The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-04-15

decessor, making it uniform with
the senste's journal, and then Hammond
was chosen to succeed Hill. Gov. Hen
bricks thereupon commissioned Keigwin as
Kinks successor, and Hammond as Hills
successor.
Now If the sction of the house in correct
ing the journal of the previous legislature
be conclusive, as claimed by Mr.. Ham.
mond's friends, then Hill certainly has nc
right in the board of directors. But sup
pose, for argument sake. that the right Of
the House to make such a correction be
challenged. Then it becomes necessary to
decide the point at issue by the records of
two years ago as they stand.
The Senate AMI House journals contradict
each other, and consequently nothing car be
settled by appealing to them. The commits
sions issued by Governor Baker must there.
lore be taken into consideration. Is
there anything contained in them
that would serve to show which oil
the two directors was chosen for the
full, and which for the unexplred term? The
dates of the commissions are different, and
it appears that Mr.. Munson went into oifice
in January and Mr.. Hill in February, the
former being the date Of Gen. Spsrks's COM
mission, so that if the governors action and
Munson's acouiescence in it be taken as de-
cisive, Mr.. Munson, and not Mr.. Hill, ought
TO be considered the director for the short
term. Accepting this theory, it might still
be held that Hammond was not entitled to a
place on the beard, as he was elected and
commissioned expressly 10 succeed Hill. The
common sense answer to this objection is
that the phrase in the commission and in
the records of the legislature stating whom
be was TO succeed is merely descriptive and
not an essential element in his election, the
main point being the intention of the legis-
la:ure that be should assume and I'LL place
vacant in the board of directors.
However, If the law holds otherwise, as
the Sentinel is informed il does, then
Hsmmond's election and commission are
void; but nevertheless, Munson's place is
vacant, and, as the legislature failed to act in
he premises, the duty OF filling it devolves
upon the governor.
In any view of the case IL will be seen
that the question does not lie between Mr..
Hammond and Mr.. Hill, but between Mr..
Hill and Mr. Munson. Either one of the
two republicans on the board should
be put out Of it. Which should il
be? If Hill goes out, then Ham
mond should take his place. II Munson
goes out, then the governor should appoint
his successor. For these gentlemen, neither
one of whom bears an uBclouded title ID the
dictatorship, aud both OF whom can not of
right clam it, to recognize each other as di-
rectors and undertake to control the man
sgement of the Southern Prison,
which has already fallen into dis
reputs during their administration, is an
act of the most amazing efTrontery. To allow
them to succeed in it would be to permit
psrtissus to take advantage, to the detriment
OF the state, of the blunder or fraud commit
ted by their friends. 1t would be to have
the hoard OF directors of the Southern
prison captured as piece o; booty by men
with the requisite lack OF principle and re-
quisite amount of audacity tor such an en-
terprise.