Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-11


tirely gratuitous. There is apology for it's
labored effort to misrepresent that officer and
prejudice the public mind against him unless il be
to influence a case now pending in the United
States Circuit Court. in which the Governor aud
the Secretary parties litigaIt. We propose
briefly to examine the complaints of His Excel
lency.
The Governor pronouuces il an offense for the
Secretary Of State regard it his business to
issue commissions" What saws the act pre-
scribing the duties of that ofice,f (See G.. & H.
l. p. 563):
'.He shall keep register of and attest all the
official acts and proceedings OF the Governor,
and afix the seal Of the State with such atte.ta
lions To all commissions. pardons. and other
public instruments TO which the signature OF the
Governor is required"
So it appears that the laws of the State make
!, the duty of the Secretary to attest the sigma
ture Of the Governor to every commission whether
military or evil.
During the Administration OF Judge PEkLLE,
the predecessor OF Dr. ArHoS. the documents
show that all the military commissions issued by
the Governor we're attesled by the Secretary of
State. and a record of the commissions kept in
his Office In other States similar rule is pro-
vided by their laws. In the fifteen loyal States
Of Maine. Rhode Island, Massachusetts,, New
Jersey. Pennsyl wanna. Maryland. Delaware. Ken
lucky. Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa,
Kansas and California, all military commissions
issued by the Governor are attested by the Sec
Rotary oil State IN the same manner as the laws
OF Indiana provide, and As has been the custom
heretofore. In the States OF Vermont, New York,
Minnesota aud Missouri. it is provided by law
that the military commissions shall be attesled
by the AdDutart General of the State.
And IL s interesting at this point to inquire
what motive influenced the Governor change
the custom oil his predecessors in Office. for which
the laws of the State provided? The Governor,
Secretary, and Auditor OF State. as the Colonial
ton Board. had little patronage at their be
stowal-the appointment OF Colonization Agent
The Secretary aud Auditor voted for the ap-
pontment OF Judge Wick to that position but the
Governor desired the selection of Reverend
Mr. BRousE, whom il appears bv the records of
OF the Office is defaulter. For refusing to vote
for the Governors choice. the Secretary and
Auditor we're threatened with retaliation by His
Excellency That threat was Immediately put
into execution. On the 18th OF January, 1863.
one month after Dr. ArHoS was sworn into
Office the Governor issued an order directing all
commissions signed in blank by him. then in the
Secretary's office. should be forthwith returned
IL had been the practice OF Governor MoRToS up
TO that period aud during tine two years term of
Judge PkELLK to sign commissions in blank for
the convenience o: that office. Such too had
bsen the custom of Governor MoRToS's predi
cessors in office The object in 80 doing to
facilitate business. as il frequently happens that
the Executive is necessarily absent on public or
private business. During the term OF Secretary
PEELLE Governor MoRToS raised no question as
to the duty of that officer issue and the
commissions issued to the officers IN the volunteer
regiments. Tor which he received the tee of one
dollar each Ii appears from the records that
Secretary PEELLK issued over fourteen thousand
commissions, for the issuing of which he
received as many dollars. DR.. ArHoS had
hundred commissions to volunteer officers.
when TIL, ExeeIIeucy for partisan reasoas. trans
ferred the duty OF issuing commissions from the
Secretary of State to the Adjutant General. But
IL DE-. ArHoS had consented % become the plant
tool OF His Excellency we lave every reason to
believe that no change wouli Rave been made by
the latter in the manner OF ssGag commits sions
Not word ever passed between Gov. MoRroS
and Dr. ArHoS on the subject OF the commits
sions nor did the latter imagine even that
he had the right 10 change the order OF the Gov
ernor or of the Adjutsnt General a. to the date
of promoted officers acting accession TO the Office
or as TO the date of any officers appointment
In this connection IL should be remember nj that
every commission states the date Of the officers
commission in the service. and that the date OF
the AiiestAtion does not affect the officers senior.
~ Of rank OF time OF promotion. How reads The
commission:
''ln the name and bv the authority OF the State
OF Indiana. | do hereby commission the said
John Smith First Lieutenant of said company. TO
serve such tor the term Of four y,ars from
December 20lh. 1864"
Suppose this commission is issued three
months afterwards. How read. the suests-
tiea:
In witness whereof. I have hereuuto Sc, nv
hand. and afIIei the seal OF The State. Al tie city
Of indianapolis. this Goth day OF March. ls63.
By the Governor o. = MoArox
Attest: JAMES ) ArHoS. Secretary OF State
In this commission was dated before
d.. ArHos became Secretary Of State. and would
shave been legal tor him TO have maize the date
OF sttessation correspond with ihe date of the
commissionf All tina, DR. ArHos ever insisted
upor was that the date OF sttesistion should cor
respond With the time that the record vas made
and with the order Of the Aojutaut General for
commissioning the officer. whose rank Is fixed
by the Governor. and who is also ranked accord
log TO the date designated ia both the order and
the CON mission The Secretary of State only
attest. tn. Governors signature and the date IL
vas afsIed 10 the commission For example: