Year: 1863

Indianapolis, Feb. 4, 1863


To the Legislative Department of the


State af Indiana:


Owing to the immense drafts that
have been made on the Treasury of the
United States, the Government has been
unable TO promptly pay the troops the
wages to which they are entitled. To
most of the soldiers four months pay is
due, and to many of them six | am in
formed, however, that enough money has
recently been furnished to the Paymas-
ters to pay all arrearages up to the 1st
of November last, which will still leave
due and unpaid their wages for two
months, ending on the lst day of Janua-
ry The failure by the Government to
pay the army the money due to it at the
period fixed by law for its payment,
which is every two months, operates
with great hardship upon the wives, chill
dren and parents who are dependent
upon it for support The compensation
of the private soldier is small, and if the
payment Of it be greatly delayed much
suffering must ensue. The brave, gen
erous men who have gone to the field to
peril their lives in battle and endure the
hardships of war, should not be allowed
to fret that the payment of their seanty
compensation is delayed, if there be any
means by which delay can be avoided.
The soldier needs money while in camp
and Al urarC1I, and often suffers
greatly in health and comfort for want
of it.


The Government, l believe, is doing
all in its power to meet its engagements
promptly, but the question is, whether
the State could not, without serious det-
riment to herself, remove the difficulty,
so far as Indiana troops are concerned,
by advancing their unpaid wages. If
proper legislative authority were given,
the State could, | have no doubt, borrow
of the Banks or individuals in Indiana,
New York, or other places, at legal in
terest, enough money for the purpose,
! and an arrangement could De made with
the Secretary of the Treasury by which
the amount advanced should be refunded
to the State by the United States when
ever the Government was able to paw
the same to the troops, if they had not
been paid by the State. The State would
be reimbursed for her expenditures in
probably not over 60 or 80 days, and the
interest paid upon the loans would be tri-
fling compared with the amount of good
that would be accomplished, and this
interest would no doubt be refunded by
the Government


The plan for doing it would briefly
suggest as follows; Let the officers and
soldiers in proper form assign the pay
due them to the Treasurer of the State,
with a direction in the assignment to
whom the money should be paid by the
State. If the money is to be paid to the
family or friends of the officer or soldier.
living in the State, it can be done through
the Treasurer of the county in which
such persons live If the money is to be
sent to the soldier in the field, it can be
done by Federal Paymasters, under an
arrangement with the Paymaster Cen
eral, at Washington; or, ifit be preferred,
the money can remain in the State Treas
ury, as deposit subject to the QUdelHi uaWt vt
It. Upon the pay rolls thus assigned the
Treasurer of the State, he can from time
to time settle with the United States and
receive back the monies advanced


The measure proposed has several i'm
portant advantages.


FIrSt-By the prompt payment Of the
troops prolific source of discomfort and
desertion is removed


Secondly-Ofhcers and men are ena-
bled to provide for their own necessities
in the field, and for the support of their
families and dependent ones at home.


Thirdly-By the plan proposed ofpay-
ing through the County Treasurers, fam,
lies and dependent ones at home will
receive a large amount which would
never reach them, even though it were
promptly paid to those entitled while they
were in the field.


Fourthy-Mueh money would be held
in trust, as a deposit in the State Treas
ury, which, if paid to the soldiers in the
field, would be squandered or lost.


This recommendation is not intended
to be confined to pay now in arrears, bu


to apply in the future, when the Govern


ment is unable to promptly meet Its en-
gagements with the army.


R Should the plan suggested not be deem
;, ed feasible, or the best | will cheerful
s. cooperate with you in the adoption c
lie any other by which the main purpose, tn
X prompt payment of Indiana troops, ca


be accomplished. L
/ would respectfully invite your earl