The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1861-01-23

they have been by able aud efficient officers.
Their seueral reports are herewith submit
'ed' anc most cbeerfuly second the re-
Communications therein made in reference 20
legislative action.
The report-of the Directors OF the State
Prison at JefersonyilIs. shows that The pri-
son is indebted between eight and len thou.
sand dollars, without present means Of paw
ment. This Indebtedness was caused bv
the failure Of the lessees OF the convict Ia
Dor to pay the State the amount, due for such
labor. The mcst cf the money thus due the
State is believed 10 be amply secured, but
me time Of ts payment is uncertain. This
failure TO meet the just demands Of the
State by these iessees has been caused by
the hnancial crisis which has existed for the
last few months. therefore recommend
that the Legislature make an appro priation
to meet the Indebtedness Of the State iu con-
nec,ion with this institution.
The law fixing the qualification Of voters,
and for the protection Of the ballot.box
against fraud is defective. Our present
law does not insure fair and homes, ex-
preston OF public sentiment. At our cleo
lions on very many occasions within the
last few years, in consequences OF this de-
feet In the laws, citizens Of ono county have,
on the day previous TO the election, emirra-
ted to another county expressly 10 control
the election.
Ou' Government-rests upon The action
and will Of the majority Of her citizens, and
,ha. being the case. It is important that by
provisions Of law We may be assured that
public sentiment shall have . fair express
sion through the ballot-box, and, wi..out this
10 secured we can not reasonably Aope that
minorities will long submit. Every citizen
Of our State. therefore. without .eeard TO
party, lie interested in having an efficient
and effective law guarding this mode Of ex-
pressing public sentiment. Iiherefore re.
speetfully recommend the passage OF law
infilcting heavy penalties upon persons vot-
ing illegally, and also upon officers Of the
election who refuse Z legal vote, or who
knowingly receive On illegal one, and fling
residence 10 the county necessary to entitIe
one to vote. at . period that will ma ke |, un-
probable for bad men 10 change their resi-
denee for voting purposes alone. Had I
The power Of fixing the penalty for viola
lion Of the election law OF our State, II new
y would be below that Of imprisonment in
he State prison. That penalty would deter
Dad men, and do much TO preserve the purity
u the baIIot-box.
The commercial crisis which We are un-
Iergoing, the deprecated condition OF the
ecurities upon which our free bank circulr-
i'm 10 based, and the consequent deprecia-
lon Of our currency warn us that in order
o promote the financial interests OF our
'tate-to prevent loss arising from the re-
ewing Of paper money. 50 liable TO depre-
late while In the vaults Of the Treasury,
70 should provide BY law : sub,reasury sys-
em. The report Of commissioners appoint
q BY the last Legislature 70 examine into
be debts due the State suggests many rea-
cns for the passage OF this law. During
'e last ten years the State has sufTeredto
he amount Of Thousands OF dollars BY the
epreciation Of the currency while in the
ands Of the State and county enicers-by
'e bankruptcy Of persons who have be-
ome debtors to the State for money bor-
'wed out OF her vaults; by the suspension
banks in which her revenues were de.
osited for safety; BY the imprudencs and
providence OF her officers, and their me-
ect or failure to discharge the duties i'm
,sed upon them BY law. And to guard
yainst . recurrence OF those losses; 10
W that feeling Of security to the citizen
81 the taxes he has paid are safelv kept
,c prudently disbursed, Il has now become
'solutely necessary that rigid law should
passed embodying these provisions: Frat.
9 collection OF the debts due the State in
Id and silver; secondly, the erection Of
liable building. with secure vaults, for
. preservation Of the public money; and.
isdly. placing those officers having control
the public money under such siric. guards
It the loaning or disbursng ofany Of i.
cspt in the manner provided By law.
ould constitute felony, and render them
6Ie 70 imprisonment 10 the State prison.
Il 10 manifeslly unjust 10 require an officer
execute bond 70 the State, In heavy
nsliy, for the secure keeping Of the reve-