Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-02-21
nnR sECRETARY OF STATE.

W. have believed from the first that
zach and every Radical in the State was
thief by nature, and. when it was not
na,ept. time would prove it; and we
formed our conclusions from general
nrinciules known to be right. No honest
and brave set of men would have adopted
the Motley as inaugurstsd in this State by
-Rrownlow and his partisans, and that,
,oo after the war was over and the rebels
were no longer in arms to oppose the
Government. There was method IN THIS
Radical madness, which was inclined TO
ns,usuade US that more kuave than
fooI was the cause Of the mismanage-
ment of our local State goveroment. IL
WAS not 40 nuch the fear that men Who
had once rebelled might do 30 again, as
that these men would. if entrusted with
mower. send the dishonest sealawsgs
bowline into the hell Of forgetfulness
These differing fellows must keep up
show of patriotism. and arrogate to be
the most loyel, and under this cloak
have they robbed and plundered u.s.
Now, the news is from Nashville that
our Secretary Of State has been found
cut in some of his thievery, and things
are being brought to light which we're
heretofore hid from the public eye. 1t
seems that Mr.. A. ]. Fletcher, the Secre'
tary referred to, was intrusted, by an act
of the Radical Legislature, with the
duty to dispose of an amount OF
agricultural scrip, which was done under
circutn stances that reflect upon the char
acter of the gentleman and bis assistant,
Mr.. Bosom. The Legislature directed
that this scrip should be sold to the
highest bidder after doe notice had been
given, by publication, Of the proposed
sale. 1t was issued upon the security OF
800 900 acres Of land, given to the State
by Congress, for the purpose of founding
an Agricultural College. The market
quotations at the time for this species
Of debt ranged from 80 to IS cents
when it was sold at the low
figure of 90s,., and when bids bad been
offered at FIVE cents more thea was
realized. The purchase was made by
some unknown fellow in Ohio, who is
said to rejoice in the name of Lewis,
but who may, after all, turn out a mere
myth. Besides selling this scrip below
i,s market value, the Secretary charged
the State $4,000 for sffixing to ths bonds
his official seal, which may be legal, bat
rather exorbitsni, fees These facts have
all been brought ont by sn investigst-
ing committee Of the Legislature,
and FROM information on the subject
said to be correct. This uneasy head
which has so long worn the crown OF the
Secretary's position has good reasons, no
doubt. for invoking the appearance again
Of military authority in the State. Mr.
Fletcher feels that his term of Office is
exnirinr. and with it an expose Of his
official conduct. BE now prsys for the
rocks and mosntsins to hide him from
the searching and condemnatory glance
of the puplic eye. His rascalities
and sbominaiions while in public posi-
TORS are sufficient, he knows, to damn
him, and be hopes to find refuge under
the bsyonsss of the Radical party. But
Blucber wont come, or not in time, We
hope, to shield the villain from mer-
tied expose. 1t has been fashionable for
Radicals to slip into Congress, from this
State, when about TO be entrspped in
their thievery; but there is no place
open ct tkis time for slsieher, aud be
mus. sacrifice himself martyr TO the
cause.