Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-15
The Governer's ProcIamalion.

The GOverner's ProcIamation.
The Governors last effort, which we published
Yesterday is-a-eompound Of -gotisw,-xanity
pedantry and inconsistency. The teacher has
influence and respect who by example illustrates
the doctrines and precepts he ineulcates. But
the man whose practice is Inconsistent with his
teachings. no matter how eloquently and forcibIy
they may be set forth. makes no more impress
sion than the pouring of water througE-a sieve.
The people understand their duties and obliga-
tons to the Government equally as well as His
Exceilency, and the majority of the citizens of
Indiana whose intelligence and patriotism he i'm
pugns, cannot but regard his proclamation as an
unjustifable impeachment of their integrity and
capacity. We copy the following sentiment from
the Governors pronunciamento as a text for a
few omment He saws:
Let me exhort the people to moderation and
Submission TO the Lgos. and LAYING aside their re-
and prejudices. to take counsel only
of their duties and the dangers which threaten
the nation
That exhortatiOn is right and it will meet with
the cordial response of every good citizen. But
is the Governor honest in this expression-does
he mean to practice the duties he e%njoins upon
the people so 1nctiously7 We will put his
teachings to the test so far as his own practice is
concerned. Mark the language of His Excel
lency: 1, 20. p. NJ } "exhort the people to
moderation and submission 10 The lops, and lay
ing aside their resentmrnfs and prcudicrs. to take
counsel only Of their duties and the dangers
which threaten the nation" Very prettily said,
almost equal in elegance of expression and sim
cerity to the editorials Of the court organ.
Turn to the Constitution of Indiana. which the
Governor with becoming solemnity swore to sup
port when he assumed the duties OF the Office,
and in article v, section l6, the following duty is
e%Djoined upon him:
"He shall take care that the laws be faithfully
executed"
The Constitution confdes the administrative
affairs of the State to a Secretary. an Auditor,
and a Treasurer, who are elected by the voters
of the State. In the act to provide a Treasury
system for the State of Indiana, passed in 1859,
it is required that "the money derived from the
following sources shall be paid into the State
Treasury"
All moneys borrowed on the credit of the State
BY authority of law, by the Treasurer or any
other authorized agent of the State.
All moneys and interest thereon arising from
the sale Of lands, lots. or other property belong
ing to or held in trust by the State.
All interest, profits. income and accretions of
every kind. arising or derived in any manner
from any nlonev or funds specified in this Sec
ton. (Acts 1883. chap. 50. sec. 3
AILmoneys arising from the sale of bonds or
stocks deposited under the general banking law,
and all MONEY accruing to the State, or to any
fund Of the State
Without further particularizing, it is evidently
the intention of the laws providing a Treasury
system that al public moneys belonging to OF
accruing to the State shall be paid into the State
Treasury. and 1.-The Treasurer Of State is ex-
pressly prohibited from paying any money out of,
or transferring any money from the Treasury of
State. except upon the warrant of the Auditor of
State" And the first section of what is known
as the embezzIement law, passed in 1861. and
approved by His Excellency, provides as follows:
That il any officer or other person charged or
in anv manner entrusted with any money. fund.
securities or other property belonging to this
State. or belonging to any fund under control Of
this State. or under the control of any State Off
Ger, shall convert to mis- own use. or to the use of
any other person OF persons, corporation or cnr-
porations, in any manner whatever contrary to
Law, . . he shall be deemed guilty of felony,
&c.
Now for the application. The Governor ex-
horts the people TO submission to the laws"
What moral force can such counsel have. when
His Excellency sets the example of disobedience
to and disregard of the laws of the State2 1.-THE
Governor Of the State whose duty it is to 'take
care that the laws be faithfully executed him.
self tramples upon and treats with contempt the
constitution and the laws, can it be expected that
the private citizen will respect law? Does not
the example of the Governor invite anarchy
does il not in effect say every man that he
must be the Judge of what laws should be sub
mitted to and those that should not?
What is the practice Of the Governor who ad
vises submission to the lawsf" He is receiving
moneys belonging to the State. which the
Law says must be deposited in the Treasury of
State; and contrary to law. he is discussing the
moneys thHs received, through irresponsible
agents not known to the law. He has repudiated
the officers Of State provided by the Constitution.
and set up a Revolutionary Government What
more right has he to trample upon the Constitu-
ton which he has sworn to observe. protect and
defend, and take the law into his own hands,
than any other citizen7 We tell the people that
obedience to law is the highest duty OF the citi-
zen, and what is the answer? The response
comes up, why does not the Governor submit to
the laws?" What reply can be made to such an al
legation? Can we say that the man whose duty
it is to take care that the laws be faithfully exc
cuted. is any more exempt from obedience to law
sion made upon every man when he first reads
the Governors pronunciamento? Is it not that
be should illustrate in his administration of the
Affairs of the State that obedience to law which
he urges upon the people7 But it may be said
that the Governor thinks that submission to the
is expected from Democrats alone-that
the Republicans have a license to do what they
please. not because they are any more friendly
to the Government than the Democrats. but for
the reason that they are the friends of the Ad
ministratiOn. There can be no other loyalty in
this country but fidelity to the Constitution
Can a man be friendly TO the Government when
he tramples rnder foot the Constitution the
very principle upon which the Government is
nay, more, its life7
Governor MoRToS reasons as a partizan, not as
a statesman. IL is evident that ne regards the
terrible civil war in which We are engaged asa
party war, and if he bad the strength he would
pull down the pillars of civil liberty which sus
tains the fairest and most desirable fabric of gov