The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-01-12
NO. 46.

4 Tor health, comfort, weafth anu educatlon,
presented TO those who come in search
of new homes, and of such facilities for
getting here as the State may be able to
furnish Some of our sister States have
in this way added largely to their pop
ula.ion and wealth, and while we are
somewhat late in beginning, il will bo
later and worse for US the longer il Is put
of. In accordance with this view have
caused TO be prepared and Published, in
both English and German, a pamphlet
setting forth the condition and resources
of the State and presenting the induce
ments offered TO emIgraaI.i.s from abroad.
copies of which are herewith submitted.
COLONIZATION.
Recommend that the second section
of an act approved March 5th, 1858,
which authorizes the State Board of
Colonization, TO appoint an agent or Cor
responding Secretary, be repealed.
Since the passage of the act, learn that
nearly as, 900 have been paid out in sal
aries to the Secretary appointed by the
Board. and in that time but one man has
been sent TO Liberia from the State This
office is a mere sinecure, and the duties
which have been attached TO it by law,
can be readily performed by the Secre-
tary of State, should any arise in the
future
MICRO TESTIMONY.
The statute which excludes negroes
from testifying in courts OF justice. in
case in which white persons are parties,
is, in my opinion, stigma upon the hu-
manitv and intelligence of the State.
The idea that the white race must be
protected against the colored, by impos-
ipa ~ Il Nv I'd
and has been made the cover and pro-
lection foI much crime and injustice
As the law stands, murder may be per
petrated with impunity. by white persons
III the presence only of colored witnesses,
and it is we'll known that negroes are Of
ten employed by white persons as the
instruments of crime and fraud, because
of their inability to testify in courts of
Justice. The interests OF both races de
mand that this disability be removed,
and if the fact of color affects credibility,
that can be referred to the court and
jury as in other cases, and would un-
doubtedly receive due consideration.
Indiana and Illinois are the only free
States whose statute books are dishon-
ored by the retention of law SO repug-
nant to the spirit of the age, and the die
tates of common sense.
ENUMERATION AND APPoRTIoNMKNr.
Sections fourth and fifth OF the Con-
stitution of the State are in these words:
SEC " The General Assembly shall,
at its second session after the adoption
of this Constitution, and every six years
thereafter, cause an enumeration to be
made of all the white male inhabitants
over the age of twenty one years.
Of nd
Representatives shall, at the session next
following each period Of making such
enumeration, be fixed by law, and APP
portioned among the several counties,
according to the number Of white male
inhabitants above twenty one years OF
age in each: Procided, That the first and
second elections of members Of the
General Assembly, under this Constitu-
ton, shall be according to the appor-
tionment last made by the General As
semhly, before the adoption of this Con-
stitution."
The enumeration required, of the white
male inhabitants of the State over twenty
one years OF age, has never been made.
An apportionment for Legislative pur
poses was enacted in 1857, and justice
well as the constitutional provisions re
quire that a new one shall be made.
Under the present law, which was very
imperfect in the beginning, great in
cqualities existed in three presentation
in the Legislature, and these are rapidly
increasing by the increase and changes
in our population.
STATE TREAsURER's REPORT.
The condition of the Treasury will be
presented in the report of Mr.. Brett,
State Treasurer. While l have had oc-
casion to except strongly to his policy in
several respects referred to in this mes
sage, it is but just to say that in others
the administration of his Department
has been entirely satisfactory.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
The annual reports of the Board Of
Trustees of the Benevolent Institutions
are herewith laid before you, from
which it will appear, that when the high
prices of all articles that enter into their
consumption are considered, that they
have been carried on with more economy,
and ct less cost than at any former peri
cd in their history. This statement ]
am advised is fully sustained by careful
examination and comparison of the re.
ports of theif expenditures from the
time of their first establishment
The late Legislature adjourned with
out making formal appropriations for the
support OF the Benevolent Institutions,
and the Penitentiaries Without attempt
ing TO enter into the history of the tran
sactiens of that body, or the causes which
led TO its disruption, it is enough TO say
that il was so constituted, and adjourned
under such circumstances, as forbade
the idea OF harmonious and benifcial
action to the State, should it be re-
assembled in extra session. The Audi
tor and treasurer promptly declined that
no money could be drawn from the treas
ury for the support OF these institutions,
because of the absense Of legal appro-
priations for that purpose. To this con-
clusion l offered no objection. although
In my own opinion. an appropriation for
the support Of the benevolent institutions
Was the clear legal result Of the cons.i-
tutional provision, and the statutes, Gre.
ating them. and providing for their sup
port; and IL is very certsin that bad the
same liheral rnnstrur.io. bre- adn,7fai