The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-12-17
Gov. Browns ADMINISTRATION.

In the two preceding issues of the
CITIZEN we have published lengthy ex-
tracts from the jackson Wing C Tribune,
reviewing the administration of Gov.
Brown. The review was written not so
much in the interest of Gov. Brown, as
in the defence of a democratic admins
tration, which has done more for Ten
nessee than the enemies of Gov. Brown
are willing to cOncede. The review is
an impartial one, and only does simple
justice to Gov. Brown, which is more
than any of the opponents of democracy
and few malcontents within the party
lines are willing to see done. The Wing
81 Tribune article concludes as follows
GA great responsibility now rests up
on the Democratic party of the State
and upon the next Legislature which
represents that party. The Democrats
have now carried most of the Northern
States upon the suppOsition that the
Democratic party in the South, as a par
ty, intends TO preserve good faith, and is
determined to maintain State aud ma
tional credit. If it should turn out that
the Democratic party was practically
Funsound on this question, which we can
not believe, and should permit the credit
of the State to sink in its hands, nothing
would tend more to paralyZe the efforts
of our friends in the Northern States
and to strengthen the Republican party
in these States, for nothing is more sure
than that no party which advocates or
sanctions reputation can ever get. con-
troll of this government. Gov. Browns
course on this question, as well as on
other questions, has done much towards
securing the brilliant victories gained by
the Northern Democrats in the recent
elections.
pENITFNTIkRY LEASE
In regard to the penitentiary lease
only q few words are necessary.
| Whether the present system of peniten-
tiary management is the best that can
be devised, is not the question now to be
discussed. Gov. Browns administra-
| ton has made better arrangement in
regard to the penitentiary than was ever
before made.
The penitentiary had from its COM
mencement been source of expense to
| the State. AS early as 1858, Gov. John
! son in his first message said in regard to
! it: "Upon a close examination Of all
the items properly chaTgable to that in
stitution, after giving full credit for all
that it is entitled to, there will be found
a deficit of not less than hundred thou
sand dollars, probably much more. 1t
| will take but little investigation Of this
subject to satisfy any reasonable mind
that the penitentiary system eXerts no
! beneficial influence on society, either in
or out of the penitentiary, and that it is
now and has been an incubus on the
Treasury and will likely so continue,
unless the whole establishment under
goes a thorough change" Whilst the
| Republicans had control of the State
Government, this institution cost the
State on an average $4,000 per annum.
1t is true the Inspectors at one time
reported profit of $4,000, but on an
examination by committee of the Leg
islature, it was found that after making
all the proper charges, that there was a
deficiency of $3G,0l1 :9S. These same
Inspectors leased the penitentiary at
$33, 900 per annum, which lease was ap-
] proved by the Governor and sanctioned
by the Legislature. 1t is true that after
the subject had been discussed for more
than a week, proposition was sent to
the Legislature through Mr.. II. Vaughn,
Representative from Davidson county,
offering $4,000 more per annum than
what had been agreed upon, but Mr..
Vaughn when asked if he could and
would VOuch for the solvency OF the
parties making the proposition, he
said he could and would not, and he,
himself, voted against the motion to
postpone the consideration of the sub
ltCI lOI u week. anu lAlCll NOlGu 10 COLI
firm the lease with all the facts before
them. There are now fewer convicts, in
proportion to the number in che peni-
Tertiary, engaged in mechanical pursuits
than ever were before. That Gov.
Browns administration has made a bet
ter disposition of the penitenJiary than
ever had been made, cannot admit of a
doubt, and this is saying great deal.
| LAwLEssNEss AND ITS SUPPRESSION
Fewer outrages have been committed
I during the last four years, than during
any four wears since the war. When
the agitation of the Civil Rights Bill had
iRfamed the minds of the negroes so as
to make them use such language and be
guilty of such acts as excited some
white persons so as to cause them to
commit acts of violence, Gov. Brown
pursued such determined and energet-
ic course, as not only to command the
admiration of his party friends, but the
applause of Senator Brownlow and the
approval of President Grant, as appears
by the following extract from his official
letter:
81 will state, however, that it is very
gratifying to know that the State aI-
thOrities of Tennessee are disposed t
suppress and punish class of lawles;
= acts so dangerous to life, and SO opposed
to every political, financial and moral
. interest of the State"
: This conduct on the part of Gov
, Brown did much to restore confidence
in the Northern States, and to turn bach
, the tide which was setting so strongly
} against us for few weeks after the af,
; fair at Trenton. The State of Tennes-
see and the whole South owe debt oil
gratitude to Gov. Brown for his prompt
decided and fearless action at that time
AGRICULTURAL BUREAU,
During his administration the Bureau
of Agriculture has been established with
the warm approval of Gov. Brown, The
amount of good that has been done by
that Bureau and its able and efficient
F, Secretary cannot be fully known in
many, many years. Never was money
more wisely expended than in the es