Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-06-25


be friendly to him. and especially friendly
to the cause in which they are called to do
service; if they are not, they can most GER
tainly defeat fis purposes. render his nu-
dertakings disastrous. aud utterly thwsrt
and nullify his authority. a.-F
The State officers are host lie 10 The Gov
ernor. hostile to the war, and are intense
partisans. aHd might. and would. appoint
officers of their own politics. who eould
defeat and defy the Governor at ever step.
He could not remove them; they would be
Independent OF him iRsvery particular. and
responsible only to the board from whom
they received their certificates Of appoint
ment. es1 .aoe
GOVERNOR AND STAFF.
Sixth.--The constitution of the State,
section 2, article II, reads as follows:
"SEcroy .. The Governor shall sp-
point the Adjutant. Quartermaster. and
Commissary- Generals" 49,. .--s,
The Constitution, no doubt. intends
that these officers should have the powers
and perform the duties which properly be-.
long to the Offices they hold. The Militia
tuition in the following manner: 1t recog-
nizes the right of the Governor to appoint
such officers, but takes from them all pow
er, and gives them no duties to perform
The twenty y-fourth section makes the
staff of the Major General. to be selected
by himself, to consist of an Assistant
QOartermaster- General, an Assistant AZ.
jutant-GeEeral, and an Assistant Commits
sary General, all with the rank of Colo.
mel; Typographical Engineer. with the
rank of Lieutenant c olonel; Judge -Ad-
voeate. with the rank of Major; Medical
Director, with the rank of Major; and four
Aides -dc-camp. With the rank of Captain.
Upon the various officers Of this staff
are conferred all the powers which belong
to the Adjutant, Quartermastcr, and Com
missary- Generals departments, leaving to
those officers. as provided by the Constitu-
tion, not vestige of power, or single
duty to perform. They could not deprive
the Governor of the power to appoint
these officers. because the Constitution de.
clares that he shall appoint them. but they
defeat it practically by depriving them Of
all power and authority.
DrsBANDING TIE LEGION.
Seventh.-The thirty ninth section of
the Military Bill reals as follows:
"SECTIoN SO. Any and all laws and
parts of laws coming in coaAict with this
act, and all laws heretofore enacted, rela-
ting In any way to the militia. shall be-,
and the same are hereby repealed"
This repeals the militia law organising
the Indiana Legion, dissolves ell compa-
nies and brigades formed under It, and rem
ders null and veid all commissions issued
to its officers. The twenty second section
Of the bill (above set forth) provides that
al companies Of the Legion existing up to
this time shall be disarmed by the Assist
tant Quartermaster- General on the staff Of
the Major General. which officer is to held
the arms, subject to be issued in accord
ance with the directions of the Auditor,
Secretary, Treasurer, and Attorney Gener-
al of the State; and all the expenses at
tending these operations are to be paid out
of the State Treasury on the warrant of
tho Auditor.
We look at this as one of the most in
famous and criminal features of the bill.
If the friends Of this measure desired to
protect tho loyal interests of the State,
why do they propose to disarm and dis
band the Legion of the border? The Le-
gion. in many portions of the State, and
especially in the southern portion. have
become thoroughly organized and we'll dis
ciplined, at much expense ard labor to the
members. The efficiency, loyalty. and
patriotism of the Legion nave been tho
boast OF every true patriot of the State;
and had it not been for tho activity and
energy of the organization, our southern
border would have been overrun and de-
vastated by marauding bands of rebels;
and these men not only deserve praise for
for the gallant services rendered to our
sister State of Kentucky. But there is
another significant circumstance connected
with the attempted disarming of the Le-
gion. A few days before the introduction
of the Military Bill, there was res olution
passed by the House, by party vote, re-
questing Governor Morton to use his in
huenee to have the Fifth Cavalry removed
from the border Counties, stating that, in
the opinion of the friends of the resolution,
the Legion was sufficient TO protect the
river counties. AT that time the Militia
Bill had been concocted and drafted for
the purpose of disarming and disbanding
the Legion, and leaving the whole south.
ern part of the State open to the inroads
of guerrilla bands.
WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS FROM BORDER
COUNTIES.
The Governor declined to act in the re-
moval of the Fifth Cavalry. as that regiT
ment had been raised at time of Imminent
public danger. for the purpose of protec-
tion to our border counties. For some
unexplained and unaccountable reason.
the friends of this measure were dstermin-
ed to have this force removed, and the fol-
lowing letter was addressed to the Cover
nor, urging the matter:
".ISDIANAPoLrs, February Is, 1868.
THE undersigned. Senators and Repre-
sentatives. from the First and Second Con-
gressional Districts of Indiana, respectful
ly request bis sxcsllsncy, Governor O. Ps
Morton. to uss his influence to have the
Fifth Indiana Cavalry removed from tho
border counties of said districts, isdi
- Wy n '-rI