The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-31
Upon receipt of this, Dr. Canisius ad-
dressed the following letter to his excel
lency.
COMMISSIONERS OFFICE,
y 4 ..


Joliet, August 20, 1874.
Gov. j. L. Beveridge, Springfield. Ill.
DEAR SIR-Your letter dated August
IS, informing me that you would be pleas
ed to accept my resignation as commits
sioner of the Illinois state penitenhary,
came duly to hand this evening.
Our past official and personal relations
having been of such pleasant nature. |
surely do not ask too much, governor, if l
respectfully request Of you to communi-
cate to me. at your earliest convenience,
the reason or cause why you desire my
resignation.
In complying with my request, you will
oblige, yours truly, I. CANIsIUs.
This letter had hardly reached Spring
field when the announcement Of the remov-
al of Messrs. Bane'and Canisius was made,
as follows:
STATE OF ILLINOIS, EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
SPRINeFIKID H.. August 81 1874, !
Hon. G, ii. Barlow, Secretary of State:
SIR: hereby remove Moses Bane, and Theo-
dore Canisius from the Office Of Commissioners OF
the Illinois Penitentiary for neglect of duty; and |
hereby appoint as SUCH Commissioners Joseph W.
Wham, of Salem, Marion county to succeed Moses
NJ. Bane, aud Woodbury. NJ Taylor, of Chicago,
Cook county to succeed Theodore Canisius, their
commissions to bear this date.
JOHN l.. BEvERiDGE, Governor.
In Justice to himself, DR.. Canisius ad-
dressed the following letter to the COVER
nor.
PALMER HOUSE,
CHIC AGO, August 20, 1874,
His Excellency, Governor J. l.. Beyeridge, Spring
field, Illinois
SIR i was not little surprised when
] to-day found in the Chicago Erening
Journal the announcement of the removal
of General Bane and myself from the of
flee of commissioners of the Illinois state
penitentiary and what surprised me still
more is your statement that you removed
us for the reason that we have neglected
to perform our duty as commissioners OF
the state prison.
If this is true, you then, according to
my opinion, also ought to have removed
Colonel j. NJ. Southworth, the other mem
Der of the board. who shared every duty
with US and had voice in every measure
passed by the board, consequently is equal
ly guilty with us, If your charge is just.
The fact that he was not removed shows
the f1msness of your excellency's excuse
Tor our removal.
1t appears to me that your excelency
has with undignifed haste seen fit to give
the reason of our removal to the public,
through the newspapers, when the law re-
qulres only that the removal and the
cause thereof shall be reported by the gov
ernor to the next general assembly" (See
Gross Statutes, 1912 chapter s. | do
not complain of this action, though unusu-
al but having reported the cause of our
removal to the public, instead Of waiting to
give it to the general assembly as the law
directs, every consideration of justice aud
far dealing demands that you now give to
the public the specifications ON which said
charge is based We can then be heard
In our own defense. Very respectfully,
THEODORE CANIsIUs.
COMMISSIONER BANE AND THE GOVERNOR.
At the same time that DR.. Canisius re-
ceived his notification, as above, General
Bane was in receipt of a similar document
as follows:
STATE OF ILLINOIS, Ex. DEPT.. |
SPRINGFIELD, ILL, Aug. Is 1874.
Gen, NJ, NJ. Baue:
SIR: shall be pleased to accept your rcsgna
ton commissioners Of the Illinois state pcniIen-
uary. Yours respectfully,
JONI L. BEvERIDGE Governor
GEN. BANE's REPLY,
COMMISSIONER OFFICE.
ILLINOIS STATE PKNrCENTIAgY.
Gov, Jo L. Bcvoridge
SlR-l our communication of the 18th
instant was handed me as was starting to
CarGnviile to look after a suit at law which
the board had commenced against Mr..
huggins, for claim which the peniten.
tiary holds against him, and this is my
hrst opportunity to answer the request you
make upon me to resign" my position as |
Illinois state penitentiary commissioner.
The pleasant official aud personal rela-
lions that have hitherto existed between
US justify me in asking of your excellency
the reason for thus requesting me to re
sign; tor can assure you, governor, if
there is good reason for your asking my
resignation, | shall at once comply with
your request, Very respectfully,
NJ. NJ. BANE, Com'r.
To this the governor made no reply, but
issued his letter to the secretary of state
the next day (which will be found near the
head of this article) removing Gen. Bane
and DIR. Canisius, whereupon Gen. Bane
wrote his celebrated letter which appeared
In our DAILY Of the 29th, and will be found
In the WEEKLY of this week.