The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-04-30
Resspeen E9rss aad E~atsr.
Letter from AttOrney-GeneraIJ } ones.
INDIANAPOLIS, April "a, 1861.

great dissatisfaction has been manifested by
volunteers and their friends, from different
parts of the State, because volunteers who
rendered their services were not received, or
because companies received, numbering 100
to 100, were reduced to Ga, or because the
number of oeicers was reduced to Captain,
First Lieutenant, and Sergeant, or because
arms were not furnished, or because the
kind of arms desired were not furnished
That this should be the case is not to be
wondered at when we consider the extraor-
binary degree of excitement prevalent all
over this State, and l am not disposed to
find fault on account of it, for l am con-
scious that have a beam in my own eye.
Slow as l am, frequently find myselfmov-
ing at pace too brisk. I am fully satisfied
that the Governor is sincerely disposed to
DO equal and exact justice to all persons and
sections without any reference whatever to
party or local position. He could not an
ticipate thenumber of volunteers who would
tender their services, or the counties from
which they would c. ie and very naturally
and properly, whenever a full company was
reported and a roll presented, he accepted
them and ordered them to march at once TO
the Capital When the number called for
by the President had been reported and re-
ceived, there was no alternative but to in
form all others that they could not be re-
ceived at present, for, under the worthless
militia law BOW in force, the Governor had
not the power, and with an empty treasury,
he had rot the means, to employ and main
tain troops in the actual service of the State.
have no official information on which
to base an opinion on the subject, but feel
quite confident that, before long, as many
volunteers at least as have already rendered
their services, will be accepted and muster
ed either into the service of the State or of
the United States And I would advise
them to continue their organization and
drill regularly.
Companies mustered into the service of
the United States were reduced in number
to sixty-f four by order of the War Depart
ment, and it was a matter over which the
Governor bad no control and so in regard
to the number of officers. As to the troops
III AuO SCLfiCO VI INT ADthle3 Lh6SC L4dLLSES
will be regulated by law which will un
dOubtedly be passed during the called ses-
sion of the General Assembly. The State
has but few arms of any kind and most of
them are in the hands of companies who
have been repol ted and accepted.
The Governor could not, under any or
dinary circumstances, nor indeed without
some ' cry apparent necessity, take arms
from one company and give them to an
other. We sent an officer to Evansville to
take possession of certain arms there not
to dispose of them elsewhere, but to take
them out of the custody, and place them
beyond the control of certain individuals
who had made themselves notorious, by
publicly and habitually proclaiming treason
able entiment5-sentiments which, if sin
cerely entertained, would have impeled
them to take up arms against their patriotic
eighbors-Republican and Democrats and
Union meR of all sorts, who re disposed to
oppose treason and rebellion, and sustain a
government which is, beyond all measure,
the best that has ever existed on earth.
know not whether my advice influenced
the conduct of the Governor in this respect
or not, but | advised him to do as be did.
There are reasons for the conduct of the
Governor in reference to the distribution of
troops and arms which cannot, with pro-
priety, be given publicly, and l think the
people of the Pocket will, in few days, be
satisfied that he has done, and will do,
for them, the best that he can
under the circumstances surrounding him.
Here, for the time, all party differences are
forgotten and all party distinctions oblitera-
ted, and the prevalent feeling has aetuated
the Governor in appointing officers of vol
unteer companies. He never enquiries
whether a man is, or has been, Republi-
can or not. The only inquiry is, 4" is he
sincerely devoted to the Constitution and
the Union, and is be willing to peril his life
in their defense ?" And, thank God, there
are but few Of any class or party who can
not sincerely and heartily answer the ques-
ton affirmatively. Southern traitors will
have abundant reason to curse most bitterly
those politicians and editors who taught
them to believe that the number of traitors
in Indiana who would take sides with them,
would be equal, or nearly so, to the number
of votes cast at the last Presidential election
in favor of Bell, Douglas, and Breckenridge.
Republicans, Bell men, and Democrats of
all sorts, when they meet greet each other
with the earnest, hearty good will Of BROTH
ers, and every look, and gesture, and ex-
preston, indicates that their hearts beat in
unison, keeping time to the music of the
Star-Spangled Banner, with an occasional
| bar of Yankee Doodle interspersed as a va
ration.
Senator Douglas is here, with his wife.
/ He made short speech last night which
/ is substantially reported in the Journal of
I this city. He advises liberal and energetic
preparations for war and says We must fight
/ and conquer the traitors who are endeavor-
! ing to subvert the government.
The Legislature met to-day, and will
commence business tomorrow. The most
important bills upon which they will be re-
quired to act, have been carefully prepared
in advance, and it is hoped that the session
will be a short one. The probability seems
to be that a loan of 100000, 1.-THE loan
has been authorized. ED. Jour. will be
authorized, and also the raising of ten
thousand troops to be employed in the SER
vice of the State.
Our people should take some pains to as
sure the people Of Kentucky, that if they
will let US alone we will let them alone, and
| ~ raceive q like assurance from them We