Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-07-28

together until alter another election,
nearly two years thereafter. In accor-
dance with this party edict, the benevolent
institutions were closed and their inmates
scattered abroad. The indications of
public dissatisfaction became so manifest,
however. that the ho pc of making party
capital in that way was hopeless. and
the patients and pupils of the asylums
were recalled. The Legislature was not
called together to make the necessary
appropriations and provide means to pay
these or any other expenses. because the
Dem ocratic party claimed to be infallible,
and to retrace its steps in so important a
matter might imply a possibility that it
could sometimes err.
There was another provision of our
Constitution, Section B, Article X, which
reads thus.
"No money shall be drawn from the
Treasury but in pursuane of appropriations
made by law"
This would have been thought by some
people very decided impediment in the
way of paying out money not appropria-
ted by law, but such triaes never were
sufficient to impede the stately march of a
constitutional Democrat"
Governor Willard, in his message
delivered to the succeeding Legislature on
the 9TH day Of January, 1859, explained
how this triaing obstruction was removed.
After giving history of the closing OF
The Institutions for the lack of appropra-
tions, he said:
The Treasurer of State, upon more
mature reflection, became satisfied that
you would approve his conduct if he
advanced the means TO sustain the
Institutions. He accordingly signiGed a
willingness thus to act. Thereupon the
officers of State, on the 10th of September,
1857, by a unanimous resolution, advised
him to pay the money of the State, in his
possession, to sustain these Institutions.
and they we're opened. He has paid from
the Treasury the money for their support.
and for this advance by him | recommend
that an appropriation be made"
The resolution referred to by Gov.
Willard, and the officers of the State
who adopted it, are as follows:
AT meeting of the officers of State,
held on the 10th day of September. 1857,
the following resolution was unanimously
adopted:
Resolved. that we advise the Treasurer
of State TO advance ont of any money in
his possession. belonging to the State of
Indiana. sufficient funds to support the
Indiana Hospital for the insane, and the
Institutions for educating the deaf and
dumb, and blind.
AsHBEL P. WILLARD, Governor of the
State Of Indiana.
JosErH E. McDoNALD. Attorney Gen
eral of the State OF Indiana.
AoUiLLA JONES Treasurer Of State.
JOHN w. DoDD, Auditor of State.
DANIEL Mcclure, Secretary OF State.
1t will surprise men who have any
regard for consistency or fair dealing,
that the Joseph E. Mcdonald who signed
this recommendation to the Treasurer oi
State in 1857, is the same Joseph E.
Mcdonald who in his speech before the
convention of the 18th Sc ungenerously
assailed Gov. Morton for applying to the
support of those same institutions
money not drawn from the State Treasury
but placed in his hands for that especial
purpose by citizens of this and other
States. Joseph thought it entirely right
Legislature of 1851 together in extra
session, to pass appropriations: when the
only matter which divided them was the
comparatively petty question whether
Miller or Shryock was the legally elected
Senator; but thinks it great outrage that
Gov. Morton should decline to reconvoke
Legislature so utterly revolutionary in
its purposes, tha; to save the State from
the calamities of military despotism.
and probable civil war, the minority was
compelled to end its career by withdraw
| ing from the House and leaving it without
quorum--thus destroying its power TO
do evil. Such conduct would be pitiful
in any man but Constitutional Demo
crat." but we suppose we shall have to
consider it proper enough in his case, as SO
great a magnate in the Democratic party
has right to regard that as a hagran,
offence when done by another, which is
entirely constitutions" and the proper
est thing in the world when done by
himself. or byshis advice.
There is another bit Of history in the
transactions of the State Treasury from
1857 to 1859. The treasury was empty,
or nearly so, of any money other than the
trust funds, which were specially dedicated
to the suppor. Of common schools by the
Constitution. We call attention to Arti-
Gle VIII of the Constitution Of Indiana,
which declares what shall constitute the
Common School fund-the net proceeds
Of the sales OF the swamp lands were to be
a part of that fund. Section 8 of that
article Of the Constitution provides that
"the principal Of the Common School
fund shall remain perpetual fund, which
may bo increased, but shaU not be dimin-
ished;; and the income thereof shall be
inviolably appropriated to the support
of common schools, and to no other psr-
pose ,chotever."
Not only were the Benevolent Institu-
tions sustained, by the advice Of the State
officers as above quoted, but every other
demand against the Treasury was paid
officers salaries. public printing, expenses
of the Penitentiaries and various other
items: all this without appropriations or
revenue. 1t is net supposable case that
the Treasurer of State would have taken
the responsibility of going so far beyond