Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-07-15
Report Of w. n. n. Terrell, Finan.
cial Secretary.

We are indebted to Col W. II. II. TERRELL,
Financial Secretary to His ExceIency. Governor
MoRroS, for "a full and complete report of the
financial operations of the Bureau OF Finance,
from the time of it, establishment, on the 18th
OF April 1863. to the Goth day of April. 1864
inclusive" IL is due TO Col TERRELL to state
that the report presents the evidence Of ability
and superior business qualifications. and His Ex-
cellency could not have secured the services Of a
more accomplished assistant ia carrying out his
financial schemes, which not only Illegal. but
have no justification whatever. Gov MoRroS
is without excuse for establishing what be aIisto-
cratically terms his Financial Bureau Every
law and every appropriation necessary to carry on
the government through the agents known to the
Constitution and the laws would have been passed
by the Legislature. il the Republican members
of the House of Representatives had not bolted
and thus blocked the wheels of government by
leaving that BODY without constitutional quo
ram. The excuse for boiling was that the Demo
Gratis determined to force obnoxious measures
upon the minority But the Republican mem
bers seeded before any measure Objectionable
to the Republicans had been enacted into law,
and they knew. as did Governor MoRroN, that
there not time. II the parliamentary rules
governing the Legislature had been enforced.
for any bill TO have been coustitutonally enacted
into law without the consent Of the minority.
His ExceIency and his political friends had
another remedy If any law had been passed OBJ
noxious to them. He had the veto DO yer, and
il the Democrats had pressed the enactment OF
an Objectionable measure over the veto the Re
publicans had in reserve the power they exercised
in advance to defeat il. In every aspect of the
case the Republican representatives and Gov
MoRroS are alcne responsible for the defeat Of
necessary legislation at the last session of the
Legislature. Governor MoRroN refused to call
an extra session upon the ground that the same
difficulties which had caused the boiling Of the
Republican members still existed and would
again proven, necessary legislation. This was
no apology for failing to perform his duty. The
Constitution provides remedy for the very con
Iingency which occurred and placed that remedy
in the hands of the Governor. He is authorized
whenever the public welfare demands il. to con-
vene the Legislature in extra session This he
should have done every forty DAYS until the Leg
stature had passed the laws necessar, TO sustain
the Government. Instead of usurping powers
because a coordinate branch of the Govern
ment had failed 10 do It's duty he should have
placed the responsibility of that failure where it
belonged. a. he had the constitutional power to
do. But even this himsy excuse had no justif
cation Governor MoRTcN knew that sufficient
number of Democratic members would nave op
posed action upon any legislation Objectionable
TO the minority until what are known as the ap
preparation bills had been passed. and then place
the responsibility of boiling afterwari upon the
Republican members 80 that. il Governor
MoRroN had any desire to support the Constitu
ton and the laws of the State as its chief exec
utive officer. as he had solemnly sworn 10 do. he
Is withou, apology for his hasrant violations of
both
What saws the Constitution! Article Ill sec
ton I. reads:
The powers of the Government are divided
into three separate departments: the legislative
the executive. including the administrative. and
the Judicial; aud 40 person charged with ohicia
duties under of these departments shall *
ercise any OF the functions of another excep; n.
IN this Constitution expressly provided
The Constitution also provided Art Y. See ?
that mo money shall be drawn from the Treas
ury but in pursuance of appropriation. made by
law" The law prescribing the powers and do
ties OF the Auditor Of State. requires that b,
shall snperntend the fiscal conc of the State
aud the Treasury system provides that all mon
eys derived from taxes assessed and eollecte,
under any laws of the State. all money
borrowed on the eredi, Of the State by authorit
Of Law. all MONEYS and funds belonging to
or held in trust by the State. when no other dis
position thereof i made required by law.
all moneys aud interest thereon from the sale o
lands. lots OF other property belonging to. or he'll
in trust by the State''-in a word IL was intende,
that all the moneys received by any public office
on account Of the State. unless its disbursemen
vas otherwise expressly provided for. should b
paid into the State Treasury.
The Legislature. in 1851. to guard the Treas
ury against usurpatons by the officers OF State
passed What Is knosn as the embezzlement law
That act was approved by Governor NoHroS