The Evansville daily journal., 1857-02-03
VOLUME IL.
FERNS OF SUBSCRIPTION:
Wright and Woods.

The following plain and concise statement
of the case of Senator Woods will give our
readers clear idea of it, and will exhibit to
them, in . most forcible manner, how little
real regard these men, who, protesting reve-
renee for it, have for the most positive prohi-
bition of the constitution. They are constant
ly either openly violating it, or circumventing
il by subterfuges and tricks:
Mr. Woods was elected Senator from the
county of Clarke in 1854, on the Fusion ticket.
AT the time of his election he was Chaplain of
the Penitentiary, at a salary of $50 per an
mum. He continued to discharge the duties
of the office until he left for Indianapolis to
enter on the discharge Of his duties as Sena-
tor. On the Sd of March, 1855, bill was
approved, creating the Office of MORAL In
structor" to the State Prison, and repeating
the former act Of the Legislature. Governor
Wright requested Mr.. Woods to fill the new
Office. and on the 5;h Of March, Mr.. Woods
voted against bringing on the Senatorial cleo
ton. OF course we do not pretend to say
that the creation of the Office of Moral Instruc-
tor or the request of Governor Wright for Mr.
Woods to fill it, had anything to do with Mr..
Woods vote! The Legislature adjourned,
and Senator Woods entered upon the dis
charge of the duties of Moral Instructor to
the Penitentiary. Gov. Wright drew money
from the Treasury, from time to time, in Mr.
Woods name, on his salary as such Moral In-
structor. A portion OF the people of Clarke
county. regarding Mr.. Woods place in the
Senate as vacated by his acceptance Of another
Office, elected ID. O. Daily to fill the vacancy
in October, 1856. The Senate directed its
Judiciary Committee to inquire by what right
Mr.. Woods held his seat, and whether he had,
since his election as Senator, accepted another
Office discharged its duties, or received its
salsry.
The conduct Of Gov. Wright and Mr.. Woods
is discreditable to them as men and officers
The law of 1855 made it the imperative duty
of the Governor to appoint Moral Instructor.
He requested Mr.. Woods to fill the place, and
has drawn himself, great portion of Woods
salary; yet he says in his message that
he had made no appointment Ofmoral instruct
OF; Mr.. Woods made report showing that he
has discharged the duties of Moral Instructor
but signs his report as "Acting Chaplain, ,"when
there is no such officer under any law touch.
ing the Penitentiary! The rules and regula
tions Of the prison published by the officers O
the Penitentiary, in their list of oficere an
n)uncing Mr.. Wood as acting as "Moral In
ssructo'." The dodging and prevarica ton il
discreditable to all the parties concerned. l
is direct effort to evade plain provision o
the Constitution, forbiddng any one man from
holding two offices of profit.
Mr.. Woods having received large portion
Of his salary as Moral Instructor, having dis
charged the duties of the Office, and havin,
held himself out to the world as Moral In
structor, is estopped from denying the legalit,
Of his appointment. He has forfeited his OF
fee as Senator, and if his dodging and squirm
ing in this affair are any index of his habit
of rectitude, it strikes us the Prisoners woul
lose nothing should he be ousted from his po
sition as Moral Instructor? If he has righ
to fill both the Offices and receive the immolu
'm,nts arising from them, that provision of tn
Constitution prohibiting the holding of tw
Offices of profit, is sham, and worse than
sham. If a Senator can accept an Office Gre
ated by the Legislature at the beginning Of hi
term and pocket the salary, and yet be pei
mitted to shield himself on the ground that
was not constitutional for him to accept an
continue to act as Senator, the 30th section
the 3rd article is also a sham, and may b
'evaded with unblushing impunity.
RushuiHe Republican.