The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-02-15
From the Illinois State Register
The Constitution on state Expenditures.

Inc constitution ui ILLINOIS provides that
Z" no money shall be drawn from the treasury,
but III consequence Of appropriations made
by law The legislature, at the last specl
al session, with II republican ma iorlty in both
houses, and therefore patriotic, Of COURSE, APP
propriat"d what seemed 10 them sufficient
sum TO cover the expected liabilities which
the state would incur in raising and equip.
ing her quota OF troops tor the war. The
state authorize. expended the sums thus ap.
prOprlatri and several millions additional --
Now, where l. the authority for thi, addition
al expenditure? II cannot be produced -
Authority for the expenditure Of the peoples
money is none anywhere, except ia
the people. representatives.. But it is urged
in Justification by the part2an adherents of
the state authorities. that ''Heressiy' COM
PEELED tins cOursc--thHt more troops were
raised than was at first contemplated, and Of
cours" they had to be subslsted and clothed,
which required more money. Very we'll
That beng admitted, does It prove that any
officer OF The state could put his hand in the
public treasury and take thcre!rom the
amount needed? Surely not. The cCnstltu-
hon expressly provides that ''no money shall
be drawn from the treasury, but IN cnuse.
quenrc OF appropriation made by law The
state executive could Just with rs much pro
pretty and Legality have proceeded to raise
and equip regiments and make expenditures
therefor, III the beginning OF the war,Without
converting the legislature to make the needed
appropriations, as he could afterwards exceed
the appropriations SO made. Why was not
this course pursued? Why did not Gov.
Yates proclaim himself above the constitution
in the beginning, and proceed to expcnd the
necessary amount to organize and equip the
Illinois volunteers without Il legislative APP
preparation? Now it Is hoped that as the
rio, of ,n;Iitar, nonnys,ty p" thn r;,l,,;"n
Of the constitution will be overlooked or quiet
" submitted To-, Those who think SO greatly
"'Iu'l,'''S,!u" t"r temper VI ''' P'op,MF,.
oro mir far tbn CONSTITUTION ma thonn
they are willing to pledge the last dollar
and the last man for the preservation Of both
h"Is I'S''I '''a' tnt Sat'"'t men VINO nave
.cnnntrv shaII he ,yeII caraJ g,r ~. thnr
also desire and demand that whatever is done
shall be done under the constitution and nc.
corning 10 law we nave not reached the
it, when we shall quietly submit to have any
public servant of Illinois arrogate to himself |
the right to determine when 1.-THE necessity"
exists which instihes him in violating his
oath Of Office and DEMONSTRATION Of the state.
The patriotic men who, with arms IN their
hands, are upAoliing the constitution andthe |
laws Of the union, do not desire aud will not
endorse these gross ASSUMPTIONS of power nv .
the state administration, Orr volunteers ore
fighting for the preservation nt Inv and nrdn-
They viii not consent TO their nyer,hro,T -
Illinois, not even under the sneeions nIeo thnt
i was done for the Good of +be soId;or s""'
The Chicago Tribune has remarkably .
umiable WASHINGTON corrosnonasrt ybo ~
his lo..o. tho q, ;n., "''', ~
.''' '''''' VI '''0 Gu '"s'' speaking OF plans