The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-05-17

ES25@N No section of the State has sutiere
SO much i'll its business, made as heavy sacri.
fees, as the Ohio river border; nor has any
section furnished a larger number of volun-
J teers. Madison and Madison township, in
! Jefferson county, have poured out their bast
citizens contributed bountifully of theiI
means to aid the State and National Ad-
ministration to prepare for the war. Our
business men, before the Administration
made the order, refused to ship provisions
to Louisville, Kentucky, because they would
be sent thence to the seeding States. Ira
ders did this in the face of positive refusal
of Governor Morton to advise Il suspension
of shipments of provisions from Indianap-
oils. The trade and business OF the border
counties is in ruins, while that of the in
terror moves on almost as usual. The Dor
der counties are in the only danger which
threatens the State-an invasion by the re-
bels-while the valleys of the Wabash and
White Water are comparatively safe. All
the men and means put into the hands Of
the Governor will be expended in utter dis
regard to the wants, sacrifices, condition
and position of the border counties south of
the National Road Governor Morton ap-
pears to know no North, no South, no East,
no West, below the line of the old National
Turnpike Road.
We are told the Governor has contracted
with an iron founder in Cincinnati for $50
900 worth of cannon. There are no foun
dries north of the National Road" of suffi-
cient capacity to manufacture cannon, but
there are at Evansville, New Albany, Mad
ison, and perhaps at aurora. In the uni
versal stagnation of the business on the bor-
der, this job would have been of material
assistance to the foundrymen of this city, or
to any of the cities we have named; but
without inquiry, without asking proposals,
the Governor hurried off to Cincinnati and
gave the States mite to the operatives of
that city. The border counties are not
only robbed of their means Of defense, but
their money, and the money of the people of
the state is sent to Ohio for cannon.
We have ("thank Cod men enough and
money enough left to guard and defend the
jefferson county border. So, we believe,
have the other border counties. All that is
required is unity of action.
Ia view of all the facts presented, we sug-
gest that the border counties hold county
mass meetings, preparatory to a grand mass
meeting of all the counties along the Ohio
river, including Jennings, Jackson, &c, &c,
to take the management Of all matters per-
tanning to the arming of the Home Guards
and for the defense of the border into their
own keeping.
We propose, further, that county meet
ing be held in this city on Saturday, 18th
inst, at one o'clock in the afternoon, and
that every organized volunteer company in
the county be requested to march into the
city ar,t attend the meeting TO consult as
to the best means OF procuring arms and
munitions ard for the expression of the
public sentiment in regard to the action of
the State Administration in the disposition
of the armed force of the State, the manu-
facture of cannon, and the delay in furnish
ing guns for the Home Guards.
We make these suggestions in no party
spirit indeed without consulting the lea
derS of either party we speak upon our
own individual responsibility, in hope that
the people-Democrats Americans and Re
publicans-will be induced TO act for them
selves in this important crisis when danger
is the more iminent because of the imbe-
cility of the executive of the State.
The people of the border counties must
not depend upon the State or Nation. Self
defense is the first law of nature, and to be
well prepared to repel aggression is the
best method OF preventing aggression.