The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-06
the Attitude that 81 Am the
State" He Borrowed Money ON His
Personal Responsibility.
ANTAGONIZED BY DEMOCRATS
ANOTHER CHAPTER FROM DUDLEY
FOULKE's GREAT BIOGRAPHY.
The Sentinel, Then as Now, Used Ev-
cry Effort to Injure the States
ReputatfOn-state Printing story.

History is made so rapidly in this age of
the world that events occurring a third Of
a century ago are crowded into the back
ground even in the minds of those who were
a part of them. A great many people who
were living IL Indiana during the exciting
period of the civil war will gladly refresh
their memories of that time from the pages
of Mr.. William Dudley Foulke's life of Oil
yer P. Morton. while to the younger genera
ton the story of that great man to whom
Indiana owes so much should have all the
fascination of a romance. No act of his
was more remarkable or admirable than his
financiering when, through the obstructive
methods of a Democratic Legislature, the
state treasury was left empty and no means
provided for paying current expenses. This
chapter is here reproduced:
Morton accomplished what had never
been attempted in American history. For
two years he carried on the government of
great State solely by his own personal
his responsibility and disbursing it
through bureaus organized by himself.
The Legislature, as we have seen, adj
lourned without making any appropriations.
The state government and the benevolent in
situations had to be provided for, and there
was no money with which to do It. Morton
had to make choice Of one of three courses:
First he could call special session of the
Legislature, which had just adjourned sec
ond, he could close the state institutions
and stop. the government; third, it was just
possible that by personal effect he could
raise the money to carry it on. He had been
able to borrow several hundred thousand
dollars for short time, for the purpose of
equtpping soldiers to oppose the invasion of
Kirby Smith, but now loan must be OBJ
tained for two years upon the doubtful con-
tingency that the next Legislature would
sustain him in this perilous undertaking.
discredited; should the loan not be repaid
by the next Legislature, he would be bank
rupt in purse and reputation. The response
bility was great, yet he did not hesitate. The
other alternatives were fraught with public
disaster. To call the Legislature together
was. to invite a repetition of the scenes all
ready enacted. The General Assembly
would make no appropriations except al the
price Of a military bill depriving Morton of
all control Of the forces of the State. Under
no circumstances would he consider this al
tentative. Better that the State should be
left unprovided for; that the criminals, the
insane, the blind and the deaf and dumb
than that under the control of the sympa-
thizers with secession, Indiana should be-
operations of the state government should
not stop, If the Governor could help it. He
would risk all that he had and all that he
hoped for to keep 1t going.
THE DEMOCRATIC PLAN.
When the Legislature adjourned the Dem
ocrats did not doubt that they could force
him into submission. They did not believe
he could carry on the government for ten
days without an appropriation. Does our
noble Governor" they sneered, 'intend to
run the State on his own responsibility? We
do not believe gentlemen Of capital will thus
invest money" Many of the Democratic
members kept their rooms at the hotels and
boarding houses of Indianapolis expecting
to be recalled at once.
But Morton had resources upon which
they had not reckoned. In the first place
large sum had been made by the profitable
management of the state arsenal Money
was due from the general government for
ammunition furnished by this arsenal! and
this money was paid to the Governor while
ne was in Washington, about the first of
April. Morton proposed to devote it, as far
as 1t would 60, to paying the expenses of
the State. The Democrats denounced him
insisting that the profits should be paid at
once into the state treasury, where they
would be securely locked up and useless.
The embezzlement act provided that if any
officer should convert the money of the State
to his own use, or loan, deposit or exchange
1T contrary to law, he should be deemed
guilty of a felony; and Morton was
p IF fbe by MS political a;dyersaries
vided in this act But owing to
the obstinacy of the late Legislature the
arsenal had fortunately, not been recog-
nized by law, and the general government
could well claim that the proceeds of that
institution were not state property. 1t was
to Morton. AS the arsenal did not yet be-
long to the State the Governor insisted that
he did not violate the embezzlement act in
disbursing this money on his own account
for State purposes.
Morton was not the man to finch under
threats of criminal prosecution. On April
and appointed w. II. Fl. Terrell TO be his
financial secretary. The Governor also APP
pealed to the people, to private bankers and
to the various counties of the State asking
for funds with which to carry on the gov
eminent. He procured safe for the keep
ing of these funds. The response was
prompt and liberal. Many counties made
appropriations ranging from 81, 900 to 800 900
each. Private citizens advanced considera-
hle sums among them one hundred of his
old Wayne county friends, who signed
note for $4,000, borrowed the money and
nen It 70 him ne prre na9te 8 e Reh
On April is his enemies were further dis
comfited by news that a large sum had
been sent to him from Washington out of
ment
He had now obtained money enough for
carrying on the government until the meet
ing of the next Legislature. The benevolent
institutions and the penitentiaries were
managed with skill and economy at a di-
minshed expense, as compared with that of
preceding years.
TO PAY FOR ARMS.
A more serious trouble was Morton's in
ability to pay for the arms he had pur-
chased to repel the invasion of Kirby Smith
The Ocean Bank of New York had. before
the meeting of the late Legislature. adj
vanced him the money for these arms. be-
caused 1t was believed that the General AS
sembly of 1868 would pay the bill. But that
Legislature adjourned without making any
such provision. The arms, however, were
of excellent quality and had been purchased
at low prices, 50 the general government as
sumed the debt and took the arms, and
Morton was enabled to meet the notes be-
fore they became due.
The other military expenditures of the
State were also a source of great embar-
fassmeri There were no funds hand
for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers
nor for the support of their families. There
was no money with which to discharge the
military claims against the State or pay
the surgeons who had been sent to the
field. and the Indiana Legion, which had
been protecting the border. Moreover, new
regiments could not be raised without large
sums of money. And Mortons enemies
soon devised fresh sources of embarrass-
ment. Since they could not compel him to
call a special session in any other way they
determined to bring him 10 terms by fore
ing a Reputation of the interest on the
State debt
AS early as 1916 an act had been passed
providing that this interest should be paid
semi-annualy in New York and for its pay
ment the faith of the State was solemnly
the act conferred sufficient authority for the
payment of this interest out of the treasury,
and for many years the auditdh drew his
warrants and the treasurer paid Dem with