Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-04-27
LABOR.

are kIAttlul ever v tue pItStl ulion VI II |
rights Of those who live by honest toll and TO
be acquainted with the merits Of an ndninistra-
ton needs only observation ~ to the manner In
which the executive authority deals with the
property and rights of those it may be chosen 10
represent.
The above reflections come spontaneously to
mind upon reading the labored article published
In your paper of 10th inst oil some one writing
from Jefferson City. under the nom dc plume
of Index" defending the present contract of
the inspectors of the penitentiary. approved by
the governor, letting convict labor for mining
purposes.
Sud defense is in semi-oficial tone, and WAS
evidently carefully penned at the elbow of our
most excellent governor. and undert the sanction
of our worthy Inspectors.
1t il an article designed to suppress the DIS
content OF the people and the press. upon this
important subject. and 3 rsscript OF the power
upon the throne; yet II - feared that TINS MUIR
muring OF discomfort. like the ghost OF the
murdered Iianquo, will not down. And whilst 1t
may seem the late OF folly 10 brush up against
such 9 powerful q~uintet-yet, with II few pebbles
In my pouch, unprepared for such Il contest,
| solitary and alone, like David of o!d. l will un-
| dertake to meet these five modern Goliahs at
oAcs.
Mr.. ''IudeI" is pleased 70 say in substance
that the inspectors. hiding themselves 'sh0rt
Of funds." began, In February. lo,1,t to cast
about for some rxpedlent. looking TO increased
resources" and luckily struck upon the Mecca
of their de sires in the person of one J Is. Price.
with whom they drew up Il contract. permit
ting him to tax. convIcts TO any county in the
state, and 10 work them in any employment he
might think proper;' and that when the matter
.. Co. ubalra h. ,,rnpplfly Hr-
pended his signature aud gave i. his Endorsement.
II would appear from the OF ''lndeN'
that the inspectors ''doub'ed' their authority in
law to act, but that Gov. Phelps moi only WAS
satisfied with The authority, but gave the policy
Of the movement his signature ami hearty in-
dorsemeut. History teaches US that by a etrarG
dispensstIon Of Providence s,n,e men are Old
without the benefit Of experience. and forsetIui
of the private rights Of the few, ara ever looAirS
forward to the rewards they should no longer
enjoy Vt the hands Of the many.
Did not Gov. Phelps know when he gave his
Endorsement to the scheme OF s'nd!ns eonYict-
to any locality in this state. where the contr'ic-
tors might wish to work them. that he Was a.
sumrnS = doubtful authority in law.-With0u
precedent OF any former MISUNDERSTANDING
bread from the mouths Of at least ten thousand
naep. women and children. and striking a bio"
at Que million OF dollars invested in miniLa
lands and property in this s,ateP
And whilst .'Iude1'' would seem TO give
prominence to the fact of the prompt and coraiAI
indorsement OF the executive. TO this inn"'a'
ton, yet. it - respectfully submitted that be
would have done his excellencJ more hom"i
to have denied the ENDORSEMENT OF the governor
than to undertake to defend 1t under suci
doubtful authority as is contained in section %
article /. chapter l7 of Wsgner's statutes.
And with all due Difference to the opinion an.
action oil the inspectors and Endorsement of th'
governor and bis Index, !" IT lie here respect
fully submitted that the act referred TO neTci
contemplated any such disposition OF the iaoo
Of con vets as 10 in said contract OF j. Il. fr'c'
contained. 1t Is here affirmed that the last claus
in said contract virtually admits that no suei
authority existed at thu time such contract wa
made. and the very provision therein i"oIii g IL
the cancellation CT such contract shows III
doubt in the minds of the inspectors and COVER
nor q, the time. Take the Language of SAT-
E statute: 1t says 1.-THE warden shall have HI
thority to employ ANY Of the %convicts outside o
the prison walls in max ing improvements con
nected with tue ienlten,iary. q NJ any otne
labor"
. Now. then. It Is here commended that the word
''st any other labor refers only 10 work /
|, making improvements about the penitcntiary
and will admit OF no other construction. An
. yet this rescript from the throne undertakes t
/ tell the toil,ng llasSes OF THIS 1tata that that la
t means that the murderers. robbers, thieves an
frlons, who nave been convicted " the variot
. counties ofthc state and sent to one common pis'
{ OF punishment. should be converted into one
more perigrinating mschines, with tins VINO
broad territory OF ours MS - local habitation, ar
q that wLen they have driven out the honest toii''
n in one section. they may. qd% ti6if"n., be dunn
ed out by Col. J. Il. Price in another. 'Intsx
virtually says this can be done. II is here alleg.
. that the law does not authorize it. Index
L says the inspectors ''doubted. =" and leaves MS
d Infer that they. under the persuasive influence
Col. Price. we're like the tickle Julia in d.
Juan. "whisperinS 4 will ne'er consent, col
. senten.'n no wonder they hesItated. They Il
n believed, and are here admitted, 10 be honest Al
conscientious gentlemen; yet they doubtless re
h objected the companions OF their victory to who
o they were under obligations for the places tn
d were aiiingI but appear To have forgotten t
fact that, In part. they have a party's regulate
and good name to sustain. As Il democrat sa
ID shame upon the party IL 1t does not, at one
he speak out, anil demand thst this doubtful usu
patton Of authority shall be righted. The dem
cratic party should not be nmlt to Il
h, policy through executive authority.
Now, then, to the apology and defrnse OF 81
+. dex'' Tor this innovation upon the rights of p
vate property and honest toll In this sta.e. w
v HE kaleidoscope he presents to our wonderl
=. case several views Of this noble discovery; l
4 legal View End. A FINANCIAL view; 81. A &C
nn vict vs.. free labor view; +tn. A humanitari
view. Now, then. let Us examine tle sale''
B., saops OF this fore-anger OF the executive &
ey iuspectorial authority, AMI see what We al
Div see. First, In his legal view' he gives Is
glimpse Of the contract with Col j b. Pri
and then withdrsws it forever; and 1t seems
ir, required the power of an inquisitorial resolut
as on the part Of the member from Saline to &c
his view OF this instrument, and that then it was
air in the labyrinths of the on the p'
tertiary, and now Sleeps the sleep that kn'
ca, 60 waxing, and '.though lost to sight
Nv. nem'ry DEAR 'tIndex.'' being so veil
3 of formed upon this subject. 1t is trusted that
lin public may have the benefit OF the publication
said contract, or that ''Inde1'' will answer
on GLOWING inteFroGatisns
ally First-Is not said contract win ). b. r
nan and associates. the associate being Gen. Ws
Thompson, late of Tennessee2
Sscond-was it known. prior to the lettir
SAID contract, that these men were for hire.
rere was there any publication Of auch fact, as
cry for bids for their labor, as is done in the 8,
ON OF Iowa. Illinois. Indiana. and in fact, all s
rork where this kind of labor Is let?
var- Third-Is, or WAS, any bond given or requ
for the payment of the hire Of these men; al
;ity. 80, give particulars; and does not said con
cart come under the head OF what are generally
In . cd ''Jug-Handle Contracts2'
ends Fourth-Doss not said contract provide, .
that said Price and associates shall not be chs
ntle- with lost time of said convicts on accoul
n, to sickness. b~reakage Of machinery, csvini
! the aoodinE Of mines; and Ii sso. who reports the
had ualties, and what allowances have been
or the sane2