Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-06


been taken TO Cincinnati, 70 be arraignei before
the military court in session there. for the oense
Other editors IN the State have been notified that
similar offences will receive the same attention
The Governor on the states Debt.
His Excellency. o. P. MoRrcS. Governor. &C..
in his letter to JAMES WIssLow. Esq. in a very
elaborate and learned disquisition upon the term
appropriation thus elucidates the meaning or
definition thereof. We quote as follows from his
pamphlet edition ofthat document. which we sup
pose is authentic. he says:
lit il. a. in all other cases. question to
the intention Of the Legislature. which IS To be
arrived AT by the ordinary rules of construction
If Il Is the intention that money should be taken
from the Treasury for particular purpose, then
such intention is the law. aud = an appropria-
ton "
Mark the language of His Excellency An
appropriation, he saws, is the intention of the
Legislature that money shall he taken from the
Treasury for particular purpose. The Legs
lature intends that IN great deal of money shall
be taken for particular purposes. Now for the
application of the Governors doctrine.
The Legislature Of 1851 appointeda committee
10 audi the claims against the State for military
purposes The claims allowed by that committee
we're TO be regarded as valid, just. and as obi
cations against the State upon that authentca
ton. and claims were allowed and paid by the
State officers. until the Military Fund was ex
hausted. The Legislature of 1863 appointed a
similar committee II audits all claims against
the State for such purposes. and approves those
that are Just The Indebtedness of the State is
thu. fixed and determined. just as positively as
the amount due by The State for the interest upon
the public debt. One is just certain as the
other
Let us look for moment at the
character of this Indebtedness for war
purposes Il IL not sacred in fact is it
not more so. than any obligation due to foreign
creditors? A large amount. II not the greater
amount of the state debt, is held by the subjects
of Great Britain Has not the English Govern
ment manifested more sympathy for the Southern
Confederacy than il has for the old Government
The military claims against the State are held by
our own citizens. They have advanced the
means mt time when the integrity of the Gov
eminent was assailed, 10 aid in crushing out the
Rebellion. We ask. under such c;rcu m stances.
whether the plighted faith Of the State and the
Government is not equally sacred to this class of
creditors il Is to the bondholders Of the old
State debt? The Governor is of the
opinion that if there is any money in
the Treasury. the interest upon the State
debt should be paid. And whyf He answers;
eff il Is the intention that money
should be taken from the Treasury for par,icu-
lar purpose. then such intention is the law. and
is an appropriation" Ii was the intention of the
Legislature that money should be taken from the
Treasury to pay the advances made by her cit
zens for military purposes to put down this wick
Ell rebellion-hence such n intention is ap-
preparation. according to Gov MoRroS Such
is the logical result of the Governors PROPOSE
tons and they cannot be avoided. If the Gov
errors argument il to be accepted the rule By
which the State officers are To he governed in the
discharge Of their duties. they have only To salts.
~ themselves that the Legislature intended that
money should he taken from the Treasury for
particular purpose 70 justify them in paying |
a
whether the Legislature made any gen
eral specific appropriation paw
the claim or whether they neglected to do 50. The
Governor contends that the State officers have
this authority in defiance of the Constitutional
provision that mo money shall be drawn from
the Treasury. but in pursuance of appropriations
made nv law" II seems TO that the common
est and dullest comprehension cannot but com
prehend the falacy of the Governors argument.
Let us look outside of Indiana for a solution or
definition of the term appropriation. The
public Indebtedness of the United States, all
must acknowledge is rs sacred an obligation a.
that of Indiana or any other State. The public
faith of the Federal Government is pledged for
only the payment of the interest hut for the quida
ton Of the debt And there is no doubt but that
IL was the intention of the Congress that created
the debt, aud also the obligation duty of every
subsequent Congress to provide that money be
taken from the Treasury nv the interest upon
those obligations But no Congress which ever
assembled ever set M the doctrine that such in
tentonis an appropriation. The payment of the
interest on the public deb, of the United States
has been provided tor in the appropriation bills
passed by every Congress. Ii could not be paid
without such specific appropriation. The intend
men; of Congress that money should be taken from
the Treasury for that purpose. Is not regarded by
that nody an appropriation. hence every sue
cee'iing Congress has appropriated the money
necessary to paw the interest upon the public debt
OF the United States.
We make those illustrations to show the utter
fAlacy OF the Governors position. and that il has
no authority in law. Ii cannot be justified by
prece,lenis within or the construction of similar
laws outside of the State.
Town Election "a Golu sbus. sud.
Mn EDlrpR: Yesterday We had our town
election E.ch party democratic and Aboii-
ton hsd straight ticket Every incl OF ground