Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-04-03
The Penitentiary Controversy.

For the Nashville Patriot
In the Union and american of Tuesday, find
the following:
lone word Of inquiry. The Patriot pub
fishes with the proceedings before the Senate Com
mittee, a statement from Dr. HALL, one of the In
spectors, with the accompanying remark:
"The above was written out (under oath) and
handed to one of the Committee to be read in evi
dence, but for want of time, that, as well as much
testimony intended to be offered by Esq Paul, was
not offered"
docs the author Of the above paragraph really
intend to say that the published statement of DR..
HALLS eUer handed to any member of that
ntttee, or that it was prepared to be placed before
that committee? When we get a specific answer
there may be another disclosure worth referring tO"
As am personally concerned, beg leave to
answer the interrogatory aud repel the contempti-
BILE insnuation attempted to be conveyed in the
threat Of "another disclosure"
The statement handed to the committee, was
hastily written and when 1 learned that it would
not be acted upon for want of time, called two
Of the members OF the committee and asked to have
it returned but it was no where to be found, (pos-
sibly the Union or his Sir Oracle can disclose
the mystery of its disappearance, failing to get
the original, and deeming it alike due to myself and
the truth of history that my statement should ac-
company the published testimony in the case, | re-
wrote my evidence, embodyiDg substantially the
same cts,-of course it was never intended to be
claimed that the statement published in the Patriot
was the original or even copy, uerbatim ct Ultra
TIM of the original paper for those who distracted
it from the Committees files, placed it out of my
fond OF asking questions perhaps it will be kind
enough to tell US where the original statement is?
and who it that basely abused their privilege by
hlching it from the files of the committee to serve
the purposes of an INSCRIPTIONS party Malignant
And may be the Union might tell at whose instance
this unblushing outrage upon decency was perpe-
trated ? Thus much of explanation.
AND NOW WE CHALLENGE AND DEFY THE THREAT
ENED DISCLOSURES"
In the same column of that same Union and
american, lille LoUsr dOtCn, is a communication
from one w. H. Hagans-which perhaps merits
passing notice. In declining nomination to the
Office of Inspector, graciously rendered him by has
Exceency, he says: 81 cannot consent to serve
with the two Inspectors now i'll Office" I'm the
name of all the Gods at once, on what meat hath
this, our Caesar fed that he has grown great"
But why can't this immaculate appointce of our
model Governor consent to serve? Hear him -
''1st. One of these Inspectors has changed his
politics since his appointment, this then, is the
''head and front of our offending, because we
dared to think and act for ourselves, becomes
freeman, upon the great questions which are agta
ting the country, unfit to associate Wih
Jfr. HdganS. But further land shows u dispo-
sition to erUert the power received at the hands Of
our party to build up the fortunes Of another -
'perUert the powers, &c." does the gentleman
mean to imply that the Governor would have the
Penentiary devoted exclusively to the uses of his
own party? He would be a most wise and provident
Governor truly, and could find il in our heart
to deny the business of the claim. But how have
we shown a disposition to pervert our powers,"-
except by spurning olicious dictation in the dis
charge of our official duties.
But another reason assigned by Mr.. Hagans is
! because the late Know Nothing Senate rejected
nine of the best men OF the country-better men
than claim 10 be-aDd am unwilling to occupy a
| pace lOT "ulCu tHSy HcIc fotcu uuhOTlhJ. "udt
! transcendent modesty Was the like ever heard?
But we shall controvert bis estimate of himself
or Of the rejected nine-the public will award him
| credit for bis discrimination aud candor. He seems
| to "know himself as Others know him" This pre-
cous specimen OF a letter suggests another ques-
! ton we should like answered Is this Mr. Hagans
really so modest he pretends, or has he but open
I ed his mouth that his oracle might speak? We are,
moreover, curious to know if certain capacious
breeches pockets not crammed with just such
specimens, ready cut and dried, to serve the occa-
sion, for an evasion of the law which requires the
Governor to Gil vacancies in the Board of Inspecs
tors, and afford prete1t and passive instrument
for the aspers Of the character Of those who dare
exercise their judgment instead of tamely sub
hitting TO the dictation Of his EIcellency.
! In conclusion, permit me to say that, when Mr..
A1s Brown, the retiring Inspector, shall purge bis
'honor" from the odium cast upon it by a commit
tee of his own party, will consider the pro
prety" Of paying our further respects to him and
( his unprOyoked attack on Us.
B. W HALL.