Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-09
The SECRETARY OF STATE.
rrescher and His Grievances-what
the .sRetiring Secretary says OIL
the Surroundings.
SECRETARY OF STATES UFFlGkt
NASHVILLE, Tenn. March 8, 1870.

SECRETARY OF STATE's OFFICE,
NASHVILLE, Tenn, March 8, 1870.
To the Editors Of the Union and American:
You intimate that yop dare be just and
fear not. |, therefore, respectfully sub
NIT the following. -,
Having filed a high and responsible
office in the State for nearly i've years,
and being about to retire finally, hope.
10 nriyate 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 thai ] might have pointed
10 with pride, and have left 90 . legacy
10 INV children. But, unfortunately, every
committee that has been raised TO inyes-
tigate my official conduct has been pro,
yoked bs some political act OF mine, and
has sought for some ground or pretext
for eensure, and has so far been dlsap-
nointed in finding nothing TO condemn.
When the present Legislature assem-
bIed my meeting with most OF It's mem
hers was most cordial. Having adyo-
Gated the most liberalpolicy, and having
been the object Of attack from the eX-
IRENE men of my own party, ieit, az
times. that ! was quite a favorite WIN
them. The first GOODNESS ] 1hgpTTed to-
wards me was when the twelve Repre-
seatatiyes, after voting for me for several
days cast their votes in such way as TO
defeat ex-Presideni johnson for the
United States Senate. am not respon-
sible. nor do claim any credit for this.
The twelve gentlemen who did II are as
free as | am, and 10 that matter took
their own eounsels SO far as know, But
soon after the defsat Of the ex-Presiden',
attacks were made upon me BY his mos
ardent friends in the Legislature.
Words of censure and hints Of malYefsa.
ton in Office soon reached my ears, A
committee TO investigate the sale Of the
Agricultural College scrip was raised
| was pleased with tha1, because ] fell
that in that transaction ! had hesp ablt
10 serve thu State more than in any Other
official act The committee went 10
work. examined all the papers, went {
Knoxville, and finally were compel led
grudgingly. to report that the scrii
was well sold But about this time my
political ofenses we're repeated and ~
committee reassembled and made sec
ond report in which they called attention
90 tho iact that had charged the Stat
for affixing the seal to the assignment 0
the scrip and ceneuFed me for doing SO
As soon as the report came 70 my know
edge flor / was not invited before m
: committeel / sent a memorial 20 tn
House, showing my clear legal right I
the fee, and humbly asked the House I
spread the memorial upon its journal
alongside the report Mr. Fleming, (
r Knox, moved to refer the memorial 70
: committee vhera It sleeps. Thus tn
& House refused 20 permit meto make an
defense against an attack isade slllif
: willfully or in gross ignrance Of the lav
e Next. bill was introduced, and which
: aEdar very unpopular exciteuen
against nae, he's passed into q law, redu'
!, ing nv fees until ihl zffice will not SUI
port an unmarried dry goeris s'eFk at
J. thirj-raie boarding house.
J. Bat al political shining continues
e and provoked q committee 10 iRvestigai
the cutting of OF cenaiu coupons 10 Il
d amount of $4,000 A promineni ncr
, be- Of the convention, and als0a membl
!, of the aosse OF Representatives, eae
. made a speech - ihe subject 70
committee met and found ii4as the cuifin
q of a. The coupons was a necessary 90
s prcner oficisl act TO prepare the bone
+ f,r inarlet-that tins coupons were blank
/. ssd bod been cut of BY my clerk IN m
absence ~ ] vas reluctantly, and
dubiousianguage. acquitted; he charg
had been published aha bad produce
5 quite a sensation, bat fhe ref5l, VI q