Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-05-25
THE APPOINTMENT OF KEEPER OF TIE PENI
TERTIARY

point ment Of Inspectors of the Penitentiary. But
1t seems that an explanation, which we shall make
as brief as possible, has become indispensable as
the Banner has reproduced statement by Mr. s.
2. ANEST, which does injustice to Gov. JOHNSON
We shall make no statement which we do not know
to be true from our own acquaintance with the cir
cumstanees or for which we have not the authority
of responsible persons.
When Gov JOHNSON came to this city, about
were more candidates for the Office Of keeper of
the Penitentiary than for any other place in his
gift We ourselves were anxious that the place
SHOULD be given to Mr.. JESSE W. PAGE, because we
believed him competent and worthy as man, and
democrat whom no personal disappointment could
swerve from his party fidelity. We stated our
preference frankly and strongly to Gov. JOHNSON
We stated that so far as we knew, all the appi-
cants were men who would make good officers,
but our sympa;hies for Mr.. PAGE were excited from
some bad luck with which he had met in his bus-
ness which would have made the Office peculiarly
acceptable to him. We urged these considerations
upon the Governor; and he answered US, as we be-
Geve he answered all who approached him on the
subject, nearly a. follows That it was his duty to
appoint three Inspectors of the Penitentiary, and
the duty of those Inspectors TO appoint the keeper
that he intended selecting three competent persons
as Inspectors and leaving to them the appointment
Of keeper, as contemplated by law; that he should
appoint Inspectors who agreed with him that the
Offices in the Penitentiary should be divided be-
tween Davidson county and the rest of the State,
because there was complaint throughout the State
of disposition in Davidson county to monopolize
the Offices, which would be increased if all the
Penitentisry appointments were made from this
county. Gov. JOHNSON considered Messrs AMENT,
SLOAN, and SMITH as fully concurripg in this view.
He exacted no other pledge from them, but un-
derstood them as being unpledged to any man for
keeper. Mr.. AMFNT confirms this statement up to
this point.
The day after these nominations were confirmed
by the Senate, the Inspectors met, and, so far as
they proceeded, elected al the officers from David
soa county-one of the successful candidates be-
fore them being the son Of one of the Inspectors.
Gov JoHxsoN considered himself deceived and in
juriously treated by the Inspectors by this conduct
and, as the time when the Senate might reconsider
its action had not expired, a motion was made to
reconsider the vote confirming the appointment of
Messrs. AMRNT, SLOAN, and SMITH. The vote was
Teconsidered, the nominations Withdrawn by the
Governor, and new board of Inspectors was
nominated and confirmed. The right of the Sen
ste to reconsider was questioned, and. the case
thrown into the courts. The circuit court and az
forwards the supreme court on appeal, decided that
the action of the Senate was legal, and the Peni-
Tertiary is peaceably in the hands of the second
board of Inspectors.
This is an Outline sketch of the Penitentiary
case.
Mr.. AMENr in his letter first published some
thing more than year ago, and now reproduced
BY the know nothing papers for effect on this cleo
ton, makes some errors, which are very material,
aud which are no doubt attributable to the excite
ment under which he labored. He says that, at
one of his interviews with Gov. JOHNSON
"The Governor, Ito quote his own language
asked me il l was pledged to any one for Keeper,
in case should be put in nomination as one Of the
Inspectors l promptly replied that was not
lie said he wished TO nominate three men who
can answer for myself, that was not"
The first part of the above extract quotes Gov
JoHxsoN's position correctly: He wanted the In
spectors to be u1pledsed, either to himself or any
body else The reader will notice this point for it
is material. Had the Governor wished to control
the election, he had full power over it, and would
have appointed men TO carry out his wishes
Mr.. AMEST says in this extract that he promptly as
sured the Governor that he was not pledged. Yet
Mr.. PAGE was satisfied that Mr.. ANENT would vote
for him; Mr.. WHITE informs us that he thought,
from conversation he had with Mr.. AMENT, that
be was certain to vote for him; and Mr.. HAYS has
stated to others that he felt sure of Mr.. AMENT's
vote. The positive condition on which this appoint
unent was made and the positive assurance of being
unpledged, Gov JOHNSON has evidence of having
been violated in the case of all three Of the appli-
csnts This, however, is incidental.
Mr.. AMENr makes statement Of what occurred
lust before the Inspectors left the Governors room
for the Penitentiary, as follows:
s'The next morning at o ,lock we met again at
the Governors room-expecting that ne would 60
out with US TO the Penientsry. He said it was not
convenient for him to GO nor did he think il neces-
ssry-that we could take the papers and 90 on 10
the discharge of our duty. He then got the paners
and handed them TO Mr.. Sloan. Just as we were
leaving, he drew our attention to himself and said
Gentlemen, it is not worth while to disguise this
matter any further ! wish it distinctly understood
that am in favor of the election of Mr.. White for
the first Keepers place in the Penitentary If there
is any blame about it, put it on me, and if Nash
vile and Davidson county don't ike it, they may
go to hell and be damned
In relation to this statement, we are furnished
with the following letter. written by the Hon. CAVE
JOHNSON, who was present during the whole Of the
interview described by Mr.. AMENT, and addressed
TO Gov. JOHNSON day two after the first appear
snee of Mr.. AMExT's letter in the Banner A copy
of this letter has been in possession ever since
it was written but we have not thought its publ
cation before called for:
NASHVILLE Feb 4th, 1854
Dear Sir In the Banner of yesterday I
notice an address signed by SANL P. AMFNT, 10 re-
laton to the officers of the Penitentiary, and tho
suppose YOU will not, as think you ought not to.
notice the same, yet it seems to me proper, as
was present at the time when the Commissioners
left you for the Penitentiary, that should state
that II any such language in relation to Nashville
or Davidson county as is attributed TO Won wss
used by you, it made no impression on nv mind AT
the time, as think It would have done have |
not now the slightest recollection of any sucb Ian
gusge being used. You were earnest in ,o,- w.
ner and strongly urged the propriety Of d;vid;nr
the offices of the Penitentiary with somo oF .Le
applicsnts from the other counties. | nDdo.a.on9
there were applicants from other counties g.