Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-01-07


The Journal. a day or two ago. after discussing
the question whether Governor MoRTox. ~ he
should accep, % should receive the Union nomi-
nation Tor Governor IN February. can constitu-
tiooaIly hold the Office" in an article near col
umn long in the affirmative. winds up BY apollo
gizBg 10 IT, readers for saying 20 much about Il.
q. the case Is 50 very pain Bot i il soi The
Conssitotion saws Art v Sec.I and 2. The
executive power Of the State shall be vested IN
Governor He shall hold bis Office during four
years. and shall not be eligible more than four
years in any period Of eight years There shall
be Lieatenant Governor who shall bold bis
Office during four years-"
The Journal. IN commenting upon the fore
going sections Of the Constitution, says this pro-
vision Was '.iniended 70 effect, and does effect.
but one thing. the exclusion Of any one man
from two successive elections TO the Office OF
Governor This i not the language of the
Consultation, and se can only judge of us in
sensiop By the plain and obvious meaning of
the words used. That instrument says the Gov
ernor "shal hold his Office during four years,
and shall not be eligible more than four years
In any period Of eight years" Hold and elect
are certainly not synonymous terms To elect
means 10 select from among two or more. that
which Is Ipreferrei"-''to elect President or
Governor" While hold signifies Ito have; as to
hold a place. Office title "
In 1860 the Republicans Of Indiana nominated
HEsnr s. LANE for Governor. and OLIVER p.
Ao~-oS e. ;.utanan, (.ove,,or vvirh this m
derstanding that in case Of success one was to
hold the Office of Governor and the other to
be elected to the United States Senate. a. the
suecesssr of Dr. FIrcH. The Republicans were
successful IN carrying the State ticket and
majority of the Legislature On the second
Monday in January. 1861. HENRY 5. LANE
inauguraied Governor. and OLIVER P. MoRroS
Lieutenant Governor. Three DAYS thereafter
HESRY s. LAM vas elected United States Sena-
tor. and resigned the Governorship. aud upon The
same day OLIVER r MoRroS was inaugurated
Governor lie took the oath of Office as such,
and delivered M address, as Governor. to the
General Assembly in person. in which occurs the
following passage:
Called by the Constitution to perform the du
ties of the office of Governor, il will not be ex
pectei. under the circumstances, that should
deliver formal inaugural address. | can only
pledge myself to you. and through YOU to the
people OF Indiana. to the extent of my ability.
for a faithful aud economical administration; 10
take care that the laws be enforced, and resist
extrtvagance and peculation. come in what form
they may"
Since the 18th day OF January, lo6i. OLIVER
p MoRroS has he'll the Office of Governor; all Of
his Official documents have been signed Cover
nor. not Acting Governor. and If he lives until
the q Monday of January next. he will have
held the office of Governor OF Indiana for the
constitutional term. lacking only three DAYS.
While he was not ELECTED to the office he has
HELD il four years lacking three days. and the
Constitution says "the Governor shall not be
eligible move than four years"
The Journal SAYS that His Excelency became
Governor by courtesy. but by the Constitu-
ton" Governor MORTON thought differently
In his Inaugural he said he was called by the
Constitution to perform the duties OF the office Of
Governor He was Governor then constitution
ally and Of course his term OF Office and his egi
bity 10 bold another term is liked by the Const
tuition. That Instrument says 1.-THE executive
power OF the State shall be vested in Governor"
Since the resignation o, Governor LANE, the
e.st!ve , eSsss 81 tIe State has been vested in
Governor MoRroN aud he cannot be elected Gov
error at the next election aud serve the full
term without violating that provision of the
Constitution which SAYS the Governor "shall not
be eligible more than tour yearsin any period OF
eight years"
But what cares Governor MoRToS for the Con
stitution and the laws? They are no restraint
upon him Whatever. Daily he violates them with
impunty. and knowingly. His ambition is
bouudie>S, but Office of some kind is a necessity
TO him lie. has aspirations tor the Presidency
and he has hoped to be the successor of Dir
LINCOLN But failing in this ne is willing to take
the next best thing within his grasp The Jour
na's discussion, therefore. of the constitutional
eligibility OF Governor MoRroS To serve another
successive term as the Governor OF the State il
mere lincolnshire The editor virtually SAYS 50
The article has a significance. however. IL is
notification TO the Republicans of Indiana that
HIS Exrelency de>Iairs of the nomira ton for the
Presidency. as there are too mny Richmonds in
the field aud that he will gratefully accept the
Domin atom lar Governor and hold it. if elected,
until something better turns mp. That's just
what the Journal means by the eligibility of
Governor MoRroS" He has constitutional
hankering after oiice and he intends il shall be
satisfied If possible.
The Votes R cun,red.