The Evansville journal., 1870-08-02
I'M E1a LAUIADHNNILl a0WAMaI1 , NI3
Another Democratic Debt.

eign aud domestic stare. debts to-
gether amounted to 81, SIG, ,311. When /
he gave place to Governor Lane ana
Governor Morton, In 1851, the foreign |
and domestic State oebls amounted 10 |
$10,179,267. In three years Demo-
cratic administration lad increased /
our debt 81 352, ,956, besides addl9g at
least 100000 to the expenses OF the |
counties to take care of the insane,
mute and blind, who we're want0nly
turned out of the asyiums PROVIDED
for them by the generosity OF the
neople. Tbis is the Democratic ex-
hibit of the State debt. Tney lett IL
SO 179 267. The Republicans have
paid it entirely of. The SINKING
Eund BOARD have notified all holders
of our bonds that no more interest
1v:ll he Maid and that there Is money
enou0h nc on hand to redeem every dol
lar Of outstanding bonds. Ten mil
lions paid in ten years is the Repu6h-
cqa fact of State management. The
State debt increased from 81 500, 600
to $40, 100 000-an addition Of $2, ,3OO,-
OO0-is the Democratic fact of State
management. Keep these two facts
in mind, for they are types Of the par
ties who are now presenting their
claims to manage State affairs for the
next two years.
But there is another fact behind all
this which the people must keep
equally in mind, if they mean to save
themselves the payment OF another
debt nearly as large as the old one.
We gave the Wabash and Erie Canal
in discharge of half our old internal
Improvement debt. That canal our
creditors have mismanaged till 1t Is
nearly worthless, and they have sold
their stock in it for little or nothing
to a lot of New York spectators and
Indiana Democrats. These men mean
to get the next Legislature to take
back the canal. and pay in cash the
debt it was surrendered for. That
will burthen us with about $6,OOO,-
600, and an annual outlay for interest
of 100000. IF the Democrats con-
troll the next Legislature it will be
done. 1t has been attempted, several
times, and there is no thought of Civ
ing it up. If, by any sort of inhu-
ence, bribery, party discipline or in
dividual intimidation, the Legislature
can once be brought TO resume the
canal the case will be ended, and the
people will be without remedy.
There is no safety but in men who can
be trusted, or in the Constitutional
prohibition which the Republican
State platform demands and the Dem.
ocrats oppose.
The significant facts in connection
with this scheme to fill Democratic
pockets at the expense of the people
are: 1st. That Democrats hold these
stocks, purchased at O trifing cost.
I'd. That the proposition to prevent
the State from being burthened with
a new debt, by constitutional amend
ment, is strenuously opposed by the
Democracy. The Sentinel denounces
it as unnecessary. Their State plat
form ignores it. The Democratic
candidate for Attorney General, in a
speech made in the State Senate, on
Thursday, March z, 1867, on a propo-
sition to amend the State Constitu-
ton so as to prevent the Wa
bash and Erie canal from being
forced upon US, said: He
was unwilling to propose a con-
stitutional amendment which Tep1tdl-
otes part of the State debt. If there
is not some covered design to repudi-
ate some portion of the debt some
where, what is the use of this amend
ment2" (See Brewer Reports 1867,
page 412) To refuse to take back
the canal, says Mr.. Bayless w. Han
ma, is Tepudidtion. His question is q
precious specimen of Democratic in
nocence. "If there was no covert
purpose, to repudiate. what was the
| need of the amendmentp To pre-
vent Democrats from executing their
covert purpose" to compel the
State to pay cash for the canal. That
is the need of the amendment. Ii
Mr.. Hanna is elected law officer OF
the State, we can set down his official
opinion in favor of this speculation at
once.
4th. Mr.. Garrett, President of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company,
has recently brought suit in the Car
roll County Circuit Court of this
State. against the Trustees of the
Wabash and Erie Canal, to recover
the value of $41, 900 Of old internal
improvement bonds, issued under the
act of 1886, and by it made lien on
all the public works of the State.
These bonds were not surrendered
under the Butler arrangement OF
1867. The canal being subject to
their lien, a judgment for the plaintiff
will compel the safe of the canal, OF
the advance of money enough to pro-
tect it from execution. Nobody has
any authority to advance that money
So the spectators expect to force
the canal to a sale, and then
come to the Legislature with
"poor mouth" and a piteous
plea, that "the State allowed
their property to be taken from them
under a prior claim, and now they
have got nothing" This is the first
move in the game. We suspect that
Governor Baker will be ready for it.
J for he don't mean that the people
shall be saddled with any $4,000, ,00C
of debt for Democratic speculation,
and the schemers who are longer
headed than he is had better buy hats
by the yard. What security would we
have if Mr.. Bayless W. Hanna were
the States law officer, as the Demo
Gratis want to make him? The cana
would be sold on CARROTS judgment
and then the clamor would be raised
by Democrats for Naturalization Of
canal stockholders. Luckily this ar
rangement won't amount to much
while Governor Baker has the task oi
resisting 1t. But these facts may show
the people how serious, even threaten
ing, is the prospect of their being
loaded with $6,000,000 more of debt
to help Democratic speculation.
/ IN