The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-02-13
Special Message Of Gov. Morton.
STATE OF INDIANA, ExEcuTIvE DEP'T,
Indianapolis, Feb. 4. 1868.

/
To the Legislature Department et' the STATE
/ OF Ia3iaaa
Owing to the immense drafts that have
| been made on the Treasury of the United
States. the Government has been unable To
| promptly pay the troops the wages to which
| they are entitled. To most of the soldiers
tour mon.hs pay is due. and to many of
them SIX | am informed. however, tha,
enough money has recently been furnished
to the Paymssters to pay all arrearagss up
II the lst of November last, which will still
leave due and unpaid their wages for two
months. en ling on the lst day OF January.
The failure by the Government to pay the
army the money due to IL at the periot Tx
ed by law for iis payment, which i every
two months, operates with great hardship
upon the wives, children and parents who
are dependent upon it for support The
compensation of the private soliier is small,
and if the payment of 1t be greatly delayed
much Suffering must ensue. The brave and
generous msn who have gone 70 the held to
peril their lives in battle and endure the
harlships of war, should not b. allowed to
fret that the payment of their scanty com
penss:ion is delayed. if,here be any means
by which delay can be avoided The sol
march aud often suffers greatly in health
ari comfort for want of it.
The Government. believe. is doing all
in its power TO meet its Engagements prompt
ly, bat the question is whether the State
could not, wlthout serious detrtment TO her
self. remove the difficulty. 50 far as Indiana
troops are concerned, by Advancing their
unpaid wages. If proper legislative author.
4 fS tha tasa l
doubt, borrow of the Banks or individuals
in Indiana. New York. or other places. at
legal interest. enough money for the pur
poss and an arrangement could be IN lde
with the Secretary of the Treasury By which
the am punt advanced should b, rrfuni led
to the State by the United States whenever
the ,vernment was able to pay the same
to the troops. il they had not been paid by
the Stats. Tue State would be reimb irsei
for her expenditures. probably every sixty
or ninety days, aud the interest paid upon
the laai.s would be trifing comp1red with
ths amount OF good that wolll bs accom-
plishe /, aad this interest would no doubt be
r, refunded by the Government.
The plan for doing it | woul briefly
suggest as follows Let the officers ani
soldiers in proper form assig, the pay due
them t. the Treasurer Of the State, with .
direction in the assignment to whom the
m ,ney should bs paid by tho Srate. If the
money is to be paid TO the family or friends
OF the officer soldier. living in tn, State,
it can be doae through the Treasurer of the
county IN which such persons live. Ii the
money is to be sent to the soldier in the field.
it can BE- done by Fedsral prymasters,
unier an arrangement with the Paymsster
General. at Washington or. if it be pre-
ferred, the money can remain in the State
Treasury, as deposit, subject to the order,
at any time, OF the person entitled to draw
it. Upon the pay rolls thus assigned the
Treasurer of the State. he can from time to
time settle with the U lited Safes aud receive
back the monies advanced.
The measure proposed has several i'm
portant advantages:
First BY the prompt payment of the
troops prolific source of discomfort AMI
desertion is removed
Secoadiy % ii GERS and men are enabled
to provide for their own necessities in the
field, and for the support Of their families
and dependents at home
Ihvdly-By the plan proposed Of paying
through the County rreasurers. families ani
dependent ones at home will receive large
amount which would never reach them.
even though it were promptly paid to those
entitled while they were in the field.
Fourhly--Much money voull be held
in trus', deposit in the s ate Treasury,
which if paid TO the .o!ders in the fell,
would be squandered or lost.
. This rec Jmmendation is not intended to
be confined to pay NV in arrears. but to
apply in the future, when the Government
is unable to promptly meet its engagements
with the army.
Should the plan suggested not be deemed
feasible, or the best. | will cheeriuliy co
operate with you in the adoption of any
other by which the main purpose, the
promp, payment of Ind ana troops, can be
accomplished.
l would respectfully invite your early
Of this subject.
o. P. MORTON. Gov of Ind.