Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-06-29
THE LATE SECRETARY.


TIE A.ATE SECRETARY.
4 Committee of the Legislature He
port on Charges Preferred Against
Hon. A ). Fletcher, Late Secretary
of state. ~
Yesterday the committee which was
appointed some time since in the Legisla-
ture to investigate certain acts of NAL
feasance in Office of A. ]. Fletcher, late
Secretary of State, made q voluminous
report, of which we make the following
interesting synopsis: 49,.
By an act of Congress approved July
2, 1862, three hundred thousand acres Of
land were donated to the State of Tennes-
see for the purpose of establishing an
Agricultural and Mechanical College or
Colleges. By section of the act, the
Governor, Secretary of the State and
Comptroller were authorized TO receive
and sell, and to assign upon such terms
as they might deem best for the interests
of the State, the whole or any part of the
said scrip or land warrants issued TO the
State by virtue of the act of Congress
above referred to. The committee find
that On the 18th day of May, 1868, Mr..
Bosom, attorney in fact for the Govern
or, A. j. Fletcher and G. w. Blackburn,
the Commissioners aforesaid, proceeded
to sell said scrip in a clandestine manner.
Parties in the city interested IN this mat
ter, and anxious to purchase the scrip in
whole or in part, had been notified by the
Commissioners, when they made personal
application for information as to the time
and place of sale, that publication would
be made of the time and place of sufli-
Gent length to give all persons DESTROYS
to purchase an opportunity to be present
by person or by proxy on the day OF sale.
While those interested were anxiously
awaiting the promised notice, there ar
rived in the city one C. +. Lewis, in
company with VIM. Bosom, who was
clothed with full power to act for the
Governor. This was on the 10Th or 10Th
of May, 1865. Mr.. Bosom introduced
Mr.. Lewis to Mr.. Blackburn, and in
formed him that Mr.. Lewis had come
down to bid for the scrip, and was will
ing to give eighty cents for it. Bosom
was anxious to have the trade eOnsum-
mated at once at these figures, but Dir.
blackburn dissented because no notice
had been given, and he was anxious to do
his whole duty. Mr. Fletcher was also
anxious that the sale should be made to
Mr.. Lewis that day, at MIR. Lewis own
figures. Mr.. Blackburn made q circuit
about town TO ascertain the probable value
of the scrip, and found that it was worth
considerably more than the figures
bid by Mr.. Lewis. About noon that day
Mr.. McCrory, of the First National Bank,
came up to the Capitol to see what was
going or, and made bid for 800, 900 Of
the scrip at ninety cents.
The scrip at this time was quoted in
Chicago at ninety-fye cents. Mr.. Black
burn submitted the bid to Bosom, and
Fletcher, aud Lewis was notified thereof,
whereupon he increased the bid to 90s,
which was agreed TO by all the Commits
sioners, and Lewis was declared the pur-
chaser. The terms of the contract were
that Mr.. Lewis should pay 1000 down,
and as fast as be should deposit in the
Manhattan Bank of New York S14,5
he should be entitled to 100 pieces Of said
scrip, and in that proportion for a greater
OF less quantity, as he may design, until
the cost payment, when he should be re-
quired to pay only so much, as with pre-
vious payments, should make total of
81, $50. Said Lewis agreed to pay for
1000 of said scrip and receive the same
thirty days after the , should arrive
at the bank, and to p-y for and receive
the whole of said scrip in three months
after the same should arrive at said Mar
haitian Bank.
The committee are satisfied from the
evidence of Messrs. Mari and McCrory,
that if this sale had been properly adver-
tised, and competition invited, the scrip
could have been altogether sold for ten
thousand dollars more that it was sold
for, and if it had been sold in quantities
to suit purchasers after notice, that it
would have sold $40, 900 to $25, 900 more
than it actually brought, and that too IN
cash.
1t appears that Lewis has already paid
into the bank at New York, $I95, $50 on
his contract, which leaves a balance due
the State of SIG, 125. When the sale
was made it appears that the ruling tig
ures in the best markets were from 50
cents to 81, but at present The price has
materially declined. There being no for
felt in the contract, Mr.. Lewis has de-
clincd to take the remainder of the scrip
unpaid for, thus making the State share a
part OF his losses by the decline. The
State will have to sell the balance OF the
scrip in bank, and thus the fund will be
subjected to heavy loss. .
From Mr.. Blackburn's evidence it ap
pears that the scrip was signed. by Mr.
Fletcher, and the great seal of the State
affixed, for which he charged and received
from the State $l,S75, when this sum
should have been paid by Mr.. Lewis.
Apart from his action in connection
with the land scrip, Mr.. Fletcher, it ap-
pears, refused to pay Clay NCwland SO
for copying two-thirds of the acts Of the
Legislature for 1865, but presented Q bill
for $3.50 in behalf of his sister-in-law and
daughter, who copied only about one
third of the Legislative acts, The Legis-
lature afterwards made special appropri-
alton for Newlsnd.
From the testimony of Abram Smith
anu Otuef COlOTeu pIues III dHu aDOus
the capitol, and also from the testimony
Of G. w. Blackburn, it appears that the
capitol was refurnished at great expense.
The window curtains, carpet and drugget
alone costing $19, 475, and it also appears
that the cid curtains were worth when
replaced more than the new ones.
This refurnishing was without au-
thority, and was conducted by one
Capt Heydt, who took charge
of the old furniture, but never made any
account of it save about $50 worth. 1t
appears that Gov. Brownlow showed his
liberality by giving Secretary Fletcher's
wife one of the carpets, and that Heydt
made presents of window curtains TO
Mrs. Fletcher, some of which were con-
verted into bed clothes; all of which must
have been known to Fletcher.
iEThe testimony is voluminous and some
of it very rich. The Legislature yester-
day ordered printed for its use 1000
copies of the report and accompanying
evidence.