Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-08
FLETCHER.
The Secretary of State and His
Grievances.
What the ''Retiring" Secretary
Says of the Surroundings.
"Let ms Have Peace

says OF inc surroundings.
"Let us Have Peace"
To the Editors of the Union and American:
| SECRETARY UF STATES OFFICE. NASH
VILE, TENN, March 6.-You intimate
that you dare be just, and fear not.
thereforerespectfully submitthe following,
| Having filed high and responsible
office in the State for nearly five years
and being about to retire, finally hope,
to private life, should have courted and
desired an investigation of all my official
acts by impartial men; because such an
| investigation would have resulted, | am
sure, in report that might have pointed
TO with pride and have left as legacy to
| my children. But unfortunately every
committee that has been raised to investi-
| gate my official conduct has been provok-
ed by some political act of mine, and has
sought for some ground or pretext for
censure, and has SO far been disappoint-
cd in finding nothing to condemn.
When the present Legislature assembled
my meeting with most OF its members was
most cordial. Having advocated the most
liberal policy, and having been the object
of attack from the extreme men of nv
own party, | felt at times, that was
quite a favorite with them. The first
GOODNESS | observed towards me was when
the twelve Representatives, after voting
for me for several days, cast their votes in
such way as to defeat ex-President John
son for the United States Senate. | am
not responsible, nor do | claim any credit
for this. The twelve gentlemen who did
it are as free as l am, and in that matter
took their own counsels, so far as | know.
But soon after the defeat of the ex-Presi-
dent, attacks were made upon me by his
most ardent friends in the Legislature
Words of censure and hints of malyersa-
ton In office soon reached my ears A
committee to investigate the sale of the
Agricultural College scrip was raised. l
was pleased with that, because felt that
in that transaction had been able to serve
the State more than in any other
official act. The committee went to
work, examined all the papers,
went TO Knoxville and finally were corr
PEELED, grudgingly to report that "the 5crip
was well sOld.n But about this time nv
political Offences were repeated and the
committee reassembled and made second
report in which they called attention TO
the fact that had charged the State for
a1fixing the seal to the assignment of the
scrip and censured me for doing so. AS
soon as the report came to my knowledge
(for | was not invited before the commit
tee | sent memorial to the House show
ing my clear legal right to the fee, and
humbly asked the House to spread the
memorial upon its journals alongside the
report. Nr. Fleming, of Knox, moved
to refer the memorial to committee,
where it sleeps. Thus the House refused
TO permit me to make any defence against
an attack made either willfully or in gross
ignorance of the law.
Next, bill wasintroduced, and which,
under very unpopular excitement
against me, has passed into law, redu-
cling my fees until the office will not sup
port an unmarried dry goods clerk at
tbird-rate boarding house.
Butmy political shining continued, and
provoked committee TO investigate the
cutting off of certain coupons TO the
amount of $50, 600. a prominent mem
Der of the convention, and also member
of the House of Representatives, each
made a speech ON the subject. The com
mittee met and found that the cutting off
of the coupons was q necessary and prop
er official act to prepare the bonds for
markct-that the coupons were blanks,
and had been cut off by my clerk in my
absence. So | was reluctantly, and in
dubious language, acquitted. The charges
had been published and had produced
quite sensation, but the report of the
committee has never seen the light of
day.
Next came the terrible "secret circular"
written and first signed by me. A Repre-
sentative arose from his seat, and called
attention to it. 1t was denounced as a
conspiracy. The Banner said the Secre-
tary of State would be invited to vacate
his Office and the t,Oelce, it was expected
would be expelled. 1t was not investi-
gated but the committee became asham-
ed and reported that it was only ga politi-
cal document" and that there was no
Intentional wrong. VOlleys Of abuse
have been heapcd upon 'the signers" of
the circular in the papers, but the report
has never been published and will not go
on the journals.
/ now thought ''the wars were DER,
but on the night of the 10th I made q
political speech, in which | condemned
many of the acts of the Legislature.
This gave fresh offcnse, and new COM
miitee was raised. General charges were
made, and the committee had leave to sit
during recess. A member of the House
rose to privileged question, and stated
that the committee was in possession of
testimony which would convict me of the
most serious Offenses. He was added to
the committee. After waiting to see if
he had been correctly reported, l adj
dressed note to the secretary of thecom-
mittee, requesting copies of the testimony
referred to, and received for reply that no
such testimony existed The statement
of this member was published all over the
State, but the correspondence with the
secretary of the committee was only pub
lished in an obscure corner of the Ban
ner, and that at my humble request.
This last committee, on which | have
not single political friend, has adjourned
to meet on the 18th of Aprit, so that
am TO remain under serious charges till it
Teports-say two months The commit
tee viii censure me of course, il they
can find any pretext for il, but if they
never meet, the object of raising the
committee will have been accomplished
by the time they meet. shall not
trouble myself about it.
Messrs Editors, | am about to retire TO
the private life of farmer. 1t was with
reluctance accepted the position l now
hold, five years ago, and | regret that l
did so. 1t is part of my nature to OPP
pose extreme men and extreme measures.
Hence opposed alike the abolition agita-
ton and the secession movement. l OPP
posed many things in both parties during
the war, and hence l opposed much of
Brownlow's administration, and find my
self now opposing what l regard as ex-
treme men and extreme measures. In the
heat of the contest may have gone into
extremes myself. If so, l regret it. A
FREE and happy country is what pray for,
for my children TO live in. But candor
compels me TO say that | have but little
hope of it. Respectfully,
A. J. FLETCHER.
RELICS OF POMPEII.
NJ. Castellani has found in one of the
houses at Pompeii 700 medals, mostly sill
yer, of the consular and imperial periods;
and a large collection of gold jewelry, in