The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-01-12
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
A Very Able and Exhaustive Message
From Governor Gray.
Delivered to the Legislature Of Indiana on
saturday, january s, 1881.

-
II GESrLEMEx OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY :
Divine Providence has willed that the laws of
ture be well executed. and hence. during the past
two years the people of Indiana have been blessed
. with favorable seasons and abundant crops A
condition OF great material prosperity inclines
mea 10 be eontented with whatever form of gov
ernment they possess; but when united TO, free
institutions Il is indisputable cause for happiness
y exception have had undisturbed reign through
out the state; thers has been great foreign pS ae
afforded for all the administration OF our public
affairs has been eficient and IN all we recognize
"a combination Of favorable circumstances calling
tor the most deyout thankfuness Free; prosper
with the oppressed and distressed OF the mother
countries beyond the sea.
IN MEMoRIAN.
- Another hand than mine was expected to- pen
= tf.ls message whicn. in accordance with eonsti
tutional provision. must be communicated BY the
q the latter may be apprised Of such matters re-
aiin 10 the affairs of State win aid it 70 act for
/ py accom- panying recomnesndations- But man
proposes, God dispOses; and by one OF the events
which follow in the train Of Omnpotent doing II
has been vii That he who addresses you should
Sf ,ae ,p he iae peope rigntfUIiy expect Of
Seir fgfs lauisrrats that knowledge Of his
{.r,af,..,.ties and attention 10 their discharge
shich would make the task at hand ar agreeable
ed with his administration. While this
pu.sS would have been eminently
III my predecessor. the opposite
ms il seems that the iamentable misfortune
n withdrew from our midst distinguished
10 and capable coajutor. I may. therefore, in
ythe opening OF this message. appropriately say
what is due on this occasion OF the NC anI seTEl
ices of our lately deceased Chief Executive,
more than usually appropriate occasion 3eeauSe s
ccli only is testimonial due hlm a hisR f on. ,
l'9tOf the state. but in the predecessors oi tne
bod here assem- bled for longer period than ever
n s4by afy other citizen. he represented loeai con
K Istim ncy and began that career ultimately
& crowned hy the greatest honor OF our our pr9ad COn
almost exclusively Identified with state affair
and exgeTenee gained BY ms long eerSfes bie IN IN
Ehah Az[Ininist'atiee eipaeity shown in later
~ THlissls' success was seifmade. His
inssr - IN yafIth was mainly the rugged VI
II ouportu sakrded young men, be possessed
Il Z lstea, stiv good sense and sterling honesty
:, leS Of ths Irimitiye ZINE in whieii he grew
y 4 sanh0ed. His personal habits were simple
~ mann unpretending. Whatever public
ibiits 70 bore he exhibited the part Of
80 20 spend wo--s in his praise. but they
n1t adj fa :he brightness OF the name Of an
imam which he has left behind. He carved
honored destiny for himself roughencd as
eEinniuc by GdveTsity. lie died beloved
-fee, his death occurring IN this city
noon. November 20. 1850 at
sesr suitable o6sequies were iti attended
: officers OF the Stale. the Governors and
of adjoining states, aud citizens OF this
Z me route ii the funeral procession by the
: rs OF Knox County and our distinguished
1t EincenueS. and at the village Of Wheat
and finally BY his Tsls.iyss IS and and inn i%%e'iae
- Is aged wife, who preceded him but a few
a is 10 their grave whose los he could not
ana over whose grave the srass Of coming
ilne has get 70 grow
Acts OF Issss
Immediate predecessors closed their labors
ile prompt publication OF the acts OF the
s>eThly The acts of the two sessions,
volume with the accurate state
rtl. a
lnoney reg9ireei by the CONSTITUTION were
|blished and circulated in the several COun-
the state BY authority within sixty days
er that by the receipt s.. and and, hing & Of the the
at o'clock p. IA. ~ evidenced by the
nation Of the Governor OF June 3. 1872
81 aars i haa s x1IhRns aRea e9s Cd minis Nay
- Governor within thirty days thereafter,
a br q q sseenon a al Mine inspector ssge
annual report Is transmitted for your in
on. II uShOws liz mines In seventeen C0un-
the State. with an invested capital OF
s2. employing s,5Ss men leil and producing
his compensation from fees collected from
oerators OF mines. II will be for you TO de-
ne the prOpriety OF paying him fixed sal
ier the provisions OF the act of March TO-
providing for the submission OF
pkoPosED AMENDMENTS TO TIE coSsTrTuTIoS
satle electors at the spring election held on the
7frsfa d-.y OF april isso, the number of votes
lanai. ~, q the Governor. aud published
p(rN Is, 1Ss. In case arising at city election
aimed in june the question of the ratification
*iecton Of Amendment No was in
Sledge. oi historical facts it was held that
Nity OF the electors of the State had not rati-
fre same, and, therefore. that such ameud-
I'd not become part OF the Constitution.
..k4lCaaents proposed was larger than the mum
4r- those voting for dhe first, the prin-
egts settled has been accepted
knli.5 II the enumeration OF male inhabitants over
Pffea.e OF tweafy-one years required by the Cont
~ nd ba basfs NJ an
s 81 IL, congress among the several coRnties be
ae13 Ted. as a census OF the electors of the state
,a,t<4g the ensuing six years, and an affirmative
<<x to ratify submitted amendment. the
&<#em Is easily solved and compTehended by
- Dne familiar with the passage OF bills through
40 two Houses If IL be enough that majon-
49, those voting shall favor proposed amend
10 il should be submitted to the electors at a
- fet.sl election in order that question could
1<t4 AS 10 whether the amendment had received
#RlorstF OF the votes cast: IL remains for
tpN#tO provide for again taking the
8ns& q the electors of the State, or
anae6'iments proposed have ceased to be living
ksues before the people and are no longer
waiting the action OF q succeeding General As
y<mby or OF the Elect0rs"
y l. nearly thirty years since the present Con-
|ItutiOn Of the STATE adopted, during which
f4ne the State has Increased in population from
- than 10000 70 nearly 10000 700 The In
test In view OF the facts that some OF its pro
isi0ns hare become obsolete, and that expert
kee under il has suggested many important
rnees and amend ments, recommend the call
= OF CONSTITUTIONAL Convention. believing
tt to be the best mode OF revising the organic
&of the State. 4 would further recommend that
I'll Convention consist of fifty members chosen
~ the Senatorial DISTRICTS believe the body
MD be large enough, and with the old Con-
fIHifiOn before them as guide,
Any OF the provisions of which
FoQld undoubtedly be Incorporated in the new
t4|sitting OF the Convention need not necessarily
Il lIotracled for any considerable length OF time.
"a II you sn0uli not deem it advi,able 70 call
Eonyenfi0n, recommend the revision of1the
ftoosed amendments, and ia addition 70 those
lf0Dmend an amendment making the tenure OF
~ {be State Offices four years. the incumbent to
y flisibi only four years in every period OF eight
~ -. the election 70 occur between the Presiden-
y = elections eliminate state from Ma
tnal politics. ] can see no good reason why the
II cfrrrlor. Lieutenant Governor. Clerk and Re
Of ~slle Supreme Court should be elected for
- feasS. and The Secretary. Auditor and Treas
I elate for two yssrs A like provision for
ling the terms of County officers would
Cess be fagornbly received
{k.Iux FOB YEEBLE-xIspED cHrLpRzS,