The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-06-26
Dte = ally auurnar.
Extra SessiOn.-BOrdcr Defense.

EAtFd StSSAOH"--DUEOCE DCiChSCs
The Sentinel of Thursday, in an arti-
Gle urging, for the hundredth time, an
extra session of the General Assembly,
used the following language:
Nothing but the stubborness of the
Governor prevents the assembling of the
Legislature. The public interest de-
.mands that he should do SO, but what
cares he for the public welfare? There
is Just now peculiar emergency for as
sembling the representatives of the peo-
pie. We can not tell what moment q
rebel force may appear upon our borders
and invade our territory. Provisions
should be made in anticipation of such
an event. And it is not at all improba-
BILE. The raid of Colonel Grierson
through several hundred miles of rebel
territory is the best evidence that our
soil could be invaded in the same way by
q well disciplined force"
We are glad to be able to record the
fact that the organ of the Indiana Peace
Democracy is awakening to sense of its
duty to the public by advancing the adj
option of measures to defend our own
soil from invasion by rebels.
But, if it will not be considered imper-
tinent, We would like to ask why it was
that this same Peace Democracy-now
apparently so anxious about protecting
our border from rebel raids-at the last
session of the Legislature put aside and
failed to make the necessary appropria-
tons for the public defense, in order to
press through, at the risk of Inaugural
ting civil war in Indiana, the unconsti-
tutional and revolutionary Militia Bill,
whereby the Governor and Commander
in-Chief was to be stripped of all power
over the militia and the public arms,
aud the Indiana Legion" which has
rendered such invaluable service in pro-
tecting our Southern border and in cap
turing guerrillas, was to be dsarmed
and disbanded? Did the Sentinel and
its coadiutors fail to see then that there
was danger of a rebel force appearing
on our borders and invading our terrific
~ at any momentY
Or were they willing to run the risk,
or suffer such an invasion, TO secure a
transfer of the control over the State
forces and the State arms from the Gov.
ernor, where it constitutionally and law
fully belonged, to set of Democratic
officials; and of depriving an organized
and efficient force ofits organization and
its arms, to the end that their ports
might gain advantage by the changes
thus proposed? Did these men think
then as they blatantly propose now, that
provisions against invasion) should be
made in anticipation of such an event?
If they did it will take an eye as power
full as HerschePs telescope to ''sce it.
We will put to these gentlemen anoth
question which seems to US peculiarly
pertinent just at this moment When. il
pursuance of the policy to which Gov
ernor Morton has always adhered, a cav
airy force was sent by him and stationed
at various points on the Ohio river, be
tween the Ohio line and the mouth OF
the Wabash for protection, rhy arGS i
that a number of anti-war politician
and leaders insisted, and finally by i'm
portunity and cllmor prevailed, upon thu
authorities to TenOre the cavalry and thu
leave the border comparatively unprotec
ted and defenseless
If. the following document is consid
cred in connection with the fact, that, a
the time it was written, the Militia Bill
which included the measure for disarm
ing and disbanding the Legion, acGs pend
ingin the Legislature, perhaps some clp
to the intentions of the peace party ma
be discovered.
INDIANAPOLIS. Feb Is, 1868
1.-THE undersigned, Senators and ReE
resentatives from the first and Secon
Congressional Districts of Indiana, re
specially request his excellency, Cover
nor O. P Morton, to use his influence t
have the Fifth Indiana Cavalry remove
from the border counties of said di
tricts
81. W. Lemon, G. ". Finch,