Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-10-11
GOV, EDWARDS AND THE PENI.
TERTIARY.

OIL, which had tor It's object the charging
and improving the Peni,entiary. There
was great dissatisfaction manifested in re.
lation to the veto, and many charges of
harsh nature were made against his Excel
lency, both by his political opponents and
friends. Since the close of the session
there has been controversy going on be.
tween the WARSAW Visitor" and the "Her-
add" the Governors organ. 1t has been
asserted in the "Vsitor," both editorialIy
and by communications, that Gov. Edwards
was opposed TO the enlargement of the
Penitentiary because it intercepted the
view of the city from his residence below;
but that he offered to withdraw his opposi
ton TO the measure, provided the State
would give him two certain lots, and sell
several other lots, and apply the proceeds
to finishing the Female Academy in Jeffer-
son City; and also, provided the lessees of
the Penitentiary would make good road
from the Governors farm below town to
the Missouri Hotel in the city. All this
was stoutly denied by the Governors organ,
and the "Vistor" called upon to substan-
tiate its charges-which it will be seen it
has fully done, by the letter of Gen. Price,
copied below. Gen. Price is one of the les
sees of the Penitentiary, and has always
been an active and jealous member of the
democratic party. The Governor is placed
in an awkward position-the charges are
of grave character--they come from
political friend, and responsible source.
How he will escape, or what course his
friends will adopt, remains to be seen. 1t
is dangerous for such man to occupy the
position he does. The following is Gen,
Prices letter;
JEFFERSON CRY, August 9TH, 1915.
DEAR SrR:--On my return home, after an
absence Of two weeks, | received yours Of the
29th ult., which l now hasten 10 answer.
shall give you, if not the precise words used by
Gov. Edwards to me, upon the subject Of the
improvement proposed by The last Legislature to
the Penitentiary, will give you the substance Of
his conversation and proposition to me, as one OF
the lessees OF the penitenLary, and the facts con-
nected Herewith.
After Gov E. learned that the committee ap
pointed by the House Of Representatives on the
penitentiary, had or was likely 10 agree TO extend
the peEitentiary walls across the street north OF
the penitentiary, and between that and the river
and that the consent OF the proper authorities OF
the city had been obtained by special ordnance
permitting The State to close the street for that
purpose, John C. Edwards then came down to
the penitentiary. 10 see the lessees, and have
conversation with them on the subject. After
examining the ground which would be enclosed
in the proposed extension, he invited myself and
Mr.. BIan, another OF the lessees over to his
form house, one quarter Of mile below the pen
Tertiary, and poined out TO US how much it would
intercept his view to the city, and objected to
the improvement on that account. We endeav
ored to prevail on him not to object on that &C.
count; he then said, supposing we were in his
situation, what would we take to have the view
intercepted by the improvement? He had his
doubts il either Of us would suffer it for five
thousand dollars. As to the street, he acknowl.
edged it was OF no use 10 him or any other per
son.
We then separated, and he asked me to call
and see him again upon the subj ect, which
did at bis residence in the city. lie remarked
10 me several times that he had always been op
posed to the present location OF the penitentiary,
and if he suffered any more Improvements to be
made on the present site, it would prevent him
from ever getting the penttentiary moved.
remarked to him that the Legislature would never
move it. Yes, he said, they would, and if myself
and Mr.. Blain would Join him and use our inhu
ence together. we could get the Legislature to
rebuild the penitentiary, and construct it on
proper plan, and locate it in the proper place,
: up the branch that runs south OF the city; and
offered many reasons in support OF bis notions Of
the change OF location; and further remarked
that it would be TO our interest to have this DONE
as the State would employ US TO do the work
insisted the Legislature would not do any such
thing-the State would not throw away the pres
ent buildings, and build new peneniary, and
that ] could not consCienliousiy recommend liz
Legislature TO any such thing, He insisted the
State would, at some short period, do it, il they
would not DO it at the present session, provided
the improvement which was in contemplation
was not made. told him il was useless to at.
: Tempt 10 get them to do it. He then said il
The Legislature would do certain things, and we,
as individuals, would do certain other things, he
would withdraw his objections to the improve.
ments proposed to be made by the committee
He then stated that if the Legislature would
give him two city lots, (pointing them out to me
on the map which lay before hm) and sell Ger.
tain other lots belonging to the pententiary
grounds, false pointing them out to me on the
map,) and appropriate the proceeds to the finish.
ing OF the Female Academy; and il the lessees
would make a good road from his farm below
he tba ,kno,