Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-09
THE SECRETARY OF sTA'rIs,s DrrATCA-
TIOE---WEO IS lEEsPON sIHEE ron THE

WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 3, 1855.
THE sEURErA1sr OF srArE,s DnrA1oA-
TION---WEE0 IS 1EEssP0N sIHEE ron THE
LOSSES!
A disposition has been manifested by portion
Of he Know Nothing press Of this State to hOli
Gov. JOHNSON responsible for the losses which hsve
accrued from the misconduct Of the defaultng Sec.
rotary Of State. We sre sorry to see these papers
endeavOrng to give political aspect to the various
questions now in course Of investigation by the
Committee and attempting to fasten guilt upon in
noceat persons for party purposes, Had we been
disposed to manufaotuTe political capital out Of these
transactions, we might have shown that none Of the
officers implicated in these frauds or delinquencies,
we're elected By Democratic votes and that an Of
them we're members Of the organization from which
these accusations and complaints proceed We
might have transferred the odium Of their acts to
the party which elected them. We might have
hurled cur indignant donunciations against the
Know Nothing representatives who placed such
men in Office, and against the party to which
they belong. We have preferred the more hon
orable and equitable course Of allowing publio
oensure to rest upon the individuals who committed
the wrong, and have attempted to form cur iudp-
ment with regard to the conduct Of all persons con-
oerned in the matter, without reference to their
political opinions or party associations Had our
Know Nothing contemporaries pursued the same
course we should never have found it necessary 10
refer 10 the facts have mentioned above in order
70 relieve the late Executive Of the State from blame
which justly belongs to on GERS who were not an
pointed BY him and over when he had no control.
The misappropriation Of the revenues of the State
can in no way be attributed to the late Governor Of
the State, nor his successor, and it win REQUIRE
something more than a sheer from the Banner. OF
coarse assaultfr0n the Memphis Eagle and Enquirer.
to convince the people Of the State that the men Of
their choice have been unfaithful to their trust.
We give an ''elegant extract" from the Memphis
Eagle and Enquirer Of Saturday last ITO show with
what eagerness some Of the opposition papers seize
upon any pretext which accident may offer or malice
can invent, to assail the reputation Of democratic
officers and statesmen:
Gov. JOHNSON AND TIE SEcRETsRy OF SvArr
There is law Of this State making the Secretary
Of State financial agent to receive the turnpike
fund. The Governor is required to take a bond of
him to secure the faithful performance of this trust
We learn that MIR. Burton, late Secretary received
about forty thousand dollars of the fund without
executing any bond at all Either Andrew johnson
or Gov Harris at fault in thismatter and to re-
ieve the public mind from suspension, the saddle
content to pack the delinquency
We think il more likely that johnson is at fault
than his successor. The former found time last
year to leave the Executive Office and ramble over
the State to NEEDLE in elections
As the old cock crows the young ones learn. The
Secretary seeing the Governor constitute himself
political missionary; take cut rowing commission
and peddling agrarianism, thought II no greater
departure from duty to make free with the turnpike
fund
III he had rsusined at homo 5;.,bo--i-,. ~. 5,.-
ike an honest man, there is little doubt but in
this instance forty thousand dollars would have
been saved to the State This is but the beginning;
nay look for long chapter Of frauds and villa
MES PeTPetrated under his Administration.
The brief but comprehensive letter Of Gov JoHE
son, which we published on yesterday is complete
vndiosdon of his official conduct from all the in
pOrtant charges contained in this article. 1t
seems that Mr.. BURTON did execute the bond re-
quired BY Law, and that this bond was deposited in
the Office Of the Secretary Of State. Gov. JOHN
sOEs recollection Of this matter is confirmed by
previous statement Of Mr.. Burrows to the effect
that such bond had been executed by him But
even if be had neglected to require this security it
seemsto US that such an oversight might have been
excused by paper which is ready to apologize for
the criminal misconduct of Of officer Of Govern
ment on the ground that another officer was tempo
raTily absent from the capitol
" As the old cock crows the young ones Learn"
says the Enqsirer, meaning, thereby that as Gov
JOHNSON made political speeches. it was quite
matter Of course that the Secretary of State should
appropriate the public money. edo not exactly see
the necessary connection Of these two events, but
we present it to our readers as a specimen of the
EEqUreT's reasoning. If the charge be considered
grave one, it may be answered, that every Gov
ernOr have had in this State for the last twenty
years. with exception, has made political speeches
during his term Of service, and that no man who
ever filed that position has been more attentive to
its duties, more constantly at his post than Gov
JOHNSON.
The recklessness which the Enquirer manifests in
sttributing the possibility of wrong to Gov HARRIS
is totally inexcusable Mr. BURTON had been holding
the position Of Secretary Of State years when
Gov. HARRIS came into Office The legal presumption
was that all the acquisitions Of the law with regard
TO the execution Of bond had been complied with
at the time he entered upon the duties Of his Office
and even if It had not been DONE Gov HARRIS would
be in no way accountable for the neglect As soon.
however, # vas discovered that the bond could
not be found, Gov. HARRIS required Mr. BURron to /
execute another and his failing do So he pro-
hibited turnpike companies from depositing money
with him. Gov. HARRIs thus by his vigilance and
attention to the interests Of the State saved several
thousand dollars that might otherwise have been
lost.
The Eagle and Enquirer should become better in.
formed, before it again sssais the conduct Of our
public men, and should remember that the harmless
ness Of the weapon and the feebleness Of the arm
that Yields it. furnish justification for the aag
nifty and rancor which prompted the blow
SoNRTHIEs NEw AND INTERESTING TO F.Rrrps
Our attention has jsst been called to the Nav
Eagle Tanning Min, now on exhibition ~ Arpr.irD.