The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-08-11
Adjustment Of the State Debt.

AGDtlStment Oh the state DcDt.
Morton claims for himself and the
Republican party the credit of paying
the State debt, although three millions
and half still remain unpaid 81. c.
Burnett. deputy Auditor of State" as
he styles himself. in a circular just is
sued upon "The Indiana State Debt, its
origin, progress and payment" while
studiously cndeavoring to make it APP
pear that the Republican party has
wiped il out of existence, makes con-
cessions that damage his assumptions.
He says:
In December, 1865, the Legislature,
in special session, passed the State
Debt bill" providing tax for the spe-
cific purpose of paying the State debt
and describing the manner in which the
redemption should be made.
1t was that act, then, according to the
showing of the Deputy Auditor of State,
that provided for the cancellation of the
public debt of Indiana. Now we have
another witness, Republican witness.
too, and Morton's right hand man, in
western Indiana, in fact, his special
apologist and defender, who explains
how and who arranged for the adjust
ment of the State debt. One Colonel
Robert n. Hudson, not unknown to
fame, is now editing the Terre Haute
Gazette. In its issue of Monday last
lie explains about the Estate Debt bill"
of 1865. In fact, he had hand in it
himself, and he admits that the bill
permitted him, in 1867 to pay an in
come tax ON over $4,000. This should
be satisfactory evidence that Colonel
Robert knows how it was done We
give his explanation just as he prints it
in the Gazette:
ave had long been Of the opinion
that under the acts of 1916 and 1917.
known as the Butler bills, the State of
Indiana was bound to make some ad-
justment with her creditors by which
she would pay her debt, or satisfactorily
arrange it by the 18th day of January,
1866 Under our construction of the
law, the State could preserve her honor
and integrity in no other way. Believ-
she was in honor bound to d.. and
knowing that any step the Legislature
would take in that direction would en-
nance the value Of Indiana stocks, we
bought all the stocks we were able to,
at the then price. This however was
over two years after We were State
agent.
"Governor Norton differed from us in
this construction of the law, as will be
seen by his message to the Legislature
in 1866, and instead of us being to.
gether In this matter, our views clashed.
But in few weeks after the Legisla
ture met, bill to adjust the State debt
was introduced into the Senate by Mr..
Bradley, the Democratic Senator from
Floy0. About the same time bill for
a similar purpose was introduced by Mr.
Branham in the House. Nr. Bradley
bill passed the Senate by large major
ity-ere,y prominent Senator Of bath
parties uoding for 1t. This bill was
known as the Hudson bill
"Mr Branham's bill passed the
House, Joth parties roting for 1t, but
could not be passed through the Senate.
and the Senate bill could not be passed
through the House. A committee of
Free Conference being appointed by
each House, they agreed to take both
bills, and by taking the good features
of each, make, in this way, the best bill
they could. With this understanding
the two bills were placed in our hands
by this committee, with the above in
structions, and the present law to pay
the State debt is the result.
ut is unnecessary at this time to
discuss the merits of the Senate and
House bills; the offspring Of both has
met the appreciation of the entire people
of the State, and has almost entirely
paid off the State debt"
1t thus appears that Morton does not
deserve any credit for the adjustment
Of the State debt. 1t was not his ar
rangement. He took a different view
of the matter from Hudson, and Hud
sons notions prevailed. So, then, ac
cordlng to Deputy Auditor Bennett, thu
Estate Debt bill' of 1865 paid what
has been paid of the State debt, and
according to Colonel Hudson. Demo
cratic Senator introduced the bill i'll the
Senate, "every prominent Senator o
10th parties voting for it" that the biI
also passed the House, "boM part'e
voting for it." and that the bill thus
passed "has almost entirely paid off the
public debt" These arc the facts il
regard to the adjustment of the Stat
debt, sustained by Republican witnesse
They prick the bubble that the Repub
lican leaders have gotten up over Nh
payment of the State debt by RepublI
cans, and that bubble bursted it leave
, them without a single claim for the fur
Their support and confidence of the pee
pie. 1t takes from them the last plank +
which they were cIinging with the les
peration of drowning men State Sen
tinef.
e We'll, my young gentleman, and hoy
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