Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 37, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 February 1863 — Page 2

WEEKLY SEXT1NEL. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2. Death at Senator Shoulders. Thomas Shotldkks, representing the district composed of the counties of Gibson, Dubois aud Pike in the State Senate, died at his lodgings in this citj on- Thursday morning, the 29th instant. His disease was erysipelas. A few days ago he was in his seat in the Senate in apparent good health, but now he is numbered with the dead. He died away from home, away from his family, and probably without even his wife and children knowing of his illness. Strangers, comparatively, attended him in his sickness, watched over him in his expiring moments, and prepared his remains for their Snal resting place. Thomas Shoulders was born in Warren county, Kentucky, Jsnuary 25ih, 1806. His father emigrated to this State in 1823 and located in Dubois county, near the family residence of the deceased, ilr. Shovldebs was raised a farmer, and his whole life was devoted to agricultural pursuits- His good sense and sterling integrity ever commended him to the respect and confidence of his neighbors. lie was Collector of the Revenue of his county and for five years filled the office of Associate Judge. In 1&56 he was elected a Represented ve in the flower branch of the Legislature, and in lGO he was chosen Stwte Senator. Mr. Shoulders ever affiliated and sympathized with the principles, policy and organization of the Democratic party. His first vote for President was given to Jackson in 1&23, and from that time he supported the Democratic nominees for that high position up to the Presidential election of I860. .The deceased had but few of the advantages of early educa tivn. In youth he was a pioneer in a new settlement and in comparatively a wild country, undergoing all the privations and battling with all the difficulties of such a life. He earned a livelihood and secured a competency by the sweat of his brow. Thomas Shoulders was a sincere, earnest and honest man. He was as diligent and faithful in public life, as he ever was in private life. He was a man of good sense, of quick perceptions, of fixed principles, and conscientiously devoted to the right to what he regarded was the best for his fellow men, individually and collectively. Most cheerfully we pay this humble tribute to the memory of a plain, unassuming, unpretending maiyet a worthy representative of a majority of the people whose industry and virtues and integrity have given prosperity, progress, and wealth to the nation, and a proud title to American citizenship. We understand that Mr. Shoulders leaves a wife, a daughter, and two sons, who are now in the army, to mourn his loss. He died, as he had lived, a Christian, in full communiou with the Methodist Episcopal Church. It will be uoiice-1 by the proceedings of the Legislature yesterday that due respect was paid to the memory and r rtues of a departed colleague. J 1 ' -T ii III

The Trust Funds of the Stwte. We understand :hat a considerable amount of the indebtedness to the sinking and other trust funds of the Slate are about falling due, and that already much of this indebtedness has been paid in Government currency. If greenbacks continue to depreciate in value and they remain a legal tender in the payment of debts, there is no doubt but the borrowers of the trust funds will regard it an object to cancel their indebtedness with that kind of currency. And the more it diminishes in value the greater the inducement of the borrowers of these funds to pay their obligations in legal tender note. This condition of affairs is well worthy the consideration of the Legislature, and some remedy, if possible, should be applied. If these funds should be converted from mortgage securities upon real estate into treasury DOtes their value will be materially lessened. Greenbacks have already fallen over fifty per cent below the gold standard, and of course every dollar held by the State in that kind of currency on account of its trust funds, is a loss thereto just the amount which those nctes depreciate. If the Sinking Fund Commissioners hold a million of greenbacks the fund is the loser just what it will cost to convert that currency into gold. The extension of the mortgages f illing due two or three years, may be a measure worthy consideration. We understand that the branches of the Bank of the State, in anticipation of a further decline in treasury notes, and apprehending 'hat the Supreme Court may decide that Congress cannot make paper a legal tender, have given notice that they will lo longer receive trai kind of currency on deposit, unless the depositor wiil agree to receive pay in kind. It is also stated that the Bank is retir ing its notes from circulation, and that it is paying for them a premium of from one to two per cent. Should not the State manage its fuuds with the same sagacity and forethought that govern the banker or broker?, We do not want to see this patrimony this munificent gift to the State for the advancement of its educational interests frittered away by its being invested in a currency now not worth half its face and which will in all probability still further decline in value. Whatever the Legislature can do to save its Trcst Funds intact should be done, and if possi ble to enlarge intc.d of permitting their value to diminish, or to be lost entirely through the ageucy of a depreciating currency. Nice Question. His Excellency is wonderfully troubled about the bond of the new Aget.t of State. The bond has a large number of names to it, and nice questions are presenting themselves to the gubernatorial vision. His Excellency is very clear that the staniD should be upon the bond before a name was signed. I e is not so clear as to whether the initials of all the persons signing should be on the stamp. This is now agitating His Excellency's bowels. He inclines to the opinion that the signatures of the forty persons who maybe upon the bond should be on the stamp itbout an inch in leng;h. The fact that it is impossible does not enter into the consideration of the subject. Bis Excellency once read in an almanac that an ingeuious mechanic had, with the aid of a power fat magnifying glass, engraved the Lord's prayer on a five-cent piece, and see no reason why the same feat should notbenccomolished in this esse. Should Hr. Walkes meet Lis Excellency's yiews and the bond be ever put in suit, it will be quite refreshing to see the Judge, bar and jury inspecting the sump with glasses to ascertain if the bond U all right. Hogarth should be on batd to do justice to the subject. His Excellency will then stand a good chance to get a witness fee in the cae. ' It strikes u, however, faer 'he lib eral manner His Excellency has been using the Contingent Fund, he occupies very much the poBition of the boj who spelled out the passage about straining out a g nu t, gate, and swallow ing a c a-m-e I, saw mill. How careful the Governor is of the public in teresu! He will go down to posterity with such eminent patriots as Li.ncol.x and Camzko.y. Mr.rnso it Owes Coixtt. The peop'e nut at S'pniigüeiu', Uwen county, on the 17th, and passed a resolution asking the Legislature to Uke iSe control of the militia out of the hands of the Governor, and to establish a Military Board. fTT- The Brookville Democrat states an a fact within the personal knowledge of its editor, that Geo. Burnide served an apprenticeship to the tailoring business with 31 r. J. E. Dunham, of Ceiitreviile, VV ayne county, from 1U0 to 1SI2.

From the Albany ArfrUa Supreme Court of the United states. The attitude taken by the Judges of the Sufreme Court of Wisconsin, asserting against the 'resident's proclam ttion, the inviolability of the writ of habeas corpus, has caused deep feeling in Washington! The court is composed of Republican Judges; but it was unanimous in arraying itself fir lily against the pretensions which the President has founded upon "the war power." The Wisconsin papers announce that United States Senato Howe, who was dispatched posthaste from Washington to recall the court to its party allegiance, and to induce it to modify its opinions, has arrived, and had commenced his labor?, but we have no intimation that his mis sion has been attended by any success! We have no doubt that the Judges of Wisconsin, Republicans though they be, will stand firm in defense of the Constitution against the usurpations of the Executive. The courts of all the Northern States (with few and unimportant exceptions) will array themselves on the same side. The presett Congress has but forty-two days more of life, and when these are spent, the usur ration, which has tyrannized over the courts, wi.l ose its strength; and the more timid tribunals will gather courage to essert their rights. The Supreme Court of the United States, too, will confront the.danger with an unbroken spirit, and with a unanimous judgmcut. A receut letter of Judge Miller, of Iowa, of the Supreme Court of the United States, removes all doubt as to him He was appointed to his place on the Supreme Bench by President Lincoln, as were also Judge Swayne, of Ohio, and Davis, of Illinois. These two Judge? also hold conservative sentiments; and we have no doubt that the Supreme Bench will be unanimous in sustaining the Constitution against the new and dangerous assertions of Executive prerogative, as expanded under the magnifying influence of war necessity. This attitude ot the new Republican Judges, in accord with the old dignitaries of the bench, should occasion no surprise. It would be far more astonishing if any well-read lawyer any one versed enough in the philosophy of jurisprudence to deserve any place upon the bench of any court should so far stultify himself as to uphold these pretensions. We congratulate the country upon some of the

encouraging aspects of the times. The work of reparation goes on, alongside that of destruction. The Congress which has'done so much to deface and destroy the Constitution and to disintegrate the Union, is about to expire in ignominy. The States are asserting their rights. T.:e courts are arraigning themselves as the vindicators of the liberty of the citizen. And the people are m irching forward to take into their own hands the task of reconstructing the Government, in which armies and navies have failed, and which Cabinets and Congresses have meddled with to mar. There can be no doubt but the people generally desire a reform in the" Administration, which by -its weakness and recklessness has well nigh ruined the country. It is not the Democracy ahme that entertain this sentiment, but it includes a large number of conservatives who have been identified with the Republican party. In proof of this we present the following extract from a letter written by Justice Samuel P Mil leu, of the Supreme Court of the United Stales, dated at Keokuk, Iowa, November 11th, 1862, in enswer to an invitation to attend a "grand jubi lee of the friends of const tutional liberty and Union.' Judge Miller was appointed last year by Mr, Lincoln, for whom he voted, and was a member of the old Whig party. The sentiments he ex presses cannot fail to strike the public mind ns eminently just and appropriate. His letter should be read by all who sincerely uesite to be informed upon the present condition of affairs by one who can have no other motive to influence him but the good of his country. Inconneclion with the comments of the Albany Argun upon the Supreme Court of the United States aud the confidence which may be reposed in not only its ability and purity, but its deter ruination to protect and maintain the liberties of the citizen, the letter of Judge Mili.ee is most opportune. Judge Miller writes: The recent elections have gladdened my heart more than I can find language to express, for I feel that by the success of the Democracy we shall have a speedy restoration of the Union and constitutional liberty. I am an old Clay Whig, as you all know, and when the party went down, I united with the Re publicans, in the hope and belief that it would sncceed to all the loyal and national virtues of the Whig party, nnd that we would have Whig principles and policy prevail under another name But 1 got more than I bargained for. It was not in the covenant tint we should have civil war ns a consequence of Republican success; that the public treasury was to be plundered by hole sale; that "free foil" in loyal Suites should be covered with martial law; that "free speech" should be chained in the dungeons of the bastile, that free homes should be sacked to desolation, and ihe liberty of free men should be confined in its practical application to the negroes of the South, and the Abolition wing of the Republican party at the North. NoJ We old Whigs, in uniting with the Republican party, did not consent to be a party to any such violations of constitutional liberty. Had the counsels of Gen. Scott. John J. Crittenden, Stephen A. D uidas, and indeed of all the wise and good men of our nation been heeded, we would not now be afflicted with the civil warthat is now upon us. They could not have p: evented South Carolina from her attempt at revolution, but the Crittenden proposition would hare saved all the rest of the Southern States, and long before this, at a trifling expense of money, and at a small loss of life, that rebellious State would have been humbled before the flag of the Union. But how did the phrenzy of the Abolition leaders meet that proposition? They said, away with it. away with it, ami crucify all who ndvo cate it. They further said, leave the slave Statr-, trot We ca.i do without them, and we will speedily reap the advantages of a separation. When the conservative element of the nation proclaimed itself for the Union, then the AImjUtiotiists assumed that they were thewarpirty, . and denounced nil others as Rebel s mp athizers. That the Abolitionists are in favor of prosecuting the war for the love of the Union, I am sure is not '.he case. Their object is to abolish slavery only, and if that should fail, they will again speedily raise their old cry, of "let the Union tlule." Gentlemen, it is the mission of the Democratic party to save the Union. It has always been a loyal and national party; it has ever upheld constitutional law as the only safeguard of freedom. It was the party that hurled from power the authors ot the alien and sedition laws, sixty years ago, and for all that period they guided our ship of Stale successfully and gloriously through the waves of civil commotion and the dangers of foreign wars. I regard the Clay Whig party, and the Douglas Democracy as genuine branches of the old Democratic party in 1793. When I fee Gen Scott and Millard Fillmore, and Crittenden, and Ketchum, and Hunt, aud all the old prominent Whig of twenty five years ago, now united at the tolls with the Democracy, I can have no doubt that if the immortal sage of Ashland, that purest of patriots, most eloque'it of orators, and wisest of statesmen, Henry Clay, were still alive, and in our midst, he teo would lend his voice in favor of that pnrty whose watchwords are the "Constitution as it is," and "the Linon it must and shall be preserved." The Addition leaders had so little idea of the character of the contest they weie entering upon, that they proclaimed the war would be over in sixty days. They have had all the money they asked for, all the men they asked for, and yet the war rages with unexampled fury at the end of five hundred days. The result for the last eighteen months demonstrates clear) v the necessity of a ntiivers.il change of rulers, and ss old Whigs eFaim to love their country more than party, I hope they will all speedily unite under the Democratic flag, for the salvation of our Union. Respectfully, vouts. SAMUEL F. MILLER. fiovrrnnr Seymour and Gen. Wool. The statement made by the New York Express to the effect that Gen. Wool, in the carrying out of orders from Washington with regard to the New York militia, had come in collision with the constitutional authority of the Governor of that State, turns out to have been all imaginary. The Albany Argus says that Gen. Wool, on assuming the command of of the Department of the East, instituted some inquiries for the more efficient organization of the forces in the department. "But he has receive 1 no orders from Washington which create any conflict of military jurisdiction with the State authorities. The understanding between him and Governor Seymour in regard to the limits of military command, is perfect, and in all respects cordial."

Alarmed, The Journal is very much alarmed over some

resolutions presented to the Senate by Messrs. Wolfk and Brown. It says of the latter: "This measure, if passed, will take our State out of the Union as surely as ail ordinance of secession. It it au ordinance of secession. It was meant to be " Now what is the substance of the resolutions of Senator Brows? They call for an armistice and a Convention of all the States for the adjustment of our National difficulties. A request is made of Congress to call such a Convention, but in case of its failure to do so, the people of every State of the Federal Union, including the so-called Confederate States, are in vited to meet the delegates of Indiana u Convention at Nnshville, on the 1st day of June, 1SG3, "with a view to the restoration of the Union, with all . the dignity, equality and rights of the several States unimpaired." In case the Administration and a majority of Congress refuse to call a con vention of all the States to adjust our national trout les, have not the people a right to do so? The Journal's idea is that the Cabinet, or a ma jority in Congress is the Government. We admit no such doctrine. This is a Government of con seut, and the people are the rightful source of power. The representatives of the people are not the Government. The Constitution says, 'We, the people of the United States, do ordain aud establish," kc. But the Journal says it is ßrmly convinced that an armistice and a national convention, with a view to the restoration of the Union, are measures "to take Indiana out of the Union." It pronounces it to be "plain, direct secession." The editor of the Journal U really to be pitied for his alarm over Indiana being thus taken out of the Union. A stranger reading the articla would suppose that the Journal man expected to wake up some morning erelong and find the State, himself and all quietly floatin" down the Mississippi into Dixie. All this o comes from a paper that two years ago was advo eating a dissolution of the Union as the best thing that could happen for the North. The theorv then was that the rightof revolution existed when any State, or any number of State, con eluded that a continuance in the Union was no longer desirable, or that it was injurious to their interests. It also declared that secession was tevolution, and that the secession of S juth Caro lina was a dissolution of the Union. It was in favor of a peaceable separation of the States V ttiug all the States that desired to leave the Union go in peace. It regarded civil war as a worse evil than the loss of a dozen States, and most decidedly opposed a Union which could only be held together by bayonets. If the Journal was honest in its expressions two years ago, it certainly should not object to an armistice, to the stoppage of a civil war which it said was a worse evil than the loss of.a dozen States, and the call ing of a convention to adjust our national troubles with a view to the restoration of the Union. It certainly cannot, unless it is in favor of a disso lution of the Union. That is the only ground upon which it can consistently object to the reso lutions of Messrs. Wolfk aud Baowx, for the ob jectof both of them is not to "take Indiana out of the Union," but "to restore the Union with all the dignity, equality nnd rights of the several Slates unimpaired." We cannot fee even squint nt secession in resolutions having such an object in view, and no one can object to them un less he is a disunionist per se. The Governor and tlie Contingent Fund. At this time, when public officers of every rank seem vieing with each other in their assaults upon the public treasury, it is necessary that all persons having the disposition of public money should he held to a rigid accountability. The people have a right to "xpect that those intrusted by them with high and responsible posi lions will act with manly integrity, that their expenditureof money shall re free from all juggling and trickery, that there shall be no short cuts and small shifts to avoid investigation and responsi bility. It is within the power of designing men to misappropriate money and by exhibiting a show, ing fair on its face frequently escape exposure The inside view being denied, the great mass of the people arc compelled to judge w hat is wiihin from the facts within their reach, and test the act of their public servants by the information thus possessed. And where they ate able to discover evidences of unfairness aud a want of good faith, they justly conclude that what is concealed is worse than what is exposed, and that the ofS cer standing convicted in one particular is un worthy of confidence in any respect. These reflections are suggested by an examination of the Governor's re;ort ns to the disposi tion of the Military Contingent Fund. On the 5th day of May, 18(31, at the special session of the Legislature, an act was ap proved appropriating one hundred thousand dol lars to the Governor's contingent fund, nnd pro viding that the Governor should report to the ensuing General Assembly all disbursements by him made out of the fund, specifying each item thereof. The present General Assembly met, but the Governor did uo make his report. Day after day passed by, but still no report came, until the I'JAi inst., when the Senate passed a resolu tion requesting His Excellency to make the re port required by the statute. On the 21st inst. the Governor sent in a in es sage dated the 20sl inst., accompanied by his report. It shows that up to the 1st iustaut $f9,147 06 had been paid out of the fund. We have neither the time nor inclination to tike up this report item by Jtein; we will refer lo but one item, nnd it will show to what extent the statements in the report can be relied on. Immediately after 'the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, two thousand dollars were drawn from the contingent fund aud placed in the hands of agents to be disbursed for the benefit of the In diana soldiers who weie wounded there. It was not all sucnt, and the excess over expenditures was returned to the Governor's private Secretary The money was checked from the fund about the iniddtQ of September, li62, and the balance was returned to him a short time thereafter. It was the duty of the Governor to pay the sum so returned into the Treasury as part of the contingent fui.d, that it might be drawn upon as necessity might require. Was it returned, nnd when? The report shows that this excess was returned to lh Treasury on the 2J day of January, 1863, amounting to the sum of $?'23 78. In whose pocket was this sum from the middle of September, lbC2, until the 2d of January, ls'63 by what authority, and for what purpose The Senate resolution calling for the report was mussed on the 19th inst. The Governor shows that he had paid this money into the Tieasuryon the 2d inst., consequently it canno: be supposed for a moment that the call for a detailed report had anything to do with the refunding of the monev, but the Oct is the muney was not paid into the Treasury on the date given by His Excellency, nor had it been paid when t'ie call for the report was made, aud was not paid until the 21st of January, as the Treas urer s report, hied in the Auditor a office, will show.. The manuscript report filed by the Governor is dated the 1st day of January, ItfjJ, as if the re port had been prepared at that time, and the date of refunding the money, January 2, as shown by the Printer'? rejort in the manuscript, is a 2 with a 1 drawn through the center, so as to make it 1, to correspond with the date of the report.

That this may be fully appreciated, it must be remembered that the Governor's message return" ' ing the rert is dated the 2)ih inst., the day before the money was actually paid into the State Treasury. The Governor, in his message accompanying his detailed statement, states that on June 1, 1861, in answer to a resolution of the Seuate inquiring what disbursements he had made from the Military Contingent Fund, reported he had examined and passed vouchers to theamountof $133,177 78, f.-ora which it would appear that the Fund ws exhausted. That this report was made from his own, and not from the Auditor's, books, aud that he was some time after informed by the Auditor that this was a mistake, that said rum had" been by the Auditor charged to the Military and other proper funds, und was not therefore a' proper charge to the Contingent Fund. To appreciate this remarkable error a few facts must be remembered: On May 6, 1SG1, the Legislature appropriated one hundred thousand dollars for the Governor's Contingent Fund; on May 31 one million dollars was appropriated for

military purposes, and an Auditing Committee appointed to examine and audit all claims against the Military Fund, nnd the payment of any claim is expressly prohibited until it has been approved by the Auditing Committee. The Governor, on June 1, 1861, had drawn from the treasury over $133,000. He supposed it had been paid from the Contingent Fund, for that was the only Fund he could draw upon at pleasure, and he very naturally concluded it was exhausted, because he had drawn $33,177 78 more than whs appropriated for that purpose, and he had taken that sum from the treasury without any authority whatever. Ho is, however, one pleasant day informed by Mr. Lange that he is entirely mistaken; that instead of drawing this sum from the Contingent Fund it had been drawn from the Military Fund, and that it had by the Auditor been charged to the MiliLiry FuuJ. Straightway the Governor opens his eyes with astonishment and finds himself hundred thousand dollars better off than he sup posed. Amiable Mr. Lange! innocent and unsophisti Cited Governor' The Military Fund was not appropriated until the 31st of May, lsGl, aud the Governor reports on the 1st day of June, 11:61, that he has drawn $133,177 78, and yet Mr. Lange had been- all this time paying the Governor's warrants out of and charging up the loss to a fund that did not exist, and for which no appropriation had been made; and all litis the Governor does not discover until a short time after the military appropriation had been made The Governor draws upon the only fund at his disposal, over draws and exhausts it. The Legis lature then creates a Military Fund, to be drawn upon under the supervision of a committee, when with a presto and gentle twist of the wrist, it is ail charged up to the Military Fund, without pa;s ing through the hands of tha committee, and the Governor still has the whole of the Contingent Fund at his absolute disposal. The ob ect of this is manifest: it was to place at the absolute, uncontrolled dis;osal of the Gov ernor $233,177 7d, instead of the $100,000 ap propriated by the Legislature. A flood of lig is let in upon the transaction by the fwet that the State officers lefused lo permit the Auditing Committee to perform its duties, shut the doors oi their ollices in their faces, and only yielded lo the peremptory mandate of the Courts. All this winy be houest, but to plain people it has not an houest, straightforward look. We suggest these lacts for the consideration of the people and their representatives. Let the whited sepulchre surrounding the State ad in in is tratlon be thrown open that its internal rottenness may be discovered. Memorial from the Legislature of In dinna to the General Assembly of New Vork in Itcference lotlieTrans portal ion of Produce und Jlercliundie from nnd to the Seaboard. Mr. Habxey, Representative from Montgomery county, proposed the following memorial to the Legislature of New York in reference to the cheapening of the transportation of produce and merchandise from aud to the seaboard, which is now before the House for consideration: To the Senate and Assembly of the JStale of New ork: The General Assembly of the State of Indian beg leave to memorialize your honorable body in reierence to the transits ot produce and mercitati oise going troni ana coming to our state or way of thoroughfares in your Slate, in carrying on our trade with l lie Atlantic seaboard. We take the greater freedom in approaching vou upon subject sjmewliat delicate in its nature, from the known liberality which t'.ie State of .New 1 ork has alwavs shown in her legislation which mighl affect her siter States, and lso from the very generous and satisfactory manner in which Iiis Excellency the (Joverinrr of your Sitte has thought fit to speak of the patriotism, wealth am requirements oi the estern ötates, in his recent message to your honorable body. Within our own boundaries we have no harbors and seapoits crowded with merchantmen ready to take our produce to t lie markets ot the world, and relieve us from the drudgery and exnense of i long line ol tiavel and transportation. Our in er cliaiits are cut oil lioin 'he rich resources of tor eign trade: nor are our revenues increased bv taxes u;ion the wealth always flowini; from it Owing to that fact, with others, our citizens own scarcely any slock in any coloration outside of our own limits, and therefore can hare no con trol over those agencies upon which we have now solely to depend for the conveyance of our pro duce to market. Since the breaking out of the rebellion, things that betöre were only inconveniences have now become peculiar hardships. Our great natura channel of commerce has become stagnant by blockade. Slates within easy distance, with which we once carried on a lucrative traffic, are now in arms against us, aud, from our border po sitiou, wo have to ueleud our soil I nun their in cursions. We manufacture but little of what the Government requires, aud what produce it buys of us is scarcely more than the soldiers which we have furnished would have consumed had they remained at home. Thus it occurs that, for all ot our supplies, we have but. the one market, and one diiectioii of tioroughfares which we must patronize, and these thorough fares pass through your State. This, in one sense, hould be no matter of complaint upon our pu t. We certainly feel under deep obligations to Oie Slate nnd people of Jfew York for their liberality, foresight and en terprise in taking the risk of investing so much capital in those ie.it i-haniiels of communication. She is certainly entitled to the profits on the trade she has enticed to her marts, and ample pay for the labor in transmitting it there; but what suggestions we have to make is founded uKntli(j comity that exists between us as States and our people and yours as merchants nnd customers; anil we only ask such legislation as you tiny deem compatible with the interest of the S'ate aud people, and as will not infringe upon the obligations, already entered into with those corp (rations. , We presume that, in a normal condition of affairs, such as existed before the breaking out of the war, that the business done upon the rail roads aud canal passing through your State, at the rates then charged, was fairly remurentive, as they were enabled to add great Improvement to their works, pay comfortable salaries to their oflicers and good wages to their emyloyee, and le ve a liberal surplus for dividends and interest on thecapital invested. We further perceive that a h.rge increase of business, probably fifty percent, more than they ever enjoyed before, would have enabled them to have diminished their rates, and still have re tained a largely increased revenue suflicient to have satisfied the demands of ordinary invested c ipital, especially wh re that increase of business was caused by the misfortunes of their customers, without whose patronage their works would be of very diminished value. Uut we find, contrary to such well founded presumptions, there has been an increase of rales upon heights amounting to over forty per cent., swelling their protiu to an enormous degree; increasing the value of their security, enhancing the revenues of their State, and distributing the drippiugs of sudden increased wealth into every avenue where its influence ex tends. We reflect, too, that where this assessment falls upon property going from or coming to our State, it is just that much money lost to

our people and diminishes our ability to provide against similar contingencies in future. So se

vere has it become that, m some cases, the cost of transportation exceeds the original cost of the article here four fold, in others two fold, and, on average of our trade, it can s-ifely be set down as one half. These things cause our people to murmur. We hear complaints all around us that, while we have cheerfully submitted to a blockade of our natural channels of trade for the general good, and have furnished every requisition made upon us for meu and money to assist the Government in preserving the institutions common to us all, and have made voluntary sacrifices not demanded of us by the authorities, to protect the interior from the ravage of war; yet, with all this, we find we have a new burden laid upon us by those whose revenues were heretofore founded largely upon our patronage, and who now have a com mon interest with us in the sacrifices we are making. These complainings are not calculated to secure that harmony and good feeling which should exist between people engaged in a common cause, and we hope in future no reason will exist for their continuance. But it is not alone of the nigh rates charged that we complain, but it is that freights are raised without due notice being given, leaving the tra der to pay the extra charge when the articles had been purchased with reference to the pre existing state of affairs, and cases come to us well authen ticated where the Ceutiai Railroad had raised the freights after the stock was registered in the office of said Company as ready lor transportation Our people had no remedy in reach no choice but to endure, except b the friendly co operation of the State from which the comptoies derive their charters We therefore pray your honorable body that such legislation maybe had ns will restrict the railroads passing through the State to as low a rate of freight as will be remunerative to them and not oppressive to us; nnd that there shall be no advance of freights without at least thirty days' public notice being given, and no advance be made upon freights which have been tendered to the companies ready for transoortation. In reference to the New York and Erie Canal, we are not aware that there has been any increase of tolls within the last two years, but we know that, owing to the unusual amount of freight offered in the autumn of 1861-2, that the cost of transportation was in some instances more than doubled. This, of course, was lost to the pro ducer, or merchant who forwarded it, for the ob vious reason tnat such advances could cause no corresponding change in the markets of the world, which we are struggling to reach e therefore think that, for the present nt least, some restriction miht be placed upon boats nnd transportation companies as to the amount they should be allowed to receive, so that our merchants and traders can fix upon some amount ns approximating to the cost of getting their goods or prodm-e to market; and it, upon an examination ot the premises, you find that a re auction ot tons win not reduce thi revenue below an amount to be expected even in the most prosperous times, nnd you should make such reduction, it will certainly ever be remembered with gratitude by the people of our State We are aware that it may be said that the nr gumentwe use would npply with equal force to other states and also to other modes of trans Donation than iv railroad or canal, i ins we readily admit; but the present position of affair; is new ana untrieo we must commence some where to remedy the evil of which we complain and we know no State to which we can appea with as much hope of having justice done as to thegyeat State of New York, which has always shown a magnanimity and statesmanship corres ponding to her resources and geographical posi tion. We further prv your honorable body that should you, in looking over the legislation of the p.ist, find that anv article important in our trad and necessary to the comfort of our people, has been specially taxed in freight, or restricted in in tinilae'ine so as to make it a subject of specu laiion or hinder the readv and free exchange of important commodities between us, that such legislation may receive such modifications as the exigency of the times will suggest In conclusion, we beg leave to congratulate your State upon the material prosperity which has blessed her people, and upon the patriotic sacrifices tliev have made in the present war. V also congratulate them on the noble stand they have taken in favor of the reserved rights of the States and of the people, and of a rigid obser vance of the Federal Constitution "the sheet anchor of our reace nt home nnd safety abroad. The representatives of a people who have never failed to "support the btate governments in all their rights ns the most competent administrations for our domestic concerns nnd the surest bulwarks against anti-republican tendencies," we are equallf wiih yourselves, the supporters of "the General Government in its whole ennstitutiona vigor, subject to the grants and limitations of the solemn compact w hich, for general purposes constitute it the ngent of the States and the people So long as such States ns yours battle with equal y.eil against nnnrchv amonir the members of the Government and the centralized mouopol ol power i:i the hand nt its Executive, vou lav mire truest svnipathv, and, with Mich powerful co operation, we can never despair of the glorious Union nl our lathers, or believe it is destined fall a victim to an unlmlv rebellion. to Proceeding- of Ute Marke County uruiocrniic tonvrnuon. Pursuant to a call of the Democratic Ccntrn Uommittee, the. largest urd most enthusiastic Contention vhich ever assembled in Starke count v convened at the Couit House, in Knox on Saturdav, the 21lh inst. The Convention was organized bv the election of H. T. Howard, E-q.t as President; Elija Wood, Vice President; Eli I'rown, Principa Secretary; and John. Collins, Assistant Secre tarv. Mr. Howard, on taking the chair, made a faw appropriate remarks, explanatory of the object of the meeting, when Uu motion of J A berry, a committee, con sistiug of one from eu-h township, was appointed to prepare a series of resolutions expressive ol the seu-e of the Convention The followu gentlemen were appointed as such committee: Center J. A. Beirv. North Dend D. C. Casileman. Washington Jacob De-.n Oregon Phillip Gronaus. C.iliiornia C. Short. Wat ne J. M. Tucker. Jackson J. Etston. Railroad Robert Grey.D i vis Samuel Lclever. During the absence of the committee the Con ventiou was addressed by II. T. Howard. S A. McCracken. W. C. Casilem.lu and A. W. Porter, in a spirit of eloquence and devotion, defining the position of the Democracy, aud hurling back the false accusation that the Democratic party are guilty of treason in refusing to sustain the Administration in its unwarranted usurpation of power, und showing conclusively (hat the Democratic party wastiie only true Union party; that we were for the "Union as it was, and the Constitution us it is ' Mr. S. lieatty, Provost Marshal for Starke county, being present, was called upon, and the Convention is gratified to report that he declared himself for the Union and opposed to Abolition ism. The Committee on Resolutions having re turned, through its Chairman made the following report: Whkreas, The departure of the President of the United States from his often repeated declarations that the present bloody w ar was not for the purpose of interfering with States Rights, or for the purpose of abolishing slavery, but solely for the restoration of the Government aud enforcement of the laws, demands an expression of condemnation I mm the people ; and, Wuerkas, We believe that w..r is disunion; therefore, be it Resolved by the people of Starke county in Convention asstmbled: 1. That we are now, as we have ever been, firmly and unchangeably devoted to the Union of the States and our fiee institutions, and we hold it to be the duty of all true patriots to maintain them in every proper and constitutional mode; that the whole theory of the Government is based upon the assumption that wrongs are to be redressed, as far ns possible, by peaceable means. 2. That the Administration, in suspending the writ of habeas corpus, arresting private citizens not subject to military law, and incarcerating them in political baetiles, issuing its proclamation declaring the slaves held in certaiu States free, and in numerous instances usurping power, violating the Constitution, infringing upon State sovereignty, and disregarding the popular wish, nid especially in diverting the war from the ob ject of restoring the Government, which the President originally declared should be his sole purpose iu its prosecution, deserves our unqualified reprobation, and justly entitles it to the condemnation of all true lovers ol constitutional liberty and State rights. 3. That the law of Congress erecting certain counties of Vireinia into a Stafe, called the State of "Western Virginia," is, in the language of Edward Dates, Attorney General of the United States, in a letter t'ated Attorney General's office, August 12, 1861, "an original, independent act of revolution, and involves a plain breach

of both Constitutions, of Virginia and the na

tion." So marked an act of revolution is it, th it, unlike the emancipation proclamation, it 13 not sought to be justified by its authors on the pre tence of military necessity Its passage oy congress and approval by the President betray, even more than any former net of Congress or ot the President had " betrat ed. the deliberate purpose of the Administration and the political majority of Congtess to t-et aside the Constitution, and establish upon the common ruins ot the Union and the sovereignty of the States a revolutionary Government, monarchical and military in its character, and iu which all the great guarantees of civil liberty, recently so recklessly assailed, will be known no more forever. 4. That while we condemn and denounce the flagrant and monstrous usurpations of the Administration, and encroachments of Abolition ism, we remain eo.ually hostile to the Southern rebellion: that c regard the doctrine of seces sion ns a ruinous heresv, unwarranted by the Constitution , and destructive alike of the securi ty aud perpetuity of the Government and peace aud liberty of the people. 5. That peace, fraternal relations and political fellowship should be restored among the people of the btates; that the best interests ot all, and the welfare of mankind, demand that this should be done in the most speedy and most effective manner; that we hold our federal organization should do justice to all, nnd injustice to none; that "State Sovereignty and National Union" is the only true safeguard ol freedom, and we pledge ourselves to uphold both, as our hope in peace and our defense in war. (j. That weeirnestlv recommend to our fel low citizens evervwhere to observe and keep all their lawful mid constitutional obligations, not only as a matter of duty and saletv to all, but that ihev mav not be reproached iu history with having been j.ui!'y of the same crimes they con demn in others. 7. That it is to the people we inu-t look for a restoration of the Union and the blessings of peace, nnd to these ends we should direct our eame.-t ind honest efforts, and hence we are in favor of the assembling of a National Conven tion of all the States, at Louisville, Kenfucky.at the earliest practicable period, to so adjust our National difficulties that the biates may hereafter live together in harmony, each being secured in the rights guaranteed respectively to all, b our fathers. 8. That we respectfully recommend to the Legislature, now in session, to appoint a snitable number of able and discreet men as commission ers to communicate with other States, and the Congress of the United States, inviting their co operation in carrying into effect the object of the preceding resolution. 1). That we earnestly recommend a cessation of hostilities, for such jeiitd as nut Ire necessary to allow the peop'e of the North and South to express, through a National Contention, their wish for peace and a ruainfen irce of "the Union as it was, under the Constitution as it is.'" 10. That the General Government has no power under the Constitution to tax Ihe people of the State of Indiana lor the purpose of raising nioi.ev with which to buy the slaves id Southern States, and we now declare, in advance, that all debts contracted, or bonds which may be issued for the purpose ol paving for any suc.i slave?, we hold to be utterly void, for want of authority to issue the 'same; and the S'atcof Indiana will never consent that her people be taxed for any such purpose, and that we recommend to our Representatives in the btate Legislature, and to our Representa lives iu the Congress of the United States, that we. as a part of the people of the State of Indinna, and of the United States, to give notice in advance, that any bonds issued for the purpose of carrying out the policy of the President s ' Com pensated Emancipation Proclamation, will not only be in violation of the Constitution, but also in violation of Ihe will of the people, and that thev will be repudiate 1. 11. That we are for our country, for while men and white men's rights: that we are unconditionally opiaised to Congress vol ing another man or another dollar for the prose cutiou of the war for any other purpose than lht firt- declared bv Ihe President and that its fur ther prosecution for the purposes so far evidenced will be in utter violation o' the Constitution, of his repeated declarations, and iimiolation of the oath which he took upon himself on the 4th day of March. 18(51. 14. I hat any enort on the part ol any person or persons, t induce negro immigration into Starke county will be resisted bv all the means eunranteed bv the Constitution of the State of Indiana; and that we appeal to our State Legis lature now in session, to introduce such meas ures as will compel an enforcement of that clause in our State Constitution which provides for the prevention of negro immigration to the State 13 That in our able ami talented Representa tive in the State Legislature, Mr. A.O.Packard, we have the most unlimited confidence; nnd that his integrity and unflinching devotion to the Constitution and the Union, demands and re ceives our unqualified approbation. 14. That the election to Congress of Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks for the long term and lion. David Turpie for the short term, receives our hearty indorsement; and that we regard the elections ns "eminently fit to be made," and that the Legislature evinced true wisdom in the choice of the-e champion advocates or white men's rights, to lepre-ent the people of Imli.ma in the U-S Senate in this hour ol our country's peril 15. That the Chairman be instructed to trans mit a copy of the proceedings of this meeting to e-ich branch of our State Legislature, with the request that they give them a respectful and de liberate consideration. Imme-liately upon ihe adoption of these reso Unions, Mr. IJeitty (Republican) arose nnd said that although he might be ruled out of order, he would like another vote on their adoption, ns there were some of the resolutions for which he could cheerfully voe, while for some others he could not; and on motion id Mr. Berry the previ ous vote wan reconsidered, and a motion prevailed to give the Republicans mi opportunity of showing where they stood on the resolutions, aud that a fair understanding might be hail, each resolution was read and voted upon separately, and adopted almost unanimously amid the wildest shouts the higheH vote against cither of the resolution being steen, all Republicans. J. A. Berry now being called for, responded in a few well timed icuiarks, nnd then read to the Convention the address of the Stute Cen'ral Com mittcc, recommending the formation of Demo critic clubs, with crcx nooits to all. thnt our enemies might ne in and participate in the discussion d the (juetio.is at issue; and followed the re iding of the address with an eloquent mid able speech of some length, exhibiting true patriotism throughout, making many fine hits nt the imbecile conduct of the Administration nt Wash iiigtoti, and nt the corruption, egotism and selfarrogance of Gov. Morton, resolving, in couclu sion, that he, together with the noble Democracy of Starke county, that has ever stood firm, would be more devoted to our cherished principles in future, and that we would "strongly band" to combat error, fanaticism and treasou in whatever garb it might come. On motion it was o'-dered that the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Indiana Sen tinel, Plymouth Democrat and Starke County Press, when, on motion, the Convention adjourned sine die, with three rousing cheers for Hendricks and Turpie. II. T. HOWARD. Pres't ELIJAH WOOD. Vice Pres't. Eli Bbowx. c, . T n ' i Secretaries. Joshua Collins Common IMea Courts The question is being agitated in the Legislature in relation to a repeal of the Common Pleas Court, and we notice that the newspapers in the State have begun to respond, and, so far, are opposed to any repeal. Changes iu the organization of courts ought not to be made, unless it is evi dent that such changes would be for the public interest. The Common Picas system was incorporated in the Revised Statutes of lb52, and has been gradually growing in public favor, as the in creased jurisdiction from lime to time by the Legislature fully attests. In the great States of New York and Ohio they have a Common Pleas Court. In tin, late Constitutional Convention of Illinois provision was made for a similar court, showing that she was keeping i p with the progress made by her sistei Slates. A few dollars saved to a great Slate like ours, is not so important to the people as to have courts open, by terms inter enin-r at short periods, so that justice, in the language of the Constitu iou, may be ad ministered "speedily and without delay." State Peisox Osfk kks. The new Board of Directors of the State Prison South, Messrs. Read, Greene and Donaldson, met at JcfTersonville on Tuesday last and proceeded to Ihe dia charge of their official duties. We undestand that on - yesterday they elected the following officers: Clerk John R. Monroe. Physician Chas. R. McBride. Moral Instructor Rev. R. J. L. Matthews. Deputy Superintendent Thos. B. Redmond, of Evansrille. N. A. Ledger.

I'roui Washington.

Caisks cr ErNSiDKf Secoxd FalLl'tl 10 Tkll Fb.LI)KKICKS1'KO ÜIHI DLMOeTATJOX or the InraACTiCABiLiTT or MakeHixo to Richmond bi thiOvubu.nd Route Pbogbim OF THE DlSlKTLGBJkTlOX OF TBK AtHI er TBK Potomac. Special CorrespondrDce of the Chicago Times. Washingtox, Jan. 27. The foreboding expressed in my letter of Jan. 20 (date printed erroueously 22.) respecting the result ot the movement of the Army of the t otomnc which had at that time been ordered, have been more than realized, liurnside's second at- . tempt to Uke Fredericksburg has failed even more completely and ingloriously than the firt. Nodoobt Halleck will seek to throw the odium ot this failure also uiou Gen. Burnside. Yet this second attempt to take Fredericksburg was made in exact pursuance of orders issued by Halleck and Slauton. The preparations for the ck began to be made soon after New Year's Day. Ever since that time these preparations have been carried forward by Gen. Burnside and Ins officers with great vigor, but at the same time with great publicity. The tact that Gen. Burn side was seeking for other fords to cross the Rap pahannock was trumpeted through one ot the Eastern papers, and thus comes iraight to the Rebel Generals. All the oilier preparations that he was engaged in makiuz for more than two weeks were regularly communicated to the enemy, day by day, by the inhabitants near Fal mouth. Every day, from the 3d to the 2)ih of January, Gen. Lee was 'correctly infoi med, not only of the exact numbers and blrength ot each one of Burnside' corps, but also of the move ments that had taken place, the progress of the preparations for crossing the river, aud the pro gress of the disaffection among the troops owing to tlie withholding of their pay: and his move ments were regulated by what he thus learned. If Burnside moved a division teu miles above Falmouth, Lee moved a brigade to a point rjKsite, where the movements of the Union division could be watched; and the Confederate brigade amused themselves, aud keDt themselves warm by throwing up a redoubt, or digging ritle pits, so as to command the foid, if there was one there. It Burnside moved a brigade ten miles below Falmouth, Lee made a corresponding movement with a regiment. And everywhere opposite to where our troops moxei they saw the enemy in force. Gen. Lee's movements, during all this time, were conducted with that judgment which always marks hfs military character. He knew that, wherever our ni my could cross, Fredericksburg would be ihe hmhi of attack; he ihertfoie made Fredericksburg his ei.tial jmint. and kept the bulk of his army there But he kaew that the crossing wou'd not be attempted there a seiond time; therefore hedistributed his force laoth above and bei ow. liut the w bolc line which he uuaided did not exceed thirty miles in length; that is, from Barrett's Ford to Port Royal, tiiteen miles above and filtecii miles below Fredericksburg. And his roads were so constructed 'hat l.c couiu rxjncen träte all his foiceson any given point on this I i l.c in a very lew hours. Besides this, the hi lis along this whole line bristled with iutrei.chmeuts, which his army has been engaged in erecting ever since the 15ih of December, as a relet euce to your tel egraphic column a ill show . ilia arrangements, in a word, were such that, even if the storm had not taken place, even ii our troops had succeeded in crossing, we sh -uld,in all piobbility, have been again defeated. In tlie lace of all these tacts, tliete aie ineu so infatuated as to say ih.it, if it had not been for the storm, Butttsiiie would have t.iken Gt-n. Lee by surprise! Why, to say nothing of the fact that Gen. Lee knew of rvetv moeuient Burnside made, there were circumstances which occurred just befoie ihe storm which prove ih-t, owing to Burnside' bad generalship, the crossing, in any event, w ould have been so delayed that the enemy would have had abuud.mce of time to concentrate his forces, even if he had been surprised. Orders had been issued to Fr.u.kliii's grand division to nd vance by a certain road. Hooker's grand division was ordeted to advance l a road bearing another name. Tlie two grand div sious nurched accordingly, u obedience to their orders. When half-way to their destination, it was found thut, by some queer hocus pocus, the troops of Hooker's grand division had cut into those of Franklin's, and that both grand divisions were huddled and mixed up in disorder and contusion. Either the road had two names, or two roads ran into one, but however it was there were two grand divisions in such o-tifusiou ns to be unmanageable. This caused a delny long enough to give the enemy ample time for concentration, and it happened after the intention to cross nt a certain point had been i.iiinist ikab'y manifested. Here, again, the orders ot the crossing having been issued for the 2ihh, and the preparations for crossing all made, these oruers were count ermandetl. merely because somenejroe came over with a cock-and-bull story aboit the encin v he ilig strongly reinforced at the spot where it was intended to make the crossing. The movement was in consequence delayed twenty four hours. In that interval Gen. Burnside satisfied himself that the information was false, that the enemy had no great force at that particular point, where theie was a good ford, and that, il he had pushed on as he intended, iu nil probability he could h ive effected a crossing He had the mcititication to see, too, that the delay gave the enemy nn opportunity to ascertain his design, ami that they did then actually -end troops enough lo that point to foil his design. So much for trusting to "reliable c uitrabiiids:' Is the Admii.istr.it ion et convinced of the im-plactic-'l'ilit of li t' nvethilid iuu' ; Richmond? Si! jxise for a moment ih.it Ben-side had succeeded in getting his :iin:y at ros- The Bxp ;;tiannock on the h On that niht rbi siorm began. On the morning f the 21st the R ippahannock had lcgiii to rie By ntxm th w.a.er had become a Hood. Wh:t wouMhive I cm the fate of our gallant iirmv? Attacked by the enemy in sujierior force, with II the adiaiitngrs un their side, and wiih a roaring ton en t Itehind them, an army would ha-e been practically annihilated. Our army defeated an 1 cut to pie cs. Washington would have been ngain beleaguied by the rebel hosts, and who can say with wht result? Would Washington have l-een safe lo day? Possibly, for Gen. McCiellan t-tdl lives When the Capital is in peril cgaiu. as it has been twice before, Mr. Lincoln and his Administration will grovel in the dust before that pme mid noble man, aud beg him, on their knees, lo rave them, as he has saved them twice before. The work of the disintegration of ihe Army of the Potomac goes lively on. Two members of the triumvirate rub their hands w ith glee over the success of their s-chemes for its ruin, now nearly accomplishes. The s'limbers of the third aie s id lo be broken by leuior-e at his violated promise, and nl his base ingMt tilde toward that splendid army and its beloved ch el'. But he is powerless to re ist the prcssme that his friends keep constantly upon Iii iu. BuniMde, overwhelmed with pioiiiticalioii and trief, feeling hituscl punished l.-r the part he was forced to take, but which still he look, in supplanting his chief, threw his o nimi-'siou as .commander of the Army of the Potomac at the President's feet. For a moment the Pie.-ideiit thought ut McCiellan. But he is surrounded by the radicals, his masters. He dare not rebel. "McCiellan!" exclaimed Halleck; "I thought we were done with him!" "McCiellan!" shouted Stanton; "not while I'm in the Cabinet. Jo, Mr. President; Hooker's your man. So "Honest" Abraham has appointed Hooker to command the 200,000 mencomposing the Grand Army of the Potomac; Hooker, who is a good General o. division, but w ho is as inferior to Burnside in commanding a great army as Burnside is to McCiellan. No wonder Gen. Sumner and Gen. Franklin have resigned. Fiom McCiellan to Burnside, nnd from Burnside to Hooker. From the sublime to the ridiculous there has been, this time, two steps. Facilit descensus Atvni. There is a lower depth yet, and that depth the Administration will goon find. I he next step will be from Hooker to Carl Schurz Halleck thinks the Army of the Potomac u pla ved out. X. 'lectins of I" Western Associated Ires in litis City Yesterday. A large meeting of the Directors of the West ern Associated Pi cm assembled yesterday at the Bui net House. After the transaction of informal business, the meeting passed unanimously a resolution to call on the members of Congress, by petitions, to take on the excise duty on imjairted rags and paper, in view of the extraordinary prices of rags and paper. It is earnestly requested that the representatives from this State and throughout the West will interest themselves in this matter, and see to it that this tax is removed. The present price of paper is immense and exorbitant, and, with the tax in addition, is working a great hardship to newspaper publishers throughout the country. 1 he request of the Associated Press is a reasonable one, and we feel confident that Congress will erant the prayer of the petitioners. Cincinnati .enquirer. tWThe Boston Post says that Senator Wade is a native of Massachusetts and once a respectable man when he worked on the New York cunals at $1 50 per diem and knew nothiag ol politics.