Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1861-01-16
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


pired. On the third day of October. 1860. |
at st. Paul, Minnesots, Ashbel p. Willard |
departed this life. His remains were
brought back 10 our State by his widsw,
accompanied by the Governor Of Minnesota |
the Honorable Henry M. Rice. one Of he
Senator'S in Congress, and by other. citizens.
For their kindness in thus attending the
remains of our deceased Governor to. TIE
Capitol Of our State, | desire for the people
Of the S ate. as well as for myself to extend
to the our heartfelt thanks This sad oc-
eurrence has devolved upon me, by virtue
Of the constitution OF our State, the duties
of the Executive office for the period for
which the late Governor Willard was cleo
ted.
During the time that have been acting
as the Executive of the State, there has
been no question presented to me.
have one, that can by any poss bilily, at
feet the pecuniary interests of Indiana =
The semi annual interests our public
dent for January, eighteen hundred and
sirty-one. was maturing Without the means
in the State Treasury to meet it. There
was no mode Of lIquidatiug that interest
except by borrowing money. And believ-
in e that the citizens of Indiana desired
that her obligations should be kept, the
Auditor and Treasurer Of State, together
with myself, taking as our authority an act
OF the General Assembly prescribing the
duties Of Governor, approved May q, 1852,
made a loan OF one hundred and twenty
FIVE thousand dollars from Messrs. Wins
low, Lainer d Co., ofths City of New York,
giving our obligations 10 pay the same in
May next out of the revenue for the year
1860. Ii is a matter much to be regretted
that Indiana is In such condition that
she is compelled TO GO into the market 10
borrow monsy for any purpose whatever.
But it is due to truth TO state that this ne
cessity would not have existed but for the
failure of the Senate of Indiana to pass
revenue bill for the years 1878.
For the action of the officers of the State
government, and for the condition of the
State Treasury since the last meeting Of
the Legislature, respectfully refer you to
the able and full report of the Auditor of
State.
The management and prosperity of our
benevolent institutions for the last two
years has been most satisfactory, conduc-
ted as they have been by able and efficient
officers. Their several reports are here.
with submitted. and most cheerfully sec
ond The recommendations therein made in
reference to legislative action.
The report Of the Directors of the State
Prison at Jacksonville shows that the
Prison is indebted between eight and ten
thousand dollars, without present means
of payment. This Indebtedness was caus
ed by the failure of the lessees of the con
vict labor to pay the State the amount due
for such labor. The most of the money
thus due the State is believed to be amply
secured, but the time Of its payment is
uncertain. This failure to meet the Just
demands Of the State by these lsssees has
been caused by the financial crisis which
has existed for the last lew months.
therefore recommend that the Legislature
make an appropriation to meet the iudebt
edness of the State 10 connection with this
institution.
The law fixing the qualifications of vo-
ters, and for the protection OF the ballot box
against fraud is defective. Our present
law does not insure fair aud honest ex-
preston ofpublic sentiment. At our elec-
lions, il consequence of this defect in the
laws, citizens of one county have, on the
day previous to the election, emigrated to
another county expressly tc control the
election.
Our government rests upon the action
and will of the majority Of her citizens,
and that being the case, it is important
that by provisions of law we may be as
sured that the public sentiment shall have
fair expression through the ballot-box
aud, without this is secured, we cannot re-
sonably hope that minorities will long
submit. Every citizen Of our Stale, there
fore, without regard to party, is interested
in having an efficient and effective law
guarding this mode of expressing public
| a. FILL
mend the passage of q law infiiciing heavy
penalties upon persons voting illegally
and also upon officers OF the election who
refuse legal vote, or knowingly receive
an illegal one, and fixing the residence in
the county necessary 20 entitle one to vote
at a period that will make it Improbable
for bad men to change their residence for
voting purposes alone. Had | the power
of fixing the penalty for . violation Of tn.
election law Of our State, it never would be
below that of imprisonment 70 the State
Prison. That penalty would deter bad
men, tand do much to preserve the purity
of the ballot-box.
The commercial crisis which We are no.
undergoing, the deprecated condition oil
the securities upon which our free bask
circulation is based, and the consequent
depreciation of our currency, warn as that
in order to promote the financial interests
of our State-to preveRt loss arising from
the receiving of paper money, so liable to
depreciate while in the vaults Of the treas
ury, we should provide by law a sub treas
ury system. The report Of the commits
sioners appointed by the last Legislature
to examine into the debts due the State
suggests many reasons for the passage Of
this law. During the last ten years the
State has suffered to the amount OF thou
! sands of dollars by the depreciation Of the
currency while in the hands of the State
and county officers-by the bankruptcy Of
persons who have become debtors to the
State Tor money borrowed out of her vaults
by the suspension of banks in which hel
revenues were deposited for safety. by the
imprudence and improyidence of her Of
ficers, and their neglect or failure to dis
charge the duties imposed upon them by
law. And to guard against a recurrence
Of these losses; to give the feeling Of seeu-
rity 10 the citizens that the taxes he ha:
paid are safely kept and prudently dis
bursed, il has now BECOME ABSOLUTELY nee
essary that rigid law should be passed
embodying these provisions: First, The
collection Of the debts due the state in gold
and silver; Secondly, The erection Of suit
able building, with secure vaults, for the
preservation of tkp public money; and
thirdly, placing those officers having con-
troll Of the public money under such strict
guards that the loaniDg or disbursing OF
any Of it. except in the manner provided
by law should constitute felony and rem
der them liable to imprisonrnent in the
Ststes Prison.
1t is manifestIy unjust 10 require az Of
ficer 10 execute bond to the State. when
no provision is made specify ing the kind
of money he shall receive, and no suita-
BILE place provided in which it shall be
kept. The necessity is great, therefore, OF
providing for the erection Of 2 building
suitable for the purpose, with vaults suf-
6eiently strong to guard the public rec
cords and revenues from accident and
crime; and remembering the success that
has attended the sub treasury system in
some Of our sister States, and in the fed
eral government, trust that you will give
this matter your early and favorable at.
tsntion.
At the lastNay term Of the Supreme Court
10 the case of Igoe %. The State Of Ind
lana. the law approved FEBRUARY 10th,
1855, regulating the business Of foreign in
surance companies, was declared To be nu-
constitutional.