Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by R.J. Taylor, Jr. Foundation.
About The democrat. (Crawfordville, Ga.) 1877-1881 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 1879)
THE IJEM OCR AT. — — . - ------------- „------ ' m W. tv erttn-itf clLLii A.N, bSltSf C Proprietor. , v. • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1872. Al t.l VTA CITY ATTiiIIM... From our ,* Auirusta excl-imres ' «■« 1„._ leain that Jui.ge . \ illiani Gibson .. . , has been almost unanimously elected < >ty Attorney, ov» r Col. J. C. C. Black, a good lswvi r I and a good rilln man This endorsement Wr P r, ' ‘ fail to be gratifying , to i his many friends, end shows conclusively that those who know him—at home—have the titmo-1 confidence in his Ability ‘ and ii feeritr ■ We congratulate the City Council of Augusta »j|M»n thi*ir choice of «u> able a lawyer to protect and defend the, in terests of their citv from imunaition * * HOK.B. II. HILL'S LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF OEORCilA. Mr. Hill I'a.U Fur ■ VerUIrt. We this wf.ek give , nearly all , out space to Senator Hill’s letter, liolfeving it will be an Interesting document to all. We hnvp not only been t-ir.lv in ladievii.c that tlie (jovcriior did any intentional , wrong, but have taken up his defense. The letter of .Senator Hill, however tears sway the veil, and, unanswered. most Hare the Governor inn . most , uu enviable position, Mr. Hill «ayi: In February last I was informed that the President of the Atlanta Bolling Mill foil, pan v, without the knowledge or authority of the company, had paid to Mr. J W. Murpl.v, a clerk in the treasurer’s office, the sum of eight tlum and dollar* for Ida influence in procuring from tlie Governor the endorsement lo the Sfateof the Im.iuIs of Ibe Northeast ern railroad Coiiipiinv In which ment the Bolling Mill had a large inter esf. The evidence Unit ibis payment had actually be n made was so coiirlu sive that I could not doubt ils truth, and it thus became apparent that the great crime of using putdic office for private gain, which bad grown to such proper i Irani In the General Government and in some of the Northern States, and from w hich our Southern States had suffered so much under cari>ei-liag rule. had taken not in the Democratic admin- 1st rat ion of Georgia. The hiatorv of this crime In the General Government and in other States left no room to doubt that the only way to prevent its rapid growth and dangerous (tower was to make it odious in f be beginnings und utterly crush It out in its infancy. If It could lie located and confined to a mere clerk. and receive the jirojier coiulemimtion of all the officers above him. Ibis single •tance would do but liltle harm in itself, »nd would furnish an occasion which would enable the world to see that the high reputation of our Southern public men and Southern States geveru* — i - ri . ■. Iwption was still mauit.lined, in spill or eli our other disasters stud misfortunes. Actuated solely l>y tins high pm (h.sc, d utv r bv t he ea rneT c< me ' Z o rrin Z g o.'.i n ions andmmxil iHibfio^servalds I* 4 noblest 't. took tUe firat fl?t« report the nreesel v s 1 ti ul reeevw turn ri! to influence^|,taofficla ttm t m i or of e Stute It w s ll ^ r act n tin. Hi s « rdi all'of K 11 ''especially . I, - mimt over -ri'e'isi which nint i. over the rer’s i ffiec l.v l i-xi ss » ,w! man'med f W l nv r .n si.Ii.l sidiat, hud hail managed to lo hoy levy tins iliis euor rnor tw*ibi'**'i’e'isoii "\T.e ov.nnw^o Imnnv .'mwrtuhStv Mraimritalie twlimged to the G Govmiui to a w ply i Iv the the corrective, and thus increase his afiendy kigb reputation lor personal and otlicia integrity. It did not occur to me to doubt that the Governor would take the same view of the and of Ins dutv duty ni.i.-h wnn I jmfge i.i.itr* Triot... 1 ri|>f*i .md ami my-n mva. If entertained, and I supposed that mv duties would end when the information was given, and that the purgation ( ,f the public service would speedily and Vigorously follow. But the Governor d.d not t ike this view of either the crime, or of Ids duty in regard to it. Indeed, "the as the evidence t.Ki plainly straws, Governor did not seem to think the clerk bad committed an net of corrU|rtion .lid not see ttiat lie ought not to pro. tire on bis the Governor's official i.ts for ".in 'that hut called it a lecal fee, and admitted tie knew the rit*rk was in tlu* «iuioi\<oment iiutln it ! \»h\ in no event did the Governor <ee that be had anv con tnd over the clerk of tlie Treasurer or anv dot v to nerfoi in in the matter Shearer unless « in the monev taken In all the cases which the corruptions in our own conn ^ trv h ive "Sin‘n^iKl. brought to i.ght in Hu*last fifteen ta,, occurred in former times in like epochs of popular history. Governor■Colquitt lathe Amt and the only putdic man. as far as l have been able to learn, who lias failed to ms' that such use of a public office for private gain is eorni|>Uon, or who has confounded the taking of m >m \ in such a case with the legitimate prac tiee of the legal prof, ssion. or h. s failed to see the duty of the chief executive office! in such a case. If I *'«te pit.i,I st ruiiglv. it is less strong,v stated then the facts proven make it. and 1 cause I regard the er’-or of the Go\< rnoi in tms.es,xvt as ..ally calaurtous. It is the direct and only cause of all the errors that have f.-dowed, and which have m-ole a (xasenal ci.uie grow in wroa «f until it th;«a!< s to involve the very o'mmc'.T and honor ot the j»ople and state,«f< o'.,rg: . Ths, u>r. for 1« i, -i rime eonimilrixl, ought to 1» mad.- so plain that there can be no danger or'is r. I* lit ion in Hie fnt me. The lnform.it ion which 1 bad ivoei veil, end w eh I faithfully and fully gave to the Governor, embraced not only the main fact that the money bad b"‘ii paid, hut also some representations us.-.! by kl irotiv to dive bis victim in distress to COBSWii to liis hard bargain, and f»x»m which repn-wntat ous. if true, it might U-inferred that the Governor not only knewof Murphy s interest, but was also himself .. .____ t« i<t CTmtv share the . ... spoil. ...... .......... He. there fore, called tbe jmrtie* to the crime before l,im. and the parties only, end thev denied that such allusions to the Governor were made in tlie negotiations, just as criminals have *lw..v« denaxt from ttie foundation of the world—cer¬ tainly from the time Cain killed A tel. 5‘iLt he l , ‘‘ s id, ease, to tbe tl at credit they of the d:d , alV?. .. ** r, ? a,,, U 1 ’i fv !' »■«, , 1 ri fiey did ,. ■ B. . adm.t 5^°. . Vv* 1 ? 5 . .° .', ■. that the « bargain waz made ; that the clerk had received tin* rnoney. and that it was paid to procure tl e endorsement of the tends in quev tiotc. Being assure*} that represtuta tion*. involving bimmlf a » pecuniarily i'*-<0111*1-11, in ten *l< <1. were ire not not made made as as part part of of the the means to accomj >n»,>Jj*b tie u.< main Mjam a a< t t; ; that that " _■’* ’’ *e omcialiy ninieaiced by . . A • „!h. ] m"i ewT : d" i„ fV.m ttJ' e..^, ‘ net I, d ' I ' e ", an, j. , ‘ . , u i f v" in v ’ ... n r ‘ "• “ Wl " . *,..,7 * '*'*?* ti , ,t, , "lie it'.*, i , . 'Lai oeriir bi i 1 itl it I ,d u tr 5' £•»' as a tci 4 ■ '' i t< *'• j nrof.i 1 <**• t and -u ! tl that ai tl the < .' * ‘’‘ a / < n ‘j l*'"' ! nauu* * f v tuf n Km-oiii-icIIj^bv keoi.inn ** »T!! unfortunate bis v^ew rf f * '- v r j. , . L , I* IT* iMNimai M ’ ti tj *. a I, M *. J? a !w . n e / , . *4 from J mil .l a .V!t. 'csolt ™ u ri fmm R r^. tinsattetii(g r | V C **. fr ”? W a . l ,< *' ' V lo <! n,i, tter liecame noised 1 » j lutcrpreting ____ everything ,, said ., about . ... the mem facts ’as slai.de, s and inuendoe. 'uc and malignant, upon his fiersonal k°od name, t he Governor, with strong f P” ,w '<* f, ‘ <iefiM««ciatfon, demanded of the la gislatore ah investigation—not of Mm phy « act. not of tfie corruption of “•>*•*» putdic office for private gain, ", of l' r ‘*ier duty ofthe Governor u,!'n "‘.U,but'only , /if hri’I.wn up n a a SUIMIKIIII.H.. nut only or His own motive and <o,d„.-t in signing the «n i With this Ifinitei coininission l 'i investigate the Governor's conduct m'-rives in signing the liomls ( i Jk«'i , »t whieb motives and condu-t no >»-"w •»» "'vm vi m’h' i. . irioa. 'hc" Tl,'.'vT'i'v,' J h.y have 1 ie l»"ted an opinion acquitting the motives JV 1 ™ of the Governor in signing l,| e fstmis, as they had autlmrity to do. al J* 11 1n iV‘', '!’ 1K ‘ a «>hi Wl l $, il a majority of the . ,IH what they " i® «J*no had no H l ‘ "’! 1,1 do m their coiummsion ; !..'7 . 1 I'epoited ' av, ‘ an opinion that ‘ Morphy was not guilty of «ny illegal ,,r co, 'i u|d practices,’'and that nofnuig wrong nas liei n done," and ' lM> 'J’heral Assembly to so l.ue • »y solemn resolution. " '•coumiend that which was !* i,' 1 •'legal, imr corrupt, nor wrong ~ '»» the most brazen on record ill tlie past—sliall lie J. 11 , !'fi ,'- I't'ortliKe v P''nal enactment this, made in with the ol lout w J'thority, cannot lie found rite records or among the flUs of any legislative txaly now existing, or which '*•* '"’"‘toforeexisted, in any countryof ' y * I'ave knowledge or information, '.'I ,l0 * 'I’)’'"' r<4 *,‘ <! * 'he com J 111 , p ' Knowing the influence brought 'V.", '.’i, , 1 r !’’ ,u . h .V." 1 them, ln 'J I 11 !* know l -* Ui they mot ' did ves ' '' ilt ’"'T Giouglit was iiglit and would IO * '’corgia, and 1 believe no m the General Assembly will •“* ll|IM * earnest than nearly all the gen re »“ “> jf imwever. Ibis report shall tie adopted. Georgia will bsr tlie first State ^o declare, l*y sols inn resolution, that "r' e I s wr ?"« *" ,,sin « for i tc gain and . unless the l ,r Vi, ; [*^* , ** 1 « " ,n «»!«» "'"kmurtly re b " k ', ' 1 nCl 1 T l f'tbm s dulon , a former n.emoralile '«casion, our Mate wall K! d.stmgmshed ''king tin-lend of all otliers m tins work of excusing corruption, and will ''ceom-the .Mae for immunity rogues, and her good name wall he come a bye-word and a reproach among If, J)'' r in view of such facts, I did not for howo r ,,t 1,1 y slaU ' ' » »mW »«t worthy to l lie the honored , representative of an honest people. I i d.miit you will appreciate aud „|, Mrp this anxiety. Having said . this much, , , now fee , , i{ "cmls-ot on me to do what ought ( to I'*’c.msulcrcd miiiim. ssarv ; and that w . , ....... t ) ljs .... .■ '""I’t'.V w ™rrnpt. and why the Governor ought 4° s( ’ have treated it : 1- Public offices are ernated solely for the public good, and those who fill them are public servants. Tn ns» a public office for private gain is to per* vert it from the (impose for which the office is established. Salaries, or regula ted (>crnui„ites, hit fixed by law as com pensat ion for those chosen to till the offices, ami those who take the offices stipulate to l»e content with this run lauisatiou. The office must not lie used as th<» optmrturjity to <*xact mnro, for t«>at would make unrw?ulated oi»twtn nities, and not the salary, the induce ment to take the office 2 Ilistorv if is iSic iinbrokcn XeW in its »Jtn- testi umnv tt.-a a onvate oiin at * -ill the leihit mows to uncontrollable proportions. Tempt a ti. nsmuttii.lv evictions become he "...A, ut burdens become intoleraffie, and the Government will sink hv rottenness unless tlie pc, ode have the manhood to ,, v.dntion r.-e it by violence. The railv rule of safety, therefore, is to prohibit the practice altogether. Experience also shows that the onlv effective remedv f.. r this evil is (ml-fie opium and official d M.ace. The evil is so insidious, and assume* so many different shapes, that inarv penal laws eammt reach it. thongs it may lie and is proper to pro v s udi law s. It is ordinarily so diffi colt of proof ttiat reasonable suspicion oiigt-; to insmv popular condemnaUun. 1 he honest v ot n public officer ought to U> ala.vc detcite or snspi.'ion, else the put.be b.m.ir itself will l>p tainted. T aefore, b d b the purp .s-. of estab lisbiug public o-fices and the uniform teachings of examples and experience i-av c- ..led the a.vep'ed and iinivo-i! - dgment in afi , iviliz.sl Governments that the use of public office for private gain is corrupt ion. mid lie w ho commits it. oris rea^ ma’lv sus;nvted of commit ting it. is regard.-d as disgraced by com m«u» consent. It is the fact of interest, and n >t the amount of inteost, which constitutes tie corruption. Ordinarily ibe gi. at.-st difficulty in these eases is to prove the mam fact the receijit of the monev. 1 n this case that mm fact is proven G vend my dispute. One of the ...................| in -t interesting as well as reliable ....... methods of ascertaining tlv» motives, in tenthms end degree® of a fraud or crime, is to examine and analyze tbe reasons and excuses given for committing it. Inn.....nee, right, a; d truth do not "osort to pretexts or subterfuges; because they do not need them. Fraud, corruption, and crime invaribly resort to i4*t<x*s and suhti rfugts, because they jlways »‘-ed them , Now, Now. let l<t iis ns examine examine the the reaso* reumr^t ven by _ Morohy and his friends, aud] iltich seem to by a<IopU-d l.y ttie Govtfl ll r. to show that this act of Murphy L not conuptbut was courpeusation f galiv recciveil. ^ Vbr fhr 1. They say he (Murfihy) waif aw for * and and recei recei vert ved the th>- money as h- legal t - a ! services servee«. But in fail. a lawyer, and was not practicing law. e ," ,lS a l,lre<1 to do elfrkical ^ ln ,‘ e _ Treasurer s offi^, on a ". t, ^ 60 theT^aon and Income* K, 'r n * e af t pvown. a shallow n **.lawyer, pretext. Bu, even if je had '“♦** that would notjustify * e act. h' for•_! hc iwyers o.li<-e for have private no mo* right !, g4n tlian " tl,ei 'I?! 1 '« «lie ernpkiyed a lawyer fl» P Hill) to do the leg< work and vainetl that service at four Uiitdml 'J" value.. la /Vi; Murphy f 8t s ,>ower and theeiftmateij i^uence ' ^ n ,e place, it is sau! " rp rendered service. What * 1- He £<»t five ex-nu*r|l»ers of 'r (he^Legislature rfy lu ' , '" (v, r,lina: rv good to their m*,,) feeollec- to cer lion, the legislature did notinuiid tliwt the act repealing State aid should apply Northeastern Bail rout. But there is the ,-olerr.n resolution | of the Ugielatore itself declaring 1)1 very same intention in stilt more yiilplii i language, and not as recollection uf five rnemlieis lietter evidence Legislatil^wf than Ae re*o lutiouof the whole Can 1 it he possible that the Governor Wgarded this certificate ns lietter evidence than . the resolution, or as evidence at »ll V Is wlmTe^ecmd whole lecoid than this certificate t Has it not clearly a mere cover V t. Mm pliy. it is next said, made an In the Governor ! Did he make* better one than Toombs, and Brawn, and Jackson and others bad made long • ll ; ,VB wen Govepnor who needs to lie enlightened in his .lutitj, by a j clerk official i duties ltd the of dork understand the the Governor le tter than the Governor himself r Ought not | this pretext tn be insulting to the (iov | ernor ? Where is that marvelous argu j ment V It ought to lie preserved. : 3. Ill the third place it is jinked, is - there any law f u bidding a cl« rk to take j money to influence the Gnvewior? I reply, is there any law forbidding the Governor to take money to infliffimje the Treasurer or tlie Attorney-Aeneral ? Would not that tic corrupt hi? But how is it worse for the cliietwfo take money for subordinate to influence a Ruburrtitwle, than a to take money to in fbtence the chief? If ilie Treasurer's clerk can take money to intlrwnce tlie Governor, why may not tlie * res surer liimself take it for the same mriiose ? Is Hie servant greater, or en itled to law more privileges than his maste f * The does not make corruption -it only presenltes penalties for it. If t. mre was no law to punish larceny, woijlt ; there be “nothing wrong”in stealing? f 4- The fourth pretext offere|| to jus tify Murphy is that the partieswor Satisfied, Mor rill) who paid the money are wc have yet to see whether thaHBrectors of the Bolling Mill will tietwy tlieir trust to creditors by Parlies who pay money for ejtrupt ob¬ jeets are generally satisfied if tl|e objects areaccom Ushed. T e post trader swere to pay money to .Mr* Belknap to influe.ice her husband In Me■ offlejal duties Diose who paid Credit Mob.lier Ht votes '? k were tn ,,lt satisfied ‘ l !^' s 1 of I he thief Priests ?' and LI. ers who paid money to Judas to net ray Ins Cord Were sat .sued with the service. Judas w as honest enough to repent .return the money and hang Inm self. If the thousands of mell ill America who are now bet i R ing the cm.t den-e reposeil in them by using public office tor illicit gain were half as honest as J ut,,w would not need to .damor . for other measures of ivfief. Pretexts and subterfuges, ss q rule, ; are but confirmatory evidence of guilt, but in this ease the pretexts aiid subter X i,«„ mlVou .-<1 -md lmlierous rint ^ C a , lm reg 1,1 ' v as wnfessi s 01 ions, ions guilt, .inn mm ..to inbuUim msuiuno to to sense and honesty. Again; Innocence and truth never make irrelevant issues, but prefer to meet the real issues in a spirit of frank ne-s. But guilt anil corruption and are false ever ready to hide lmliind irrelevant issues, and no case has ever furnished a Irntter illustration ofthe correctness of this rule than the present one. The thief, in Lear, boldly demanded to change places with the justice. In tins case, the man charged with corruption, and his abet tors, equally brazen, have sought to pot me on trial for reporting ami tieirntmctn# tiiecrime. ILis friml lw*onme so respectable that there is “nothing wrong" in committing it, but great crime in condemning if- It will soon lie in order for criminals to arraign Jb'Hndjunes for daring to indict them In the Inst place I am charged with '' l ,l "'l)0*e and a desir.f to injure t 1 c t.overnor ! U hat have { lone li t .............. imii... fi-i ernor to condemn it ? If Khave been t.m zealous in this work, it * because I knew too well the danger of tolerating. . "with the least degree ol allowance, tins worst of all forms of cornptton. and fed too keenly the meffacabh stain that would follow its endorsemeiit and ap P'oval by tfie peopL or theirrepreseiua tives Why should I desire to injure the Gov ernor ? We have Irn co.npinious from our youth. His venerable rather was the friend, of my early manluod. He is the Wood relative of my wife tlie uncle in-law „f my firstborn sm. and the honored t hint Executive of my Mute! How could l desire to injure liin ? Such a charge can have no orgin but in conscious guilt, desper.' telv seeking to hide its. If ladiiud false issues, and its repel it ion would crimson any cheek not paid to apol g/e for crime! And yet 'bis charge has ten so persistently made I lmt the Governor hieself affects to lielieve it, in the face of ftidenee well known niitrutli. to hhn incoiitrovcrt^lv from ,i« .siring jn'oving to its n> far injure tlie Governor, 1 haw most ear n.-stly la-ggeii the Governor lot to injure liimself. and not to injure lu- office and the to Hound, Statebv nnrebuked quietly alhnyui{ m Ins a.lmunstra- corruption tion. It this ;s to pinsiio Inm "with malign passion, he will certainly l*e pursued. I I have have many many fa»lts, farts, but but no no honest man who knowG me will charge irn with tearing malice, even to an enemy. But. . .. if it is mufioUus to . abhor and tight fraud I am, of »' men. the most unforgiving and m.levolent. I would injure no man, but I will make no concession to fraud, and no compromise with corruption, and i' my own In it: er were to interpm>e himself to protect, or befriend, or apologize fir either he would receive blows without mercy. When I falter or become cowardly in such a fight I shall retire from public life. But it is said the Governor had no control over Morphy. This is not true, for he has control over the entire executive department, and especially over the Treasurer’s office, and could susfiend Murphy’s immediate master, the Tre ■ nrer hims* If. if he adopted or t*derail d the fraud of his cl*-rk. But tliis. if it were true, is a pretext again. Therenre very Governo many other ways by disfileasure which the could manifest liis with Murphy and his crime, and either of them would have satisfied me and the (icople. Does any man doubt my re lation to either the man or the crime* Yet I certainly have no control over any executive office. If l had. the whole w<»rhl would soon see how j would orotect the State, without seizing either the swordortlwpu.se, If the good Governor would expend on Murphy, for committing tins crime, even half the epithets be lias extended on me f..r reporting it. his attitude to wards all of us would lie much more satisfactory to all good men. Will any gentleman show roe one word ever uttered by the Governor condeming Murphy or disapproving his crimes. Cf so. I will he greatly obliged, for, from the lieginning, these are the words my ears have lieen hungry to catch. A second false issue is the charge that 1 have tieen actuated by selfish motives— a de-ire to collect a fee. And really our good, intelligent committee actually wasted many days, and taxed the State WUh "" ( " St f T'l' Tr'vi'" 1 inquiring, under the lead of Murphy and his attorney, whether the rolling mill really owed me a fee ! Well, suppose it did not owe me a fee, would that jirove that there was “nothing wrong’’ in Murphy's crime; or would it throw light on the motive and conduct of the Governor, the only question ttiey were authorized to investigate? Did the committee susjiect no motive in this movement to get their investigation under the control of Murphy and his attorneys, and thus divert them from the only question liefore them ? But from the time this false issue was first written out by an editor of tlie Omsti tufma, and read to Murphy and the Gov ernor together in the executive office, tlie Governor has given the jictti fogging of the lowest type the dignity of his countenance and a proval, and oven vet sees nothing in all this but a contest over a fee. Fellow-citizens, you can never know how utterly I dispise afi such personal interest when they come in conflict with the vindication of the honor and character of my State; and if this mat ter of a fee, due me bv the rolling mill for services in the courts, is really in the way of the Governor’s action. 1 will now say that, if he will let ns afi follow his lead in bringing tliis crime of Murphy into such odium that no future clerk or other office will dare repeat it. I will gladly abandon the paltry fee and dis miss the suit. I will only be too happy if, by any personal sacrifice, I can isolate this crime from its respectable avouchers and banish in shame and, disgrace from the shelter of the Capitol, pettifogging, ' . ’ for ; pretexts, - fosnuibbiour. and for fo sub- tifuges, and they shall not avail their authors. The Governor is sadly mistaken again if be supposes the report of the majority „f the committee ends this matter. T1,at re « K,rt l,us '''darged the issue ; that report is nothing but a proposition to make the crime of Murphy the crime of the Legislature, the .........if the Demo cratic party, and the crime of the State, Who is Murphy that the Democratic party and the-State of Georgia should take his sins upon their shoulders ? The children of those fathers, who lighted their torch from the sun to burn up the records of our infamy, will not basely stand idly l.y and permit another record or infamy to b.- made. Tim committee have made a mistake under influences h eh 1 understand -Ji ■ and win h they do - l . , „.,a .. » i .f i'ilv .! ,u T' u, ,, ; le .i t w n,.: ., l Y , V ' tins report, limy . cannot r whitewash Murphy >V ' without hlaekwashing in L'. in delible . stains . • the , fair . , lame ofthe , btate. , i cannot save the Demociatic p.uty by Ittumg d une, wit imiv ny expiismg it. um Hemoerauc metimii in JNew ,ia ' e 8 'own us Uy example how to (tea. with tins veiy crime, winch is tn truth at the bottom ot the wdiole matter. reals ago william M. 1 weed then a very pom man; obtained H, L ,,, h (;e "w city g<neimneut ot New \ ork. He used lus office tor private gain, aim rapidly f increased tl is power iris and Ins ’l, !r S .Tdu.’s ,r n u .,ritv * 1 * \ werenmlinns, . , instnenos . f svpr>‘imiitnufJes, j . J “ ,d " ' y ' aou as uuuueiiL as ms wonsmp oein.u u v« od mune. and n dZXus dangeious to'^nd to ottend nis !Ss w lien at t o ; last ms ci imescomu Sfidm^ionwr no longei • t ■ " • ^i.vi/.r-iV.^ •**VV' will t i,,fvvlo- l?e ' eit ,12 ' ’ ''fed ,'ol ’ s r’ o.! t' 7, -li ! l.i.Tnf i!) wl it th v e ' ,)•<■.'. such men 1 '"'f , . 'y ,\ ' 8 1' , ! kIiT r ‘ t, i‘,m n friends' a , ‘ ] i t |„,, ,. v .' w it limit , , b . n , 1( . tt , r If the Demo putvof New * York had under . Xiideii Tweed .nd i, .d .1., mm-pd ‘ 'ind O’t'unor -f criminals ;IIU , vj!e oa i un IM i ;l to^. pursuing him with , m .lign nuriHise .raced' the party would , i.'istlv , .ig and ' ruined ' ‘ and i ' s so - Murphyism in Georgia is Tweedism in its beginning. Tfie two crimes are precisely the s, me, and there is union in the suiroundings of With strikingly similar. If not arrested and utterly destroyed now, that crime in Georgia will multiply. It wifi soon laugh at optHWition and mock mere (>eiial statutes, It must be disgraced, and all w t apologize tor it must share remedy. its It late. This is the only effective is a ease for 11 pi.pular uui sun wrath. cmurel If not the cruMi^i ytate, distribute the, offices, and apprepriate the Hie h.xes of the people, Even now the et il .n Atlanta is iar^ of and this will case not readily shows die. beyond doubt ' 1 ‘ ” that ‘ this is not the only crime, nor Murphy the only criminal, ofthe , .. ... kind m . t.,e . State. Dies any sensible man suppose that Murphy, nnained and alone, eoiiiu have accomplished what we see was accomplished ? Could any unai’ed criminal have had pajiers defending tiiiu, friends flattering him, great and (so called good men helping him, and a committee of really able and true men making him a solemn report absolving him from everything wrong, in the face of his undisputed and confessed cor rupriori ? No ! this crime bears every mark of experience, of practiced shrewd ness, arid of co-operative influence. Murphy is not the only man who has used putdic office for private gain, and who is growing rich on a small salarv. Like the ancient Hydra, this crime shows many heads already I see in a report to the General Assembly, that State-house officials are actually parties to contracts with the State, and exe cutive officers of the State are also les sees of the State ! If the Legislature will do their duty, instead of sending their time investigating irrevalent issues, trying to impeach honest witnesses only because they tell the truth, and that, too, by the testimony of persona! enemies, aud allowing attorneys ' to fish evidence to try tlnur « a es in court they will not rest until they ferret out all these arrangements, by which State officials are using their offices to enrich themselves, whether by practicing for money on executive duties, or by con tracts and leases with the State, or by other ways. And they will not complete their lats'rs until all who have thus used their offiees are driven from the Capitol, and honest men put in their places who will lie Voiitent w.tli the salaries fixed by law. It vet lie fortunate that these men have attempted so much i> this case, anil, under cover of a good man oil charges which noisKly ^ Vl® f ^ msin hi " ,S r If e ’, haVe sought to secure , leg ■ it lire absolution for the r comrade. If they had been content to vindicate ibe Governor from inueudoes which nobody made, and tliere rested, the agitation might have ceased, and their avocation continued. But to ask the Legislature, by solemn resolu tion, to declare, what no other civilized tr« »< I v has ever declared, that tliere is not hing wrong in the boldest use of public office for private gain that has ever been proven or confessed, will I trust, wake un all good men in the State, and result in bringing tlie whole gang to grief, I know, as few can know, the dan g e rs which a public man must encounter who dares, at this day, to make war on frauds and corruptions in tlie public service. Every guilty man, and every niau who sympathises with or profits by nis guilt, at once regards the war as personal upon liimself, and liecotnes at once that public man’s personal enemy, These guilty men are numerous, active, unscrupulous, and vengeful. They wax fat with public plunder, and are able to subsidize papers, hire detractors, and buy caluniniuators to do their bidding, When tolerated by those in power they are more dangerous than hungry wolves, it ud it is easier for public men to join them or let them alone than to tight them, I was anxious to support the administration ; but when in spite of all my entreaties to the contrary, I found that administration making the authors of the most gigantic fraud of history the favorite beneficiaries of its patronge, I was compelled to denounce such a de of the Government tffut rejufii. iniquity wa« Unit all the guilty parties t-> ...tm-.;,, - enemies, and the edminislratiou itself vvi lid rew afi its confidence. With pride and pleasure I was sup porting our State administration. When I found an instance of glaring corrup U in that administration I exposed it to the Governor and demanded purgation, The result was the author of timt fraud threatened uu very fife in open day, in the signt of his friends stationed as witnesses, in the most public spot of the capital city of my State and residence, ;„ u l without losing the confidence or friendship of his superiors in power, And the Governor liimself still sorts with this intimate friend and Renounce* me as an euemv pursuing him with “malign passions !” ut 11,18 . . ,. " raakc . d'Serence ‘ l wl 110 except . to nerve me for the contest, I well know that without honest ad minlstratio.. good government is i.n IKJS8I ° ssl t,i e {’..nstitutions 1 nsuiucious. however However wise wise — laws, , however just—become but "as S(>uud .; llg brli8 lind tinkling cymbals’ ul dess tney are honestly administrated, The great issues in American poli.ies llow are wdiether fraud or tlie Consli tution slwll be tlie supreme law, and whether rogues or honest men snail con uol tlie government. The struggle will h« fierce, and the issue mav tie doubiful, but my part in it shall be inactive, timid, ,,,. uncertain. For tliis 1 shall claim no cr edil,for l am discharging only a duty u, yon who have honored me with your al,d 1 di '* «ot fearlessly maintain your h<mor and dofemi your ujrnts 1 should l»e, indeed, a .eprobate. 'If we excuse or condone fraud in our State government aud by our own party, W e have no right to condemn fraud m 11 5“ ^ nd ^ a dversarv party ; and lo attempt it will V“' y :Ubje< ; 1 "f l " n, " ck,ry «•«! ridicule, [c , s lH ,,.uh iU lv uiitoctunate that this ............. <a»»i» m ««*. u,,1 « w| ien the two great parties ot the "^'ou are getting ready, alter long ex ceS!k ' 8 ’ tw WH 8*> H'® ii'vatest political »*«le ever waged in American history for ' ef,,nn a,,d lK,,lest m himistiatmn. for tins reason, as well as of its peraonal featuies, t a. tins basgiven me more pain and mortiheati m than any thing which lias ever occurred hi our Mate. I forliear novv to discuss all the facts of ll| e case. I decline even to express ail opinion on some of ils aspects, in view the mauy miserable pretexis and false issues which have been raised to prevent the read tacts and issues from b.ing passed upon, 1 have felt it my duty to present the main facts of tlie iiaiid and the reasons aud motives which have cou trolled me iu dealing with it. J "L,. 1 'L J, l! , , « , li tn f ‘ , uersonallv unkind or ’ * Jn r . )r 8t , or tVelmg or bv anv 0 p,ier than a sincere and deter nrlie< } one to maintain the honor of the . , Jd nurifv the public administra ^ , g a will be to the end, an un falsehood, aud no man can t0 one act 0 f ra i ne which can p. ll[iate it _ All these pretexts, sub terfuges and personal charges against myself constitute nothing but a plea of fared bv conscious infamy to hide its own deformity behind its owiw calumny, and I shall make this so plain in the future that no man shall doubt it. And now, fellow-citizens, I close this address by expressing in a few brief words, all the pith and marrow of this whole case : Murphy committed a fraud on the office of the Governor, and I reported that fraud to the Gove'nor. There u(>on the Governor treats Murphy as his friend, and denounces me as bis enemy ! Murphy introduced into Democratic Georgia the first known instance of that form of corruption which, in other States and in the Federal Government, has done and is doing more than all other forms of corruption to disgrace our politic*, to irn over sh honest people, to enrich official rogues, and to threaten our popular institutions with ignomini ous shame, rottenness and ruin. Mur phy boasts of his act and defends it; the Governor excuses it; and I denounce it. < in this issue the demand now is that Murphy shall lie justified, tire Governor shall be sanctified, and I shall be immo lated ! It is pleasant now, as it has often l>een pleasant through many trying ordeals in the past, to know that the people must render the verdict, before the rings, i>oiiticians, and sensational mendicants can execute the sentence Your fellow-citizen, Benjamin H. HrLL. ■Washington, D. C., January 7th, 1879. ______________ ____ Jl TT’PTTr aW iiU A TlTnrt3 V JjifVliwJjDtLfjI'l l T , TC!TrtjrTi , 'Kr r X T , <! O. -= January 1st. 18*9. MAPPHOUSE Greenestoro,’ Ga. f HAVE taken charge of the above named Hotel, alreauy so renowned for con venience m'dgemy^rfto comfort and neatness "tupto and I keep table supplied itshigh reputation by keeping my with the best the market affoids, attention t, l e comfort ot my guests and politeness and i . reas^nabl'e^BvThis^mk^^f . sndVeeeive lilJral conduct hope to merit a share u f the public pat .> rage. A trial is solicited. Jau.l7,l87>j.t-o-o. L. AGREE, aaV." BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS Choice Seeds. Ac. By Mail, 8 For Al.00 w.' mail postpaid, eithrr of 5 following Collections, all choice varie- | , ties. 20 Verbenas, or 8 Ilelitrnpes, f f 8 Geraniums, or !• Fuchsias, L 8 Coleus, or 8 Hoses, Chrysanthemums, 9 j^or : 4 Ivies, or 8 House Plants, 10 assorted Green i £ Air 8Gladioulus, 24-Sc, 12-10e, or 8 pkts. Doulde Garden Tuberose,^ Seeds, 1 or !,ior 24 (>ackets choice Flower Seeds. 7 ,{ a-ircular, with additional Oollec- ■J »tions fl mailed to applicants, Sj(Local EDW’D J EVANS & CO., Agents Wanted.) YORK, PA. « Jan.l7,j-nn__ Johnson’s Anodyne this terrible Linimiment will posi¬ will tively prevent terrible disease, and postively prevent this disease, and will Information positively that cure will nine cases out lives of sent ten. save many free by mail. Don’t delay a moment. Pre ventation is better than cure. Sold Every¬ where. I. S. JOHNSON & CO., Bangor, Maine. ------ -B.'aiJPATia M'.AT. Crawfordville Academy. lyAVINGbeen Academy, elected I Principal of the Crawfordville beg leave to in¬ form the public that the exercises of the School will he resum'd on Monday, the 27th inst. It will he my object to teach all pupils intrusted to me thoroughly and care¬ fully. and I solicit a liberal share of the public, patronage. C. T. BuGi,S, Rector. Jan.17.1879.t-oo. Convent School. Under the Supervision of the SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH, Sharon, Taliaferro Co., Ga. T respectfully HE SISTERS inform OF the ST. public, JOSEPH that would their School, at Sharon, Taliaferro county, Ga , will re-open Feb. 1st, 187)1. Thanking their friends for past patronage, they kindly ask a continuance of the same, ami assure their patrons that every effort shall be made to improve Terms. the pupils entrusted month. to tlieir care. $1 50 per l-if' A reduction will be made for several members Extra of the same family. made for 1-4T chaiges will be Music and French. Jan.l7,n-t. THE BRINKLEY A High School for Boys and Girls, Situated two and a half miles from NORWOOD, GEORGIA. Sprmg Term Opens January 20th. S. G. BRINKLEY, Principal, and „ Instructor , , M1 *£ m Utru.uental V.^al Musks and Teacher Music tuition twenty, twenty-five, or thirty (1()1 , ars according to class. Music extra, B.ard in private families at seven dollars per month. For particulars address the P^'P a b ‘ n Nor W, G». kind opi lit® no- Tarin agij « fVm M RS . A . E. SHIELDS those begs who leave have to pu- in¬ her patrons an Term pii s to send to school, that the Spring 13th of Jan of tier school wilJ begin on the uary, 1879. She returns thanks for past patriuiage, ami solicits a continuance. »>e SJmie bra ’sSSTl thepresent veer, to wnd their children at the earliest possible time. MRS. A. E. SHIELDS, jan3,-o-t Sharon Institute. Business School for Boys and Girls .* IT. E. — supplied. ^ P*illCipil. — . ■ ■ ST Assistant nTHE 1 Spring Term of this Institute, for 1879, for Six Months, will begin on MONDAY, JASUARt 13th, 187». gr’ Good board from S8 to $10 per month, For particulars address ’ 10 J V E S har^b Gs. Bleaehings from 5 cti to 15 P^V^rd
