Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-07-07
The New Pcniicntiary.

The report that Governor Willard has
refused to sanction the location of the new
Penitentialy at Fort Wayne, has spurred
our friend of the Republican, of that place,
into some severe and just comments on
this new exercise of the veto. and has pro-
voked remark in several other papers
We feel disposed 10 say our say, too, but
don't feel well enough informed. Just
how the matter of location stands we CON
fess we don't know. We are not In the
confidence Of the Governor. nor do we en-
Joy the sunshine of the Commissioners fa-
vor. and there don't appear to he much
to learn from either, IL we had the ''nin"
OF all that both know The Penitentiary
Trinity are reserved, and the Governor is
even more So But still it has leaked out
that Fort Wayne is the location selected
by the Commissioners, and it has also
leaked ont that the Governor. after visit
ing all the towns on the line of the canal,
concluded that TT. Wayne was not the
place, and that Logansport scas. So the
| Sentinel says, and what it don't know of
the Governors notions is not worth learn
ing. If these reports be true we must say
that the Governor, has taken a tolerably
steep step upwards, and he may tumble
down ANONYMOUSLY. The location of the
penitentiary was not his business. The
law didn't make it so, nor is there anything
| in the spirit of the act to warrant his sc-
ton. lie is simply entrusted with a veto
power on the Commissioners to countersct
frauds or miscondct, but no power of loca-
ton is given to him. The intention Of the
law is, clearly, to let the Commissioners
select, under check against malconduct.
In the absence Of any allegation of fraud.
or folly, in the selection, a veto is unjust
if be, and IN any case an intiniation..of the
Governors preference is unjusti6able.s 1t
is none OF his business to find sites for the
Penitentiary. That is the duty of the
| Commissioners over which he has a veto,
and beyond That veto he has no right to
say one word. In saying that Bogans-
port is the place, therefore, we think the
| Governor however sensible the selection
may be. is exceeding his duty. W neither
| Fort Wayne is the best place or not we
believe the Commissioners selected it hon
cstly, and after full examination of all
the inducements held ont by price of ma
terials, accessibility, transportation, health
aud whatever else might enter into such
determination. And after giving CAREFUL
attention 10 it, we believe their honest
dcrision should he respected. as il is clear
the law meant it to be, by the Governor.
Logansport may be a better place. We
understand that several gentlemen, inclu-
ding Mr.. Fitch and some other friends of
Gov. Willard. thought so, and bought a
very eligible piece of ground for the Pen
itentiary near the town. some time ago.
| But whether il is or not, it is not within
the governors duty to select it. How the
Commissioners will receive this inthnation
of the royal will, we do not know. hut if
they give way to it after spending so MUCH
time and money in making their own Sc
lection as the law authorized, they are
Democrats. That's all we have got to
say. - -s "a
Yesterday afternoon, VIC understand, Che
Commissioners held meeting, and decid-
cd that the location already made was, in
their opinion the best, and they saw no
reason to change it. Now the Governor
will have to drop a little of his opposition,
or the Commissioners must yield to his
dictation. II neither will yield the Pen
itentiary won't go up. or go on, till the
Legislature mcets.--ind. jour. '''' 90