Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1842-06-11
Eost Feliciaua, La. May 31st 1912.

doHN BUTLER. ESQ.
DEAR SIR In accordance with your re-
guest OF yesterday and in the performance Of
what l deem but an act OF justice 10 you !
submit the following statement: Viz.
Soon after the rejection of your nomination
for the ofFits of Sheriff Of East Baton Rouge,
by the Louisiana Senate, Il think in 1887
fell in company on my way home from New
Orleans with the late Ion. Joseph F. John
son, then a Senator from East & West Fell
ciana, and [ believe, at tie time or -oor after,
President of the SeDate.-The subjt ct Of your
rejection was incidentally mentioned by some
one and | awaited myself Of the occasion TO
make the inquiry direct, whether any charges
affecting your official probity had been sns-
tanned 50 as to influence the action Of the Sc
nate.-Mr. Johnson replied, with his charac-
teristlc trankness and urbanitv, that, not one
lot or title Of proof Of your official delinquen-
cy had been adduced, nor did he believe any
member of the Senate who voted against you,
did SO, from a belief that you had been guilty
Of any violation Of your official duty.-He
then went,on to say that the main considera-
ton with the majority SO far as he knew,
was that you had already held the office tor
q think fifteen or sixteen years, and that the
public interest did not require the farther vio-
lation of the republican principle of rotation
IN office; and that the honors and emoluments
Of Offices in the gift Of the people or he ie-
gislature, should be more equally distributed
than your 4eappoinlment at That time would
have inplicd.--Mr. Johnson farther remarked,
thatit was generally understood that you were
wealthy, and that 10 inronsiderable portion OF
your wealth was believed to have arisen from
the, occupancy -of the Office Of Sheriff, for so
long n period Of tlme.--This is substantially
what passed between us on the occasion re-
ferred to, and do not doubt Mr.. Johnson
made the same statements occasionally to
others about the same period. Should you
not be able to obtain a statement of the OPT
Mons of MIR. Johnson from a more influential
source, You are at liberty TO use my hum
bic testimony in any way YOU may deem
proper. Very respectfully yours,
r. w. WALKER.
Baton Rouge, eth MAY 1912.
7 n1AR Sin :-You will remember that on
the Odd Feb. 1888, the General Assembly of
this state passed a resolution, requiring YOU
to call upon the different Sherifs throughout
the state, for all monies in their hands result
ing from the sales of runaway slaves and
on the authority of which | paid you the
amount in my hands as late Sheriff of the pa
rish Of East Baton Rouge.
Now | wish You to state, if You had, up to
the date of said Resolution, received from
any OF the Sherjfss of the state any monies,
the avails of the sales of runaway slaves !;
and whether you had ever deemed it your
duty to call on them for such. in your annual
settlements with them for the collection of
state taxes &c. and aiso how many, have
paid you Stree in compliance with the Resolu-
ton of 1888. | also beg Of YOU to state, if
you ever, as State Treasurer, returned me as
ia arrears for tie collection Of State taxes, in
your annual reports 10 the legislature. As !
have been accused Of nsalpracfices in office
whilst acting as sheriff, and fes which ] was
rejected in the Senate, in the year 1887, /
beg of you to give me an answer by return
mail, in order that | may use it if necessary
in defence OF my honor and moral character.
am very Respectfully,
Your most ob't. sery't.
francis GARDBRE, ESQ.
State Treasurer J. B.
New Orleans.