Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-15
The Indiana state Agency-Its Sale
and transfer by the state agent.

The indianapolis Journal. in it's issue of Sat
urday. defends Judge Buskrk in his bargain and
sale Of the Indiana state agency 10 the house of
Winslow, Laner 4 Co. What The Journal can
see in this transaction TO be defended we are
greatly at loss TO know Perhaps no public
officer. elected by the legislature of the State
ever 80 quickly. and in such hot haste. diSre
garded bis official oath, and disreputably barter
ed away a franchise, the duties of which he had
sworn TO discharge to the bes, of his ability The
turpitude Of the transaction is almost lost in the
rapidity by which it done. In less than
thirty days from the time Judge Buskirk was
elected Indiana state agent, be transferred the
agency, its books aud papers, TO the house of
Wiuslow. Llnier Co, bankers, on Wall street.
and in consideration thereof returns TO his home
az Bloomington, there 10 remain during the time
for which be was elected. and quietly puts into
his pocket between thres and four thousand dol
lars per snnum OF the monies annually appro
priated by the legislature to defray the expenses
of the agency. giving to his purchasers the re
mainder
IL was quick work and boldly done The
transaction was characteristic OF " all street. and
does great credit TO the financial skill of all par
ties concerned. IL was equally dishonorable in
being offered and accepted: sill "a no one will
suffer but the state, and as ii Is presumed to have
no soul, we suppose IL will have TO suffer
But how can the house of Winslow, Lsuier i
Co, afJrd 10 do the business of the agency, for
so small a part of the salary? Nothing is more
easily explained. The editor of the Journal tells
US that Judge Blskirk has appointed as his dep
uty a Mr.. Messner, one Of Winslow, Lanier &
Cos clerks, who has for some time held a re
sponsible position. and has bad the payment of
the interest upon the bonds. stocks aud mort
cages of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne j Chicago
Railroad"
The business then OF the Indiana state agency
Is Subordinate to the business of this railroad,
and Mr.. Messner is 10 attend 20 the interests of
this road. and the state OF Indiana at the same
time. Not only 50, but by this arrangement this
banking house has the use of the state deposits,
and more than all else the exclusive privilege o.
speculstiDg in Indiana stocks. IL ha, IN its hands
the financial reputation of the state on Wall
street, and he Who ia the rspu,ed financial agent
of the state on that celebrated street. can at any
time. by . movement 80 well understood by Wall
street brokers, effect the value of Indiana stocks
ten or twenty per cent. Hence the great advan.
tage and financial interest the house of Winslow
Lanier Co. has, in getting in their hands the
entire management OF the Indiana agency
But says the editor of The Journal. "Messrs
Winslow, Lanier 4 Co. have not and will not AZ
tempt 20 exercise any control whatever over the
agency" Whe told you so. Mr.. Editor! What
influence brought about such a conclusion? So
Wtnslow. Lanier Co. do know something about
the financial condition Of this state. iis resources
and history. aud then they have an exalted repu-
tstion in the financial circles of the world "a sus
tain. Ii is therefore 10 be presumed they would
be careful in their management OF tue agency
But il they will mot attempt to exercise aDy
control whatever over IT," then Buskirk adds 10
his disreputable hnanciering positive crime
Who is this Mr. Nessneg whom The Journal
SAYS has such peculiar fitness for this position
aud Who the editor asserted in his article Of the
9Th sss"already familiar WITH the business Of the
agency" Is he citizen OF this stsiel
Has be ever bees in Indiana Has be any
interest in common with the people OF this state?
and cares be a hs shether the financial rep1ta
ton of the state is msintsined or destroyed Will
The Journal please tell us where and when he
became familiar with the business" Of The lnG:-
ana State Agency In out judgment. be knows
nothing about il, and cannot become familiar With
all the duties absolutely incumbent upon the
agent OF stale. IN less than bali wear They
are complicated, and the state all the time needs
some one AZ her agency in New York. fully ca
pable 10 discharge all those duties IL was for
this the legislature e.ected Judge Busaisk, and
If he does not intend TO attend "a these duties he
should a. least, have psnliDess. enough - res 20
and let some one De appointed ~ho ~ill Al all
events the governor OF the state should see the
agency Is kept open, and that a competent persoo
is there 10 do the business.
Oae word more. The Journal says. There
10 10 necessity for agen, Of state 10 the city OF
New York. and the Office should be abolished"