Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-11-04
EX-GOVERNOR BULLOCK.

His Official Career Cut short by
HIS own Pen--What Is ThOnght
tn Georgia of His Resignation
and Flight.
From the Atlanta Constitution, slst ult.l
Yesterday ended an episode in Gesr-
gia's history, to which no Georgian will
ever recur with any but feelings of hui
inflated pride. Rufus B. Bullock cut
short his Gubernatorial term by his own
resignation. Whether it is voluntary
depends upon the criminality of his acts
that made resignation an escape from
punishment The people can put only
this construction on his retirement.
They believe that guilt drove him from
the office, which he obtained by fraud,
which he has disgraced by crime, and
which he left ere his term of incumben-
cy expired through fear of punishment.
His resignation was made before he left
for New York, and confirms the idea Of
his conscious guilt.
The discovery of his illegal issues of
railroad bonds must have precipitated
abdication. That sudden fight to New
York was significant. The crash was
upon him. He had no time to cover his
illegalities. Will he return? The result
is good. Georgia is once more free from
his rule. The Radical dynasty totters.
Through its own rottenness it is falling.
We might proftably epitomize its dis
graceful career ia Georgia. But it is
familiar to all. What is undiscovered,
is but sampled by what we know.
Squandered millions, official corruption,
thievish jobbing Of every sort, Wholesale
frauds, prostitution Of every department
of the State Government; ceaseless,
rotten, gigantic carnival of folly, incom-
potency and crime constitutes the dark
record of the last three years of Geor-
gia' public history.
The single bright feature of it all is
the stubborn disdain and cordial ami
mostly that the true people Of the State
have shown to the evil regime. This
dark dynasty has lived and is dying, and
will die amidst the unmitigable contempt
and aversion of its honest citizens, that
its money could not buy into sanction
or prosecutions drive into support.
The resignation of Governor Bullock
does not exempt him from criminal La
bility for his illegal use of the public
money, or his tampering with her
finances. But this is a question for an
other time.
Benjamin Conley has been sworn in
as Governor under the following pro-
vision of the Constitution;
In case of DEATH resignation or disa-
bility of the Governor the President of
the Senate shall exercise the executive
powers of the Government until such
disability be removed or successor is
elected and qualified. And in case of
the death, resignation or disability Of the
President of the Senate, the Speaker of
the House of Representatives shall ex-
ercise the executive powers Of the Gov
erument until the removal of the disa
bility or the election and qualification of
a Governor. The General Assembly
shall have power to provide by law for
filling unexpired terms by special elec-
ton.
Mr.. Conley was president of the last
Senate, and only holds the Office until
successor is elected and qualified. The |
Legislature under the constitutional pro-
vision above quoted, can, and OF course
will Immediately provide for holding a |
special election for Governor to fill the |
unexpired term of about years length. |
1t will need buta short time to do this,
in fact before the adjournment of the
Legislature.
Much excitement has been created by
this unexpected resignation. The town
is agog with it. The busy talk of i'm
parchment is over, and one of the most
prolific subjects of agitation is thus sum
marily withdrawn.
We are informed that Conley wants
and means TO hold over for the term.
We do not know that it is so. The law
is against him, and explicit. The Legis-
latgre can authorize an election. Bull
locks resignation will, however, but
stimulate the investigation into this
bond business Its secrets must be fear
ful ones.