The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-02
, THURSDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 2, 1871.
THE RUNAWAY GOVERNOR.
BULLOCK'S PRETExTS FOR BIS RES
IGNITION

| lGNdIION.
Infamous ISLANDERS Against tho People
OF Georgia-The Last OMcIal Act OF
the Absconding Governor
The Augusta Chronicle OF yesterday says:
| 'The latest on dit that obtains currency with
reference to our absconding Governor, makes
him to have confessed his crimes against the
State in the presence Of his private secreta-
ries, and then, formally, as Governor, and as
the last act of his official life, granted to Rufus
B. Bullock a full official parc3n." Accompa-
| nyng the formal resignation, which Bullock
left behind him, was the following Infamous
paper:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT STATE OF GEORGIA,
ATLANTA, Ca, October %, 1871.
To my Political Friends and the People Of Geor.
have this day received information, the
truth of which 1 cannot doubt, that the poiitl-
cal conspirators who seek the overthrow, not
only of the reconstructed government OF
Georgia, but ofthe United States, have secured
the pledges OF sufficient number of the in
coming members OF the lower house OF the
General Assembly to vote, without previous
investigation. for articles of impeachment
against me Immediately after they have as.
sembled and organized on Wednesday, the
fret day of November next; and that having
adopted such articles In the House, suf1-
cent number oil Republican senators will be
unseated to insure conviction upon the articles
80 presented | also learn that the Judge OF
the Supreme Court, who is personally and po.
litically bitterly hostile to me. has informed
his friends that this programme has been per-
fected, and that he has been selected to pre-
side over the Senate during the trial; and that
the senator representing General Toombss dis
trict is to be elected president ofthe Senate
and Immediately announce himself as, ana
claim to be. Governor during the pending i'm.
peachment and thereafter for the balance OF
my uneXplred term.
Upon this state of facts have decided to re-
sign the office OF Governor, to take effect before
the meeting and qualification OF the new men,
bers of the new body, and thereby defeat the
uefarious schemes OF these desperate political
consplrator5.
By this course shall protect my political
friends in the Senate from the expulsion that
has been foreordained in order to secure my
impeachment, and, at the same time, save the
State from the disasters that would be sure TO
follow in the wake of success Oh the part OF
the unrepentant rebel leaders, who, though
comparatively few In numbers, move the
masses by the irresistible pressure OF sectional
hate and social prescription.
I have maintained my official position
against the assaults OF these people upon the
course OF equal rights and Republican govern
ment, just as long as 1t Is possible for me to be
OF service, and now, for the purpose OF again
defeating this latest onslaught OF these de-
stroyers, I have resigned this office into the
hands OF that noble and unswervlng friend OF
right and Justice, the Hon. Benjamin Conley,
who, under the constitution, by reason OF
being president Of the Senate, becomes Gov
ernor during the unexplred part OF my term,
To hu
No charge has yet been brought against him,
because he has not heretofore been supposed
to be an obstacle In the way OF the conspira-
tors success. If assaults are now made upon
him. the country will understand the purpose
for which they are made.
AS for myself, being dlvested OF oficlal posi-
tion, the charges OF every character Wnlcn
these people are sure to make and proclaim
against me can be brought before the courts,
and shall never shrink from any judicial
inquiry that ls divested OF political bias and
and prejudice. May be pardoned for word
OF warning to the men who fought for the
Union?
Six months ago in Georgia the mass of the
people were acqulesclng In the results Of the
war. and were willing TO accept those results
as being fnalities, but under the later public
teaching of certain old leaders who need not be
named, the whole situation has changed, ana
leading gentlemen, even In the Democratic
party, who dared to speak 10 layor OF ac9ules'
cence and peace, have been assailed and de-
nounced, and the people so intimldsted that
they dare not follow the advice.
The censpIrators fear, above oil else, the re-
election OF General Grant. Their insidious
| efforts to mlslead him as to the true situation
| In the South having utterly failed, tney now
| fear that some persistent and Irresistible
maintenance of the right under civil admins.
traton which 80 brilliantly marked General
| Grants military advances In the overthrow OF
the rebellion may defeat their revolutionary
purposes.
| I am now fully persuaded and satisfied that
| these men propose to control the government
and reverse the political results OF the past
few years by peaceful means, If they can, or
| by foul means If they dare. Falling In this,
another attempt at separation will be MADE.
If evidence OF this were wanting we need
| but point to the public and private utterances
| of those who were foremost in secession ana
| rebellion, and now denounce end ignore tne
| fundamental law-the Constitution OF the
| United States.
VIII the country heed and take care before
1t Is too late to prevent another war, with Its
| frightful consequences
| II nv action In this emergency had been
postponed until after the meeting OF the In
coming body of legislators, the executive
branch of our State government would nave
been absorbed by the conspirat0rs IN the legs-
latiye branch, and there would have been no
check upon the wholesale repeal and destruc.
| tion OF all the great measures OF reform and
progress that we have labored so hard to
establish. The free school system would be
abolished, the colored citizen denied every
right guaranteed to him, and the whole work
| of internal improvement carried on by North.
ern capital would be swept away. The grow
ing spirit of lawlessness and prescription tor
| opinions sake Is daily rendering the property
and lives oil Union men and Republicans more
and more unsafe, and fear the worst conse-
ouences of the executive office should be filed
| by one not only In sympathy with those who
urge on and lnhame this feeling, but who is
moved and actuated by them. With no one In
the executive office to call upon the General
| Government for protection, Its friends and
supporters would be handed over without mer-
| cy TO the assaults of their enemies.
For these reasons have determined on this
step, believing that much which has already
been accomplished can be preserved through
the wise and firm check upon revolutionary
measures that will be given by Governor Con
ley In control Of the executive branch OF the
government, and that thereby the good OF tne
whole people of Georgia will be promoted;
and shall cheerfully give to Governor Con.ey
all the information and assistance within my
power that he may desire.
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