Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-01-02
GOV. EDWARDS-THE STATE
BONDS.

i. ,.....,.ra ea BONDS. o. .... a..... =.
in We published resolution a week or
two SINCE introduced into the House of
Representatives by Mr.. Bay. calling on the
Governor for information relative to the
sale of the State bonds, authorized by an
act of the last Legislature. The Governor
has answered the inquiries contained in
the resolution, in a message making some
fifteen pages, ordinary pamphlet size. We
have not room for the entire message, but
make few extracts, which give the in
formation called for, and the Governors
reasoning TO show why he appointed him
self. After considerable talk and reasoning,
peculiar to the Governor, assuring the
House that, notwithstanding he holds the
originator and introducer Of the resolution
in the utmost contempt, yet he finds no
fault with the House for adopting i'll he
proceeds:
The resolution Of the House requires, first,
GALL information" which may be in possession
Of the Executive about the bonds in question (;
and, next, il requires certain other parts Of the
same information and other matters "particu~
larly" Answers to the latter par, will be
first given, being those which seem to be most
eagerly sought by the mover Of the resolution
involving the sum OF "sx hundred and TWEEN
ty.five" dollars. Answers to the former will
be last given, being that portion which the
House seems most to requlre-Involvng the
management and disposal of two hundred and
fifty>thres thousand two hundred and six,y-one
dollars worth Of State bonds and the proceeds.
The Executive is asked, then, "parlicularly;
who he employed as agent to negotiate the sale
of said bonds" To this, he answers, "particu.
larly," that he employed no body as agent to
negotiate ihe sale of said bonds. The mover
of The resolution does not ask "partIcularly,"
who did negotiate q part, and who attempted to
negotiate a sale Of the whole Of said bonds, and
who has continued TO attempt to negotiate the
sale up 10 this time; but, as the House is ask
ing for the information for the public good, none
which can be communicated, which will be OF
use TO them, will be withheld. The answer,
then, is, empha,ically, but most respectfully to
the House, that the sale, exchange, and redemp
lion Of the bonds id, quesiion, was undertaken,
and has been managed by the Executive in per-
son. itiIlr.f sir.y,' =. .-1. H.ly .-a-.
1t docs not appear from the resolution, in so
many words, yet it is now we'll understood, that
tive, first, upon the ground, that he had no
power to discharge the duties in reference to
The bonds III person, and second, that he had no
power to make requisition upon the Auditor
Of Public Accounts, for warrant on the Trea-
sury 10 pay the expenses. A reference to the
law, will probably settle both Of these points.
The error into which some Of the public papers,
as we'll as the mover of this resolution, has fall
len, seems TO have consisted simply in wholly
overlooking the first section Of the law, and in
fastening their attention exclusively upon the
sixth. .. t-.fr l..-T --.E -...,-r
The first section Of the law referred to in the
resolution of the House provides SHAT the Gov
ernor Of this State is hereby authorized 10 ere
cute and sell the bonds of this State, to an
amount not exceeding the amount Of such bonds
Of this State, as bear interest at the rate of ten
per cen,um per annum, and are redeemable in
the year 1916, and he shall apply the proceeds
of the bonds 30 executed and sold under this
act, to the payment or redemption Of said ten
per cent. bonds, redeemable in the year 1896"
But it may be answered 10 all this, that the
sixth section Of the act referred TO, provides
that "the Governor is, hereby authorized 10
employ such agent as he may deem proper, TO
negotiate the sale" Of said bonds. To this, the
Executive replies, that he did not deem it "pro-
per" to appoint an agent, and that he never has
deemed it s'Propsr" to appoint an agent, and,
that, therefore, mono has been appointed up to
this day. The law authorized him to appoint
an agent only when he deemed it "prOper,'
and never having deemed il "proPer." he was
not only not required, but was probably not
even authorized to appoint one, his authority
depending upon q contingency which never
happened. rais..r
There were many reasons to proven! the
Executive from deeming it "proper" 10 ap.
point an agent; LIST, because the law au
ihorzed him TO do the work in person; Cd,
because, if man wants his work well done,
he should 60 himself and not send an sgent;
Srd, because he did not then believe he had
the power to require an agent to give bond
and security for the faithful discharge Of his
duties; 4th, because, if he had the power to
require bond and security,it was hardly pos,
slble to get an agent to give it for 50 large
an amount, without paying him an unrea.
| sonable compensation; 5th, because he had
| no power 10 require an agent to take an
oath for the faithful discharge Of his duties;
9th, because an agent, even after giving
bond, having taken no oath, can take ad'
vantage Of the law, and act unfsithtully 10
the state, and still discharge the obligations
Of his bond, when alpubic officer, acting
under oath, would be bound TO discharge
his duties faithfully; 7th, because the Exec
utve had no offer for safe and competen,
agent for less Than two or three thousand
dollars, nothing said about security; 9th
because he knew the bonds were % safe in
his hands, a. they could be .in those Of any
| o,har man. orr haranse ha did not knou