Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-18

We have heard several prominent Republicans
express an anrisss soici,ude Tor the payment Of
the iprres, upon the public debt, They urge
that De State officers should assume the respon-
.bilty Of meeting this obligation of the State. in
violation Of law. but they manifest no concern in
regard 10 he payment Of the claims Of her do
nestle creditors For the payment Of The inter
est. they say. the fath ADD honor Of the state is
pledged While sach i the ease. il Is no less true
that the good faith and honor Of the State is
equally pledged to ali her creditors. We would
make no distinction between foreign and domestic
creditors. The latter are certainly entitled % as
much consideration the former. and they are
likely TO be put 20 more inconvenience by the
failure of the State to pay her Indebtedness. than
the bondhnlders. If the State officers have the
rigat TO pay one class of creditors. they have an
equal right TO pay all classes. There will be no
want of revenue 10 pay the entire indebtedne:s
of the State There will be money in the Treas
ury to meet all her obligations. A factious mi
nority in the Legislature defeated the passage
OF the appropriation bills which are required
by the Constitution and the laws Of the State,
% paw it, creditors. In assuming the respon
sibility Of. defeating necessary legislation they
well understood the consequences which would re-
sui, from such action. Those evils and difficult
tie. are now up,u Ne. And j. II just or fair to
ask The officers OF the State TO transcend their
duty. 10 disregard law and their oatbs Of Office
to remedy the troubles which the minority in the
Legislature forced upon the State
The State officers have laws for their guidance
Ii the object Of the legislation Of 1889 and
ls6l 10 so protect the Treasury that the Auditor
ard Treasurer OF State could no, assume any
spons'blitvin discussing the public funds Thev
have right pay out dollar unless appropri
ated by law IL was made crime To do so.
sach disbursement was declared 10 be embezze-
ment penal ofense. To he punished the same as
felony. by confinement in the penitentary When
such guards are thrown rround the public treas
ury. should they not control the official action OF
the officers of State? No honest say but
that those officers should adhere strictly to the
law, and let the responsibility Of the failure OF
the State to meet her obligations fall where il
prooeriy belongs.
But there IA a remedy for our present difficult
ties The Constitution has provided for the ext
gency. " gives the Governor the power to con-
vene the Legislature in special session. when.
ever in his opinion. the public interets demand it
There he no doubt but there is occasion
for this exersise Of his official functions. The
path of safety Is to adhere to the Constitution
and the laws No party will gain any advantage
by disrcgsrding either. No government can be
stable or permanent when It's public officers eel
the exsmple Of dsobedience TO or disregard oil
law. The present difficulties Of the nation have
been brought about by the failure to fulfil consti-
tutional obligations. and we hope the unfortunate
experiment may not be repeated upon a smaller
scale in Indiana.