Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-11-08
AFFAIRS IN GEORGIA.

Our dispatches have given the fact of the
resignation of Governor Bullock, of Geor-
gia, and the qualification of the Speaker
of the Senate, Benjam Conley, "a his sue
cessor. The reasons that have influenced
Governor Bullock to this course are briefly
set forth in address to the people of the
State, published OH the morning following
his resignation In that address he says,
that, being convinced that conspiracy
was formed to impeach him for alleged IL
legal acts done in his official capacity, and
that part Of the plot was TO unseat enough
OF his political friends in the Senate to in
sure his conviction without regard to the
testimony or law, he concluded that, in JUS
tice to his friends in the Senate, and for the
sake Of the public peace and tranquility
likely to be disturbed by the passions
and uncertainties of protracted trial, he
would resign. The impression a resigna-
ton under such circumstances would nat
nrally create is, that the Governor felt GER
tain of conviction. either from the intense
partisanism and reclllessness of his oppo-
nants, or from q Consciousness of guilt.
We know nothing to induce us TO believe
the latter supposition, but can readily see
why the former opinion might be reason
ably entertained by the Governor, for the
democratic press OF Georgia is VIGOROUSLY
as Intensely bitter and partisan as any in
the land. From the persistent demand
for impeachment made by these papers, we
can appreciate the spirit that will
pervade the Legislature that con-
vened yesterday. Before such tri-
bunan an impeachment trial would resolve
itself at once into political caucus when
the fiat of political leaders would be faith
fully executed. These are the reasons
which doubtless prompted the course Gov.
Bullock has taken.
The present situation, briefly stated, is
this Benjamin Conley, Speaker of the
Senate, at the time of the resignation, 10y
virtue Of the constitution, has been in
Quoted into the Executive office. The un-
expired term Of Gov. Bullock is just Que
year. There il but one constitutional way
by which Gov. Conley can be superseded.
The new constitution of Georgia provides
that in such n contingency as this the Leg
islAture may by law provide for an cleo
ton, by giving thirty days notice. But
this unquestioned remedy does not suit
some Of the more partisan and ca
ger politicians of the State. They declare
that when the Legislature which assem-
bled yesterday organizes, the newly-choscn
Speaker Of the Senate is entitled to super
cede Governor Conley, and there is a pos
sibility that they will SO declare. The lat
ter claim is untenable, and such q course
would be revolutionary and dangerous. 1t
lie, perhaps, safer to conclude that the
mode provided in the Constitution will be
pursued, and that by Christmas a new De-
mocratic Governor will be installed in
Georgia. If the rivalries of the numerous
candidates for the Speakership of the SEN
ate, who expected by that step to reach the
Executive office, shall prevent harmonious
action at once, in their new dilemma, Gov
ernor Conley's term may be temporarily
prolonged, but the eagerness of the poll
ticians for Office will not brook long do
lay.
In this view of the result to be finally Sc
cured, it is difficult to see how Governor
Bullock's resgnationwill bring the expect
ed tranquility to Georgia. The passions
that might have had full sway during the
impeachment trial in the Legislature, will
soon be let loose unrestricted throughout
the State in the contest for Governor. Just
now it is unfortunate for Georgia that such
excitement should be provoked. She has
within her borders an organization capable
of committing great crimes and infictng
almost irreparable injury upon the State.
By a thorough system, this organization
has already darkened her history with
fiendish excuses, driven from her fields
her laborers, inspired her citizens with
doubts and fears for the future, paralyZed
her courts in many instances, and created
in many sections an absolute reign of ter
ror. In the absence of political excite
ment the operations Of these kuklux
fiends were fewer in number and less ag-
gravating in character and the civil au-
thorities were likely soon to obtain a
terry over them, but the election now made
necessary will be the pretext for unloosiug
these lswless bands and bringing upon the
State additional misfortunes. In this view
it seems to us that the new complications
in Georgia are more unfortunate than they
| otherwise would have been, and make
Governor Bullock's course a very question
! able one. We will doubtless have exciting
news from the State during the next sixty
days.