strengthen the
Union and restore the fraternal feeling which
won Independence from the British Crown and
national greatness, it wages afratrcidal war which
not only threatens to result in the destruction of
the Union, but to exhaust our national resources
and entail burdens upon ourselves and those who
come after us, grieyous to be borne, and which
will reduce us from the proud rank Of one of the
first powers Of the earth, to secondary If not
and is it not most true, to use Mr.. SEwARD's ex-
preston, it has become "simply an inadvert-
ency?"
"Goycrnor Morton and the War Tax,
A communication appeared in the TeTe Haute
Express, few days ago, evidently from the pen
of Hon. JOHN J.. UsHkR. Attorney General by
the appointment of Governor MoRroS, highly
laudatory of the arrangement" it is reported
His Excellency made to defer the paw ment of the
direct tax assessed by Congress at its special
sion IN July last The writer admits that the
Governor has transcribed his authority in the
matter, and that the arrangement" is Beyond
doubt a violation of both law and good faith tow
ards the purchasers of the war bonds, but justi-
hes the action of His Excellency on the ground
of unantcipated necessity and altered circum-
stances He says, in reference to the laws au.
thorizing the war loan:
In the first place. this law was passed by our
legislature on the 4th of June, one month before
Congress met, and no then even dreamed
that the Government would have TO resort to
-
its revenue. 1T the legislature had expected this
it would unquestonably have shaped the law diff
ferent in this particular.
Now what right has the Governor to supervise,
modify, or alter the laws of the State and the
policy adopted by the Legislature? The Consti-
tuition of the State makes il his duty to "see that
the laws be faithfully executed" Instead of
doing his duty in this regard, the Governor is
using his best efforts to avoid or prevent the
faithful execution of the laws. And in doing
this il appears he has the aid and sanction of the
Attorney General. 1t was the disregard of
Constitutional obligations and law that brought
the present difficulties upon the country, the
Governor is faithfully adhering to this ruinous
policy which threatens of its effects to de
stroy the National Government But the writer
in the Express not only justiies wrong doing, but
attempts to show, in the following argument
that such policy will be of great advantage TO
the State. He SAYS:
Look at the benefits of this arrangement. The
expense Of an extra session of the Legislature is
avoided, and the State pays debt, with one due
her, and the result is the same as it would be it
the direct tax were assessed and collected The
i II u
extra session of the Legislature and of collecting
this tax, which has saved TO the State thousands
of dollars, and we are satisfied that whatever in
directness there may be, in regard to the law, in
making this arrangement, the people will indorse
the action of the Governor in this matter, and
thank him heartily for doing.
As to 1.-THE benefits of this arrangement we win
let one set Of Republicans, who are for faithfully
adhering to the law and redeeming the public
faith, answer the Governor and his Attorney
General who propose to violate both, if they have
not already done The Madison Courier thus
responds to the Express writer for his apology of
the Governor for his disregard of law in his car
rangement' with the Secretary of the Treasury
and the plea that il will be saving TO the State
week or more ago we printed in these col
| umns bold assertion of the Indianapolis Jour
nal that the State would save half million of
dollars by the success of Gov. Mortons policy in
regard to the payment of the States quota OF the
national tax; that Gov. Morton had induced the
Secretary of the Treasury to Offset the quota OF
Indiana against moneys due the State by the
United States for equippine volunteers. IL was
stated also that the success of Governor Morton
would render session of the Legislature I'M
necessary.
How this vast sum was to be saved was not,
nor has not been stated. A half million of dol
lars saved! How saved? BY getting the United
States to refuse to pay 10 lndiana's creditors
money Justly due Indiana has not dollar of
this money in her Treasury: the taxes assessed,
amounting TO about million Of dollars, have
rot been half collected, and to obtain the money
to advance to the United States, she must bor-
row. Indiana has borrowed. is borrowing all she
can Nearlya million of dollars have been Dor
rowed from parties in New York, who have the
pledge of Gov. Morton that they should be REIN
bursed when the United States refunded the
money advanced by the State. The first half
million received from Washington was used in
that Way. The party or parties of whom money
was borrowed in New York are now in Washing
ton, protesting against the unfair, unjust, aud
dishonest policy of the Governor, who now wishes
to repudiate their just claims, for the purpose OF
providing for debt which has some five months
to run, and for the payment Of which no appro-
ptlatlOft usS Deelt uiiuc oS tuc ocicfdf assembly
Of the State. sIs
The people were told in August that the State
would not lose more than ten thousand dollars by
the war. Now they are told they will save half a
million Of dollars, and that there will be no ne
cessity for session of the Legislature. How
much would the people sa7e by abolishing the
Legislature, and appointing the 'ierned pundits''
at indianapolis directors" "dctators" or Con
srIs for life2'' France has only the semblance of
A Legislature; Spain, Russia, Turkey, &C., have
none at all Why should Oliver, surnamed Nor
ton, be bampered and controlled By Legisla
ture?
Ii the assertion Of economy proves anything, It
proves that Legislatures are useless and expen-
sive, and chat with such Governor as Morton,
the people would be better served if the Execu
tive and Legislative departments were fused into
one But, unfortunately for the assertion that a
great saving is 70 be made, and the argument ad-
duced thererom against Legislatures and In H.
vor of Executive patton, there is no more
truth in the reported saving of half million than
there was in the silly story in August that the
war was to cost the people ouly ten thousand
dollars
As we have stated, the State has but two ways
OF obtaining money-by taxes or loans. The
levies of the last year are not much more than
half paid. aud every dollar she borrovs costs her
a dollar and quarter. Indiana war bonds are
now selling at 6Oc. less. and to sell these bonds
| 70 obtain the money pay the National tax Cess
than fifteen per cent. discount allowed by the
United States will require sale OF over . NIL
lion of dollars, at loss Of quarter Of a mil
lion. The question can be worked by a simple
rule OF arithmetic Indiana owes, say $SVo ,oOv;
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