The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1870-06-10
Speech Of Hon. Thomas A. Hen
bricks, at Vinccnnes, Saturday,
May 2Sth, 1870.

bricks, at Vinccnnes, Saturday,
May 2Sth, 1870.
NY FELLOW -CITIzENs-I appreciate
the fact that stand to-day in locality
of great historic interest.
The distinguished citizen, TO whom we
are much indebted for the Colonial
History of Nincenncs.' has expressed
the opinion that the white settlement at
this point dates as far back as seventeen
hundred and ten or eleven. For one
hundred and sixty years this locality,
far ont in the West, has been the scat of
civilization. religion and law. The au-
ihority of three forms Of government
has here been maintained. The flags re-
presenting the monarchy of France, the
asristocracy of England, and the repre-
sentative democracy of the United States,
have. in succession, foated over inns
Ipos,. From this distant point, in its pro-
rress from military post to flourish
inc city. Your fathers have witnessed the
wonderful development Of the country |;
even from the wilderness to the culii-
waited lands, and from the Wabash to
the Delaware. They observed and felt
the growing sentiments Of liberty. and
the desire for independence which broke
forth in the revolution. and resulted in
the establishment of our institutions up
lon the principles of popular rights and
individual security. guaranteed by con-
= ,stitutional definitions. grants and rcstric-
lions. They proudly shared in the pros
pcrity and glory Of the country. and in
1.-The happiness Of the people. the golden
fruits of administrations and policies OF
government in harmony with the spirit
. of the Constitution. With the grand
' memories of your past pressing upo,
: YOU. | am encouraged in appealing TO yo'
Ito aid with MI tho energies You possess
to recover the control of our public at'
fairs from the hands of men who dcspist
lthc Constitution. and defy its authority
g|who proclaim their own wisdom as safer
land their patriotism as purcr and lofticl
Than the founders Of tho Republic. They
llcspisc the people. and defy their an
, thoritv. Their only return for confidence
|rposcd is in broken faith and violated
|plcdgcs.
, They demand. as Of right. continu
10 ancc Of power. that they may still con
l,rol thc State and National treasures
md the National arms.and all the laws
THAT we shall pay as they say. and the
luse rs tl,ev please. This demand. so M
|rouantlv made. must he met. considcre
Ianl decided. Upon what support doe
r,lthcir claim TO continued support in thi
State rest! Surely not upon any WIS
dom in their general legislation: III ia!
W. new policy and system of laws, 'nadc !
the interest of corporations. whereby
le many Instances. the many are taxed &c
1.-The spccial benefit of the few. The clai'
in this State mainly rests upon the In
= that during the last ten years the Sta
debt has been largely reduced. IL
merit Of that claim depends wholly npo
hhc means adopted for that end. IT.
I,hr General state expenditure, rigi
stem of economy has been adopted.
,ltint the sums saved in that dircctic
have been applied in payment of u
state debt. could not too earnestly n
Move and endorse it. But all know III
No Isuch economy has not been introduce
Ib,t that. prior to Governor bakers a
|n,inistration, the State passed through
ncriod of unprecedented extravaganza
ncriod OF corruption. in which par
/. sizes and fattercrs fattcncd upon Z
=" wealth Of the people.
If however. to meet the debt and !
8 |ducc if. resort has simply been had to
crcascd taxation. then all merit dlsa
CInears. and it becomes only the taX-gat
Nlrrcrs' boast of the large sums nc has be
ers abc to wiring from the people.
In 1860, the last year OF Uov. W
,ord's administration, the tax levy
pI'. Nis state purposes was fifteen cents on ca
:on, one hundred dollars, and fifty cents
on, each poll, and in 1866, in Gov. Mor'o
'or,. orr administration, the levy was. twen
's at five cents Oh each one hundred dolla
10 ,0' and sevcnty.tivc cents OH each poll.
- In 1890 tie expenditures for State p'
" rn.cs nropcr, amounted to $1l9,S26, a
u in 1855 TO S2O1, ,339, being an increase
al7l.513. This statement is OF State
|pcnditurcs, proper. and does not
cluIc any war or other cxtraordin'
, expenditures. -. ;.
That the rate Of taxation in 1860 was
II nv ner cent. greater than in 1850, but
,o0,,l the taxable property had greatly incrc
ways ways cd I'd ~ thc meantime. With both the !
,so,. no,. of taxation and the taxable property
ed. 3D. creased, and tho currency greatly in1
|cd.is II n matter Of boast that large su
of money were realized from the p
plc. and that a part thereof was app
"A In payment Of the debt?
h May / now, my fciiow,c'ti2cns'