Year: 1870

would have seen to it that it was re-
stored.


Is it now needed? What petitions
have come to us for this purpose !?
What representations have been made
py any gentleman upon the floor
of the necessity for this fund? Not
one. The gentleman from Highllnd
himself claims no necessity. He asks
an appropriation of an amount equal
to the amount transferred. 1t is a
question of levy. Of raising the money.
There is no money in the treasury to
be thus transferred. 1t was used In
the payment of the debt of the State.
Not to cover up any deficiencies as
has been charged, but to pay upon
maturing debt payable at the pleasure
of the State, and thereby saving in
terest. The law by which it was
transferred and used provided for its
reimbursement by q levy, should it
be necessary. The gentleman who
was in the majority two years, and in
all that time his voice is not at all
heard in favor of making this levy.
He says he judges the majority upon
this floor by its profession. The re-
sponse is " as ye judge ye shall be
Judged" That gentleman in the ar
dor of his nature and the earnestness
of his efforts for the right, is in the
habit of calling upon high heaven"
70 aid him in the accomplishment of
his purposes, but during the two long
sessions of the past, nor at this session
of the present General Assembly has
this invocation been heard arising
from the gentleman, for aid in behalf
of the poor widow and orphan of the
soldier. No, for, if there had been
such wrong done in the transfer and
use of their funds, why did not he
and his party right the wrong? If
suffering had come out of it, why was
not that suffering relieved?


The gentleman cannot say as to the
transfer of balances remaining in the
treasury of his county. If he will go
back to the records he will be pretty
sure to find that one of the counties
in which large balance was remain
ing. The gentleman claims that there
are instances where assistance is need
ed, but does not know that any levy
has been made by the County Com
missioners to furnish such assistance.
The law is plain. If relief is needed
it should be provided for by local
levy.


But there has been no general de-
mand for the use of these funds.
There is now none such. The only
question then was how to dispose of
them-whether to use them for gen.
eral or local purposes, and that was all
about which there has been any diff
ference. As before stated there is no
question of appropriation connected
with it. 1t is simply a question of
levy of taxation. Should the levy be
made? Shall the people be called
upon to pay this additional tax? By
some it is claimed that it is needed to
make provision for soldiers and sail
ors' orphans. The House has made
such provision. The Senate will
make it. 1t is gratifying to know
that such provision can, and will be
made without any increase of levy.
There is then no reason why this
amendment should be attached to this
or any other bill.


There is at this time, as there has
been since its use, no demand for
reimbursement of this fund. 1t was
Iuuu iapSeu uHueI luS law ny HhiSh
raised, and not being used for the
purpose for which raised, and treated
by all parties as in this condition.
That portion of it thought to be reach
ed by this amendment was raised by
general levy upon the property of the
State, and was used in payment of q
debt which that property must pay.
This interest has been, and will con-
tinue to be saved by the State. The
finances of the State are in such II
condition that needed provision is
being made for soldiers orphans and
without the necessity of increasing
the levy and their being no occasion
for, it is to be hoped that the amend
meDt proposed by the gentleman from
Highland will not prevail