The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-01-18
Ian. 18th, 1862. - - 81. y

OFFrcE p SscRkrARr OF STATE

Secretary of states AsmssssI txepori.
OFFrcE y SkcRkrARr OF STATE
Indianapolis. Oct. 81 81
To his Erceileney. Okrer P. Morton, Gov
ernor Of tbe State Of lndiana::
La compIianc- with au act of the General
Assembly of said State of Indiana. approv-
ed February 81. 1858. most respectfully
submit TO your Excellency the following an :
nual report:
The duties of the Office of Secretary OF
State being almost purely clerical, and init
mately connected with the duties OF YOUR
own department, l am at a loss to know
what SUBJECT matter was intended by the
Legislature to be included in such a report.
shall, however, endeavor 70 put in form
such matters nf general interest as may
deem within the spirit Of the law.
Distribution OF LAWS, &c.
1t is made the duty of the Secretary of
: State to superinteud the printing, binding
and distribution OF the Acts OF the General
Assembly, and also to distribute the Acts
Of Congress, the Documentary, House and
Senate Journals. This duty has been per-
formed to the Acts Of Congress. The
regular session acts, under joint resolu-
ton of the General Assembly at its special
session, were pu, IN force by filing stitch
ed copy in every clerks Office in the State,
of which proclamation was made, and the
laws declared in force on the 5th day OF Ju
ly, 1861 Under the same resolution the
/ regular and special session acts were bound
in the same volume, and distributed 10 every
county in the State, of which like procla
malion was made. and the special session
acts declared In force on the 9TH day of
September, 1861.
Co bal
no control. were not at the time. nor are
they yet really for distribution. am, how
ever. ass .red and believe that in q very
my pleasure to forward them without delay.
SUPREME CURT REPORTS.
Ny inability to procure the number of
copies of the 14th Indiana Reports to which
the State is entitled, and for which she has
principally paid, has been to me a source of
regret, annoyance and vex s,ion. These
books were paid for TOR nearly SO. out OF
the Safe rreasurv. bef,re l came into Of
fee. and before the prin ing was completed.
The payment was made to the then R-por-
Ter OF the Decisions of the Supreme Court,
and when the books were ready for deliv-
ery the publisher claimed the copyright.
and refused to d liver them to lhe 5 ate un-
more than was due from the Sa'e on them.
The Legislature tailed o give any Ie!iei or
take any action upon the matter after having
all the facrs before it; and there being no ap-
preparation to pay for them a second time,
could not procure them. The facts were
then laid before the Attorney General. who
brought suit to rec 'ver the money, which
suit is ye, undsposed Of
I The Fifteenth Indiana Reports have been
received, paid for and distributed. the
law directs. The Sixteenth will doubtless
be ready before great while.
PARDoSs AND REMIssIoNs~
During a period ending this day, and
comm ncng on the 3ist day OF October
1860, sixty y-one consicts have been pardon
ed. of which number twenty five were par
doned by His Excellency. Governor Ham
mond, one bv His Excellency, Governor
Lane. and thirty five by your Excellency.-I
All those, excepting about a half dozen.
were conyicts in one or the other State Pris
on. The half dozen were pardoned from
county jails.
Also, during the same period, the sum of
IS. $50 90 have been remtted. which We're
fines and forietures adjudged agains, diff
terent persons by the courts of the State, of
which the sum of Sc. .O4O 90 was remtted
by HIS Excel!ency, Governor Hammond
and the sum Of 1000 SO by your Excellen
cy.
COMMISSIONS.
Ihe principal business of the office, for a
few months. has been in issuing and record
ing military commissions. About the usual
number of civil commissions have been is
sued.
FEES AND PERQUisITES.
The amount received BY me since came
into Office the 18th of January. 1S6l) from
individuals for whom l have rendered ser
vice is 81 OH 90. This sum l have on de-
post In bank, awaiting the decision Of the
Supreme Court touching my right aud duty
under the law of 1859
Respectfully submitted,
w. A. PEELLE,
Sec'y OF State.