Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-02-27

His acceptance and discharge bf the d6fes OF
this appointment was deemed ineompafhlt With
the exercise of his duties as Governor Under the
Constitution OF the State ,ard i-Eks asserted thRf
heahad forfeited his commission as GeFoalef.,
The Eeutdnznt 6OTernor eaifnef % beex- ofhcio
the Executive Of the State and much excitement
prevailed. The succeeding Legislature decide5the
question, and recognized Mr.. Jennings as lie
proper Governor. AT the second electi6n. N
l6I9, be had little opposition, and succeededby.r
large majority. His messages TO the General Is,
sembly, during the six Gubenatorial wears, arc
able State papers-valuable to the politician on
account Of the peculiar crisis IN the monsrNyaf
fairs of the country which they cover and com
mendable for the watchfnlness and care manifest
ed for the interests and prosperity OF the State.
They are too Foluminous 70 append 10 this no
tice and are in the archives of the State The
Constitution OF the. State imited the Office of
Governor 70 two successive terms, and IN lc<2
Mr.. Jennings was again returned to Congress by
the voters of the second Congressional District OF
Indiana This district hecontinned 10 represent
until 1881 s,..f .f ,s 49,.
at the Presidential contest in 1924. he cast his
vote, and the vote Of the State, in the House Of
Representatives, for Andrew Jackson, and
throughout his service AZ Representative in Con
gress adhered to and voted with the Democratic
party. The canvass for Congress, in 1881, ter
minated against him. Heiwas beaten by a small
majority ts1 .sssr.,sf 80 - 17t
On the lath day of July. 1882. he was CON
missioned, with John W Davis and Mark CruIne.
as Commissioner to treat with the Miami, Del
aware and Pottawatamie Indians for all the In
dian lantslin the State Of Indiana. and the reln-
quishment of the Pottawatamie title 10 all lands
in Illinois and Michigan. The Commissioners,
after much difficulty and several councils with the
Indians, succeeded in making treaties by which
the Indian title was extinguished 10 all lands in
tbs State, and by which the Indians agreed 70 re
move to lands provided for them west Of the Mis-
souri river This commission terminated The
public service Of Jonathan Jennings. After leax-
ing Congress he was Frequently urged 10 become
candidate for the State Legislature, and could
have been elected almost by accIamation: but Le
declined these solicitations Of friends without as
signing cause He died on his fnrm, about
three miles from GharestoND, Clarke county,
Indiana, IN the year 1884, and was buried ia the
old graveyard in Charlestown
Governor Jennings possessed thor0afh
knowledge of the history and politics of our
country His contest fer delegate in Congress II
the first election, the subsequent contest for his
seal ON the floor Of Congress, the official influence
and personal exertions of Governor Harrison
agairst him at the succeeding election. his debut
on the political field as period when many OF our
Revolutionary wOrthes and statesmen were still
in the meridian Of their usefulness and their hon
CTS, and his PERSONAL association with Mr. Clsy.
and PinckRey and Calhoun. and Others Of high
distinction, all conspired 10 make him an able
Statesman and politician. His personal popuiarit,
IT home in his own State, has scarce precedent
Free, open, and generous he WAS fond OF social
enjoyment, cared little for money beyond the pres
/ ent use, anu with true heart for a friend, and
open hand for the distressed and needy be del
! poor in this worlds goods. Dirng his 6ubeuiato
rial term, the revenue Of the State was found def
ciss auf-o bodf
of fVincennes, then the State Bank OF Indiana, ard
IN order to meet the payment of the loan. theIe :
| isiature passed act authorizing the reception
Of the paper OF the bank and branches for take
In the mean time the bank transferred the State
obligations to the United States in part for debt
due the governments, and suspended payineni on
her notes, which notes finally became entire y
worthless. The consequence to the State Of Ia
diana was full treasury of Deprecated, worth
less paper, and not cent to paw the ordinary ex
penses A resort was had 10 treasury notes these
also deprecated, and the salary Of the Governor,
fixed at 81 600, was paid in treasury notes Nortb
! six or seven hundred dollars The amount III
salary paid in deprecated currency was insuli
cient for the sustenance of private family, fnue
less for the dispensation OF that hospitality Ie
CURED for Western Governor and still less icr
the liberal hospitality of Governor Jennings. II
5 expenditures each year, whilst Governor. wege
more than double his saiary, and involved him n
]
him.
J. The early settlers of Indiana were generally
r poor they entered lands az two dollars per acre
and made one payment; their difficulties and pr
yations disabled them from securing the secon,
payment, and their lands became forfeited for IT,
failure. In this great crisis to them, when the
homes were about to be wrested from them, wit
what solictude did they look 10 the action of Con
gress for relief, and how much did they depent
upon their delegate in that body to procure il fo
= theml There are those now living that attribut'
their all of earthly comfort and happiness 10 th
! exertions of Mr. Jennings ia that trial hour; ant
:, they remember him not only as delegate, but q
neighbor, friend, brother. They win tell ncg
n that never was letter addressed Jonathan Jen
nngs ON the most trivial. as well as importan
{ matters, that WAS not promptly answered and o.
business Immediately attended to. From the ~
s. Rod of the battle of rippecanoe, November 1eli
j to the close OF the with Great Britain, 1919
the Indiana Territory was harassed by Ind4.
: depredations and murders, and force of citlzcl
u rangers, volunteers, had to be constantly in th'
> field These were all poor men, most Of WHOM
|, |, had families dependent upon them tor support
II The general Government at that day was no
! prompt paymaster, and the citizen soldier WI
Z compelled to take promises for his own services
u and the property he had lost In service There j
not one of these old rangers, volunteers, or mil
tiamen, that has not erected a monument in hi
r heart to the memory of Jonathan Jennings, fo
his exertions in Their behalf Many still liyin,
= declare that through the exertions of JONATHAN
: Jennings they obtained pay for their horses ans
: property and personal services during the war
; they viii tell that through his untirng exertion
delay was granted IN the payment for their homes
e Whilst these men live, whilst their posterity live
> Jennings viii be remembered as the active, faith
7 ful, persevering public servant His social quail
: ties, and his kind and gentlemanly conduct m
c be forgotten; but there is enough in his oitcia
/ services 70 erect memento as permanent as Lll
u State in which those services were performed.
y Such is the character and services Of Goyerne
, Jennings, and yet his last resting place Is 81
e marked by even a rude stone, and only few ca
point 10 the precise spot where he lies. Shall hi
IS continue longer! Will not the Legislature
Z in session. respond to the petition that Is befcn
2 them and erect above the rernains of this faith
Is ful public servant suitable memorialz AT pre-
: ent even the ground in which he lies buried }
II not enclosed. We hope and trust that the Leg
islatare win not fail TO act promptly in tins nrt
II ter
1t IS certainly due &c the first Governor Of th
great and prosperous State of Indiana, that
suitable monument should be erected in con-
. memoration Of his valuable public services.
J.. is, indeed, stigma upon the character OF lnci
e ana, that this token Of respect has so long beei
/ denied 10 Jonathan Jennings.
, senator benjamin.