Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-16

Tn. i,tere.f sa the >tste Debt-eov-
~ xxon.s niea.

II
Monasy. evidently prepared by one IN high an
,kodly. attempts 10 Justify the course ofthe Gov
ernor in usurping powers 20 adrniui'ter The State
government mon his own account and not in &C
eordanos With the plain provisions Of the eon-ti-
su,ion aud the laws. There - one fact the
Journal docs not deny AMI that j. the RePubli-
can members Of the House deserted their seats
remained swsy-snd thus prevented the legisla-
ton necessary 70 maintsin the good faith Of the
Stair no, oniv 20 the holders Of her bonds bat %
her other CREDITOR The payment Of one class
Of creditors l. certainly more obligatory upon
the State than another and assured those who
had advanced money to raise troops 70 I'LL the
quotas required BY the General Government Tor
the suppression ofthe rebellion, were entitled 10
o. rnuch consideration the foreign bondholders
whose sympaihics arc against the Federal Gov
eminent In the struggle for what Is termed by
Governor MoRros aud bis partilan friends, the
nations Rfe The Journal complains in behalf
Of HI. Excellency that the appropriation bills
were not masured and presented before the seces-
sion of the Republican members. II says:
NJ Branhsm. one OF the able-t men in the
State and The most experienced ia legislation.
90. on the Commitiee Of Ways and Mean. aud
ne repeatedly urged The eary c,mpletion OF those
bill. He kne~ hs~ frequently and easily IN
proper or extrtvastnt appropriations are made ~
the hurry OF the last hour. OF session, and he
vantesi the bills introduced VA time TO allow them
o. lie thoroughly examined before the pressure
came Bur his representations were unheeded
Nov IL !. veil known by all who have any
knowlelse Of legislation. that !, requires great
con- Iteration and labor to prepare approprlat'on
HILL aud they are never presented until near the
cIo.r Of the session a. the action OF the Legisa-
MANY Il ~ provisions The reference 10 Mr..
BEAxusx J. unfortunate. In 1901 he was Chair
man Of the Committee of WAYS an Means aud
the applopriltipn bills of thrt session were DOT
presented anv earlier than they would have been
ut the last If the Republicans had not skedad,ed
from ths alarm occasoned by their Own shadows
The Republicans we're ab-eut the last twelve
working dave OF the session. hence the plea that
there vas not time 60 carefully consider and ex-
smise the character Of the appropriations - all
twaddle But il the Republican members were
afraid of '.disIoysl" legislation. the, could have
returned on the last day of the session
when bills can he constirutionally enacted into
laws and passed the appropriations, defeated
all other legislation and thus thrown the respon-
sibilitv Of the failure of laws necessary to carry
on the State government in subordinaton to the
constitution and the statutes upon their political
opponents But such a course would not suit
their factious and revolutionary schemes. And
|. must not he forgotten that Governor MORTON
wiz aidin, and encouraging the revolutionary
conduct of hi, partisan friends in the Legislature
The Journal also complains that the members
made appropriations for their own pay and mile
age hut the force of this objection is los. when
II Is remembered that this appropriation made
early in the session at the suggestion of the able
experienced and honest Mr.. BRASHAM
The Journal endeavors to Justify the conduct
Of Governor MORTON by quoting the course Of
Governor WILLARD in 1857 rs precedent The
Republicans condemned Governor WILLARD and
the State officers of that year for assuming the
responsibility of paying the indebted
ness Of the State without lcgis-
lative appropriation. The two cases
arc very dssmiar. In 1857, there was no en-
bezxlement law. And the Legislature of 1859
passed an act "for the manner of receiving. hold
ing and disbursing the public moneys of the
State" which prohibited the State officers from
Withdrawing any money from the Treasury unless
in conformity to appropriations made by law"
The Legislature of that year and Of 1861 evil
dently intended that this clause should inclu c and
cover the payment of the interest upon the
public debt for there appropriation
in the appropriation bills of each Of the
regular session of theses legislatures both 1859
and 1861, for the money necessary TO paw the &C
cruing sums due sem-annually for the two sue
cceiing years. The able and cxnerienced Mr..
BR,suAx voted for the law passed in 1889 for
regulating the treasury system; in 1861 for the
embczzlement act which made il a penal offence
for any State officer 10 violate the treasury law OF
1859 and for the appropriations made bv the
legislatures of 1859 and 1861 to pay the interest
upon the public debt, hence nc must have been
ofthe opinion that money could not lawfully he
taken from the treasury TO pay the interest with
out a specific appropriation hy the legislature.
When these facts are considered there
be any doubt but that the State officers did right
in refusing to pay any money out of the public
treasury except in conformity 10 appropriations
made nv Isw." Neither there he -rv que.
ton in regard 10 the duty Of Governor MoaroN
The last CONSTITUTIONAL Convention provided
bienni,l sessions. hut anticipating thrt some con
tingency like that which has occurred might
arise. gave he Governor of the State the power
10 assemble the Legislature in special session
whenever the public interests demrudedi, But
ths, hoiv aid not anticipate th,t sny Governor 81
Indiana would he so reckless OF bi- constitution
~ obig atoms ~ 10 assume powcrs EXPRESSLY con.
6ie'i 20 the General Assembly Of the State The
responsibility of the failure cf the laws neccssar,
to carry on the State government A. tie Con-ti
tuition prescribes. is upon Governor NoaroS for
advising and The Rcrnhcsn members of ihs
House. Who. - carry out partisan schemes and g
CRAFTY ruIiSsn nreinlce.. seceiei and let e
without quorum fer the trsnsar,iou Of business
And thar responsibility i continued 80 f,r ihe
Governor is concerned. Nv his failing 20 emplo,
the constitutional remedies for the embarras -
ments cf the State
A few words in regard 70 the s2ursfees ths,