New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-26
BOARD OF TEN GOVERNORS.

BOARD OF TEN GOVERNORS.
special meeting Of this Board was held in the Ro
tunda on Saturday noon President B. 4. PECKHEY in
tAs chair. Absentees, Messrs. Gunther, Wm L. Pink
ney, Smith, and Townsend.
The PRESIDENT said that he had convened the Board
in consequence Of serious charges that had Appeared in
The n. T. TRIBUNE of the 23d instant, rejecting upon
the public and private reputation of the members Of the
Board. In the article alluded to, specific charges had
been made charging members with drunkenness, cor
ruptOn and malfeasance. If the charges were true he
could not associate or even hold public communication
with the guilty parties. The article, In his opinion,
demanded some action on the part Of the Board. He
expected that Governors Gunther and VIM. T. Pnkney
would be present directly and regretted that IN con-
sequence of serious illness Governors Townsend and
Smith would be unable to attend, as he desired full
representation. The Board, the same new as hereto
FORE courted thorough investigation and in order to
bring the matter before the Board he would present the
following preamble and resolution:
hnsLsas IN ank U' sne f.sno .Ts made
upon the members Of this Board rejecting upon their private
well as their public reputation demanding thorough lnVess
Reosed That Committee of Three be appointed invest
gate the charges and ssten responsibility upon the parties
MIR. BRUEEINeHAUsEN-I make as an amendment,
Mr.. President, and to furnish the name OF the
author"
The President remarked that the names Of all con-
cerDed would appear upon the investigation.
Mr.. OLIVER, having attained the floor, said that the
true and that it most outrageous attack upon the
members of the Board. 1t recognized fact that
every public officer whether State or Municipal, wasa
fair subject for comment by the public press. Their
acts Were public property and the press had right to
descant upon them He had been in this Board nearly
five years and he deed any one to say aught in regard
to his course as public officer. Almost every word in
the article in question false and untrue as far as his
knowledge was concerned, and the fasiy of it would
be made apparent upon an investigation. II had been
concocted by some person who was under tins Board
b,to indiv
lend his hand connive at the publication OF such
scurrious article He felt assured that the principal
person who had coDcocted it was one who had been
discharged degraded, and had thus sought, In cow
aroly manner, TO revenge himself Tne article in
question characterized the institutions as dramshops
1t was true that upon several public occasions
wine had been drank upon the Islands, ana ne benevea
that the reporters here at meeting OF the Board
last FALL when the liquor matter was brought up, and
resolution passed to prohibit any liquor or wine from
being so dispensed 1t was aso asserted tnst each Gov
ernor had private closet filed with the choicest wines,
LIQUORS and cigars which he kept under lock and key,
where he and his friends went and debauched. IL wac
charged that five Governors got drunk upon the lsland
an6 slept under the table. This was new 10 MN, ana
he did not believe there word OF truth IN such
assertions. He would say unequivocaly that the
charges were false and be would call for the proof but
he knew that proof coulo be brought forward Inc
charges he reiterated, were without truth, and en-
titled TO no consideration whatever from the public IL
was no matter Of personal anmosy on the part OF
one or persons, who had been turned away by the
Beard for nOn-atention TO their duhes or had been
deersded by being assigned TO inferior positions These
nelson's were desirons of having the law changed
III manner to suit themselves 80 that they could OBJ
tain positions whereby they might control the pubic
institutions. These men had furnished the facts, but
he did not In reality think that the article had
passed under the supervision Of the recognized head OF
the paper. Why did lot the projectors OF the vile
libel pat their names 10 itany anonymous attack was
coWardly. The article though not editorial had been
put in the paper in such way that 1t vas the pro-
perry Of the paper and the propretors he knew were
responsible for it, He knew thai the proprletors did
not write IT, but if there was any truth IN the matter
let ii be made known. Ii was intended to have an
effect upon the Legislature at Albany. Ii there was
any truth in the matter the Board should be abolished
and if his record wac not right, he was willing 10 be
elected. The author Of the article bad done a cow
ardy and mean thing in thus wholesaing away the
characters of the members Of the Board generally.
He then reviewed many of the points set forth s1d-
ing to which ii was said took place between the
PeIitentiaTy boats. He had never heard OF any
boat racing and, suppose, said he, the Cover
noIs fhould stimulate the boatmen TO trial OF speed,
he would ask if it was criminal : The document
would show what he had done, and he for one would
court public investigation.
when Mr. GUNTHER came 10 and asked for the resolu-
ton 10 he again read, which was done. Mr. GUsTHER
sad he did not exactly approve OF the resolution ana
be thought that IT would look very singular IA,
committee should be appointed from theiI own body.
lie thought that the mater should Dc referred 10 some
one else the Common Council, or some other body
with equal powers. lie wond suggest tbs LeglSla-
ture.
Mr.. DUGRo-Thats what was about TO do. Mr..
President would offer the following resolution:
Rsorsd That the Honorable the Legislature Of this s.ste be
requested 10 appoint committee investigate the Affairs OF
this Department. with power send for persons and p.PeTs
He thought that would be the best 70 pursue,
and both resolutions conld be passed, a. there were
some matters there Set forth that Committee of this
Board would like TO investigate. His resolution would
not interfere with the other. At his request the Clerk
had prepared correct list Of their aggregate expendi
for three or four years had been unavoidaby omitted
as the figures could not be readily got at. e desired
10 preseDt the figures TO the Board and they as
follows:
Buildings and Repairs. Support Inms.es.
,sst ............ sc. $40 30 R4l5,sS7 81
40 ---........... 81 Sol 50 4S9 994 ~
&C. $40 % 464 3SI %
49, .. $3.50 20 1864 n about $751;
io.s,''.'''''' 6lB49i 81 617t
lt-o'''''''''''''' 5000 SIS 234 IS 1913