The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-01-24
GOV. HAMMOND'S MESSAGE


Senator'S and Representatives.:
For the fret time in the history of oul
State government il bscomes the duty o
the acting Executive of the state; 10 an
noanes the death Of his predecessor in of
fee. before the tins for which he was elee
ted had expired On the third day Of Oc
tober. 1860, at st. Paul Minnesota. Ash
bel p. Willard departed this life. Hi
remains ware Brought back TO our state by
his widow. accompanied by the Governor
Of Minnesota, Hon. Henry NJ. Rice, one
Of her Senators 10 Congress. and by otheI
citizens. For thsii kindness in thus at
tending the remains Of Our deceased Gov
ernor 10 the Cspite' Of our state, desire
for the people Of the state, a. we'll rs foI
my self, 10 extend 10 them our heartfelt
thanks. This sad OCCURRENCE hss dsyolv
I'D upon me. oy virtue Of the Constitution
Of our state, the duties of the Executive
ofics Tor the period for hich ths late Gov
ernor Willard was elected.
During the time that have been acting
as the Executive Of the state, there has
been no question presented to me, save one,
that can by any possibility affect the pecu-
mary interests Of Indiana. The seminar
nual interest on our p=bIic debt for Jan
uary. 1861, was maturing without the
means in the state Treasury to meet it,
There was No mode Of liquidrtIng that in-
terest except by borrowing money. And
believing tbal the citizens Of Indiana de-
sired that her obligations should be kept,
the Auditor and Treasurer Of state. togeth-
er wi.h myself, taking as or authority an
act of the General Assembly prescribing
the duties of the Governor. approved May
27, 1852. made loan of SI25.OOO from
Messrs. Winslow. Lanier i, Co. of the
city of New York, giving our obligations
To- pay the same in MAY next out of the
rsvsuue for the year 1860. Ii is matter
much to be regretted thai Indiana is in
such condition that she is compelled to
20 intu the market to borrow money for
any purpose whatever. But it Is due truth
TO st1.te that this rseessity would not have
existed but for the failure of the Senate OF
Indiana TO pass revenue bill for tho wears
1873
For the a-tion Of the officers Of The s.ate
government, and for the condition OF the
stats Treasury since the last msesiag Of
tbs Legislature. respectfully refer You to
the able aad fall report Of ths Auditor Of
state.
tha management and prosperity Of our
benevolent institutions for the last two
,yescs has osen most satisfactory. corduct>
ed as they have been by able and efficien,
officers, Their several reports are here
with submitted. and most cheerfully seq
ond the recommendations therein mada in
reference to legislative aetioa,
Tue report of the Directors os the state
Prison At Jefersoaville shows that the
Prison is indebted betwesa $4,000 aad
$40, without present meaas-of paw
ment. This indebtedness was caused by
the failure of the lessees Of the convict la
Dor TO pay the state the amount due for
such labor. The most of the money thu.
que ths stste is believed TO be amply se-
cured-but the time Of It's payment is su-
certain. This failure To mset the just de-
nsads Of the state by these iessees has
essn caused by the tiAancial crisis which
las existed for the last few months.
therefoye recommeud that the Legish'ure
make an appropriation TO meet the iGdebt-
edaess oi the -tste in connection with this
institution.
The Law fixing tha qualification Of voters
4nd for the protection of the ballot bpx
against fraud is defective. Our present
law does not iasurs a lalr aad honest ex-
preston ofpublic sentiment. Al our eleq,
tiops, IN very many occasions within the
last few years, 10 consequence Of this de-
feet ~ ths laws, citizens VI one county
have, sn the day previous "a the eieeuont
emigrassd to another eoaEty expressly to
eontroi the slec.isA.
Our government rasts upon the action
and will Of the majority ef her ciIizeps.
and thai being The case. it is important
that by provisions Of law We may be assu-
red that public sentiment shall fair ex-
prsssion through the ballot box and, With
out this is secured, wa cappqt reasonably
hope that minorilies will long submit
Every citizen Of our state. therefore with
out regard to party, is :ntsrested in Eav-
ing an efficient and effective law guarding
this mode Of expire ssing public sentiment.
| therehrs respectfully recommend the
passage Of law ipficsipg heavy penalties
apon persons voting Illegally. aud also up
on officers q the election who rsfuse le-
gal vote. or who knowingly receive an H.
legal one. aud fixing the residence in HE
eonnty necessary 70 cattle ene TO vote. at
. period that viii make il uaprotiIable Tor
bad men to change their residence for yo
ting purposes alone. Had the power OF
fixing the penalty for violation Of the
election law Of our state, it never would be
below that Of Imprisonment IN the stale
Prispu. That penalty would deter bad
IF the ballot: box.
The commercial crisis which we are now
undergoing. toe deprsciated coudiiiop Of