Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-03-13
The Journals idea of Impudence.

The Journals idea of Impudence.
The Journal thinks it q cool piece of impu-
dence for an ex-oficer of State to defend himself
from attacks upon his official conduct Several
Republican Senators took occasion the other day
to make gross and unwarranted charges against
the late Attorney General He took occasion to
respond to these allegations by addressing COM
munication to the Senate, so that the refutation
might appear where the charges had been made |
1t was read in the Senate, aud request made |
that it be spread upon the journal. This request
was denied, we presume, for the reason that the
refutatiOn was overwhelming and it turned the
tables upon his accusers. As the Journal pro-
nounces the course of Mr.. MCDONALD can i'm
pudent and insulting proceeding to
the dignity of the Senate-we propose that the
public shall be advised of its character by pub
fishing the communication. To show still further
the entire injustice of the charges of Senators
STEELE and MELLErT, we quote in connection the
following extract from the report of the Commits
sioners appointed by the last Legislature to set
tie, adjust and collect the debts due the State,
two of whom Judge ELLIOTT and Judge OrTo
are Republicans and one Hon NORMAN EDDY a
Democrat:
Those who had entered these lands upon the
faith of advanced certificates became alarmed
and sought terms of accommodation. The hold
ers and representatives of conflicting claims and
entries, after much negotiation and discussion
finally agreed upon a compromise, which was
carried through the Legislature in an act approved
March 5, 1857. to amend the swamp land law of
1852, and by its provisions legalized the ditching
contracts before that time made. Thus, by this
single act of thoughtless legislation, the last bar
rier opposed to these depredators of the public do
main, was broken down and DESTROYED.
hDIAsAroIIs, March T. 1851.
To the Senate Of Indiana.
In the debates of the Senate, as published in
the Indiana State Journal of the lst of March.
find the following:
Mr. Mellet said he agreed with Mr. Cobb that
the services of the late Attorney General had not
been worth much, His opinions had cost the
State thousands and thousands and thousands of
dollars when he might have saved the State as
much or more than he had cost il. He never
gavea decision in reference to letting Democratic
Office holders 6lching the Treasury but what it
was in favor of flching
Injustice to Mr.. Cobb it is proper to say that
nothing in his reported remarks could in the re-
motest degree be made to imply what the SEN
ator from Henry so gratutOusy assumes.
In regard to the charge that Mr.. Melett makes
against my official action in the above paragraph
| desire to say that it is simply false in every
line and letter. If Mr. Mellet had desired to b,
informed as TO my official action it would hav,
been easy to obtain the information: and then h,
might have been saved from perpetrating libe
upon one whom he had no reason to assai
except a mere difference of political opinions.
To show this will cite one two instance
out of many, which occurred during my officia
term. The late State Printer, Ia personal a
well as political friend,) claimed that the act o
1859, reducing the price of printing did not EN-
brace him, as he had been elected and giveT
bond before its passage, or if it did embrace him
the act unconstitutional. / decided thes
questions against him and not being satisfe,
with my decision he commenced suit by mandat
against the Officer for the difference between tn
; prices allowed under the act of 1859, and the oil
, law, which suit / defended for the State as Al
torney General, while remained in office.
/, Again, under the salary law of 1859 Commo
, Pleas prosecuting attorneys claimed salary Q
, $5OO per annum, each payable out of the Stat
treasury. Tbe question was referred to me, and
decided against them. A suit was commenced
mandate in the courts of this county, and ID
: cison was made in favor of the claim. / took a
: appeal to the Supreme Court, and my view of tn
u law was sustained by that court, and the caus
, was reversed thus saving to the State abou
= $2l 900 per annum.
have never given an official opinion that d
: not believe to be sustained by the law, and non
: certainly that / am not now willing TO abide by
. and if the Senator from Henry had been as am,
ious to do justice both to the State and to poll
!, ical opponent, as he seems to be to acquire som
notoriety for sharpness at the expense of his cha
: acter for candor and fair dealing, he would NJ
: have gone out of his way to make wholcsal
charges based upon no foundation in fact.
also find in the same debate, in referring
! swamp land frauds the Senator from Parke use
= = the following language:
: 'Mr Steele said great deal had been said o
e this report. 1t had been tried for years TO hay
an investigation into these frauds by the AttOrne
> General, and it had always failed"
= This, like the statement of the Senator frol
4 Henry, is utterly untrue. In December, 1855
Immediately upon coming into Office receive
" information that great and palpable violations
:, the swamp land law had been perpetrated in Il
- county of Jasper, with the connivance OF some
the then officers of State, resulting in gro
:. frauds upon the State. j at once filed bill Q
!. behalf of the State in the Marion Circuit Cou
!. "a copy of which / send herewith against Il
= officers of State and Others implicated in Il
: frauds, and procured an Injunction; the cause WI
- continued by operation of law until the next ter
of Court The Legislature met in January Is.
= and passed bill relating TO the subject, the ir
- - part of section two of said bill was a follows:
- - THAT all contracts heretofore made by any
= the swamp land Commissioners with any persC
: or persons for ditching and draining any of Il
), swamp lands in any of the several counties
! this State TO be paid for in swamp lands, may
!. ratified and confirmed by such Commissioners
n This act originated in the Senate, n majori
!" of whom were Republicans, and passed th
: body by vote of ~ to 3 See Senate Journ
- 1857, page 531. 1t passed the House by a vo
!, = of sc to /. See House Journal, page 90l. Al
"" "" the present Senator from Parke, Mr.. Steel, tn
g a member of the House voted for it.
:, =. This bill virtually dismissed the suit had !
- stituted to investigate these frauds, by author
ooS ing the very men who had perpetrated them
- ratify them, and from that time to this / ha
!, never had any power over the subject as Atton
=. y General except so far rs it was made my duty
IN n joint resolution of 1889, to aid the Commisso
= ers appointed to investigate the suspended del
=, and which duty have the qualification of kno
p ing performed to their satisfaction.
- respect for the good opinion of the people
:, Indiana has induced me to SO far depart from
v u usual rule as to briefly notice these unfounded
4 sauts upon my official action, and j ask, as
measure of justice, that the refutation may
heard in the same place where the charges ha
n. been made. This privilege. presume. no OF
20 not even those who have made them, will de
of me. for they ought, if they have been honest
he mistaken, TO desire opportunity to learn
,d facts. j. K. McDoSALD,
A. =