American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-01-04

Mr.. Editor;-Your courtesy will not re-
fuse me a space in your columns, for the pur-
pose OF indicating the action of the Board
of our City Council in reference to the loca-
ton of the Penitentiary near the city of Cam
ton. plain statement of facts will be sufi-
cient, not only to disarm your generous ma
ture of all opposition to the action of the city
authorities tie question. but will, 1 am
pursuaded prompt the withdrawal of strict
ure FOUNDED upon misinformation) which ap-
peared in your issue of Dec. 81.
The action of the Board of Aldermen was
not hasty and inco nsderate as implied in the
article referred to, neither was it taken with
out due regard to public opinion, and a prop
er effort to obtain public expression on the
subject. After free and full discussion of the
question in council assembled, and weighing
the arguments pro and con, this body, altho'
convinced of the vast Importance and advan-
| tages which would accrue to our city from the
| location of such an institution in our midst,
yet regarding themselves rs but public serv-
| ants, deemed it advisable to call a mass meet
| ing in order to feel the public pulse the
subject. The meeting but meagerly at
tended, too meager to justify any action
Within few days thereafter the Board of
Inspectors, accompanied by the Governor.
visited our town with view to canvass its
claims to the projected institution. A regular
meeting of the City Council was held on the
evening of their arrival, at which was passed
a resolution donating five hundred acres OF
land as an inducement to locate the institu-
| ton in our midst.
! The article alluded to shows that you Ia
bored under great misrepresentation of facts
with reference to the expenditure of public
funds demanded by the occasion. The Board
felt that as the representatives of an enlight-
ened and courteous people, it was their duty
to offer to the Governor and his party the re-
spect demanded by their dignity; and accord
ingly appointed a committee to extend to them
the inequalities of the city, and to furnish
them such facilities as might be necessary, to
further the object of their visit. All this was
done, and to cover expenses a contribution
of SIS 90, was levied upon the public trca-
sury, and yet We hear it 'wrung upon the
changes" that the Board squandered not less
than $3.50 90 of the peoples money in wine
ing and dining 1t is not improper to state
that our fellow townsman, Mr.. Kemp, General
Agent Of the Railroad Company, courteously
furnished the Governor and his party a con-
veyance-fIee of charge-up and down the
road, to survey and select suitable site fol
the penitentiary.
So much for the "penny-wise and pound
foolish outcry about reckless plumber of the
public treasury. Having thus stated the facts
in relation to this transaction, my original in
tention is fulfilled. 1t will, however, be graft.
flying doubtless, to all who feel interest il
the prosperity of our town, to know that the
Inspecting Committee, after duly weighing
and comparing the claims of the different can.
didates for this great institution, cast theil
votes for our beloved Canton. 1t only re.
mains for the Legislature to ratiiy the decis.
ion. Then may we expect to see our town
inspired with new vigor, and marching for
ward with giant strides like strong man tc
run race" We are glad to know that what
ever opposition was made to the establish.
ment of the penitentiary in our midst, wher
the question was first agitated, has yielded il
a great measure, to a consideration of tho
manifold benefits that would accrue to every
department of business. Ii.