The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-04-25
WHAT We SAW.
A Ramble through the State
Capital, and an inspection
OF the Executive Office.
What has beeR done by the
state Officials under Cover
nor BFOwh's Admins
tratiOn.

ADL A11astF p > AGkAAAAAA8=
tratiOn.
a recent visit to Nashville ena-
bled us. through the courtesy or
Capt john :. Wilkes, the Cover
nor's accomplished and industrious
private secretary, to learn much OF
the practical workings Of the Exec
utive Office, intending that OF the
Comptroller, Treasurer, Secretary
Of State, etc. Without this kuowl-
edge no man can properly appreci-
ate the importance OF having hon
est, capable and Industrious men to
fill these positions, nor fully esti-
mate the immense amount Of labor
which has been performed BY the
present administration.
There is perhaps no Office created
by the Constitution and Laws of
Tennessee in which there is SO little
of uniformity and routine OF duty
and labor as in the Governors
office While the duties are labori-
GUS and constant, they are sc varied
and oftentimes SO novel as TO re
quire the utmost care and watch
fuiness TO insure their proper dis
charge, as well as the constant at
tendance and patient and unremit-
ting industry of all the officers Of
the Executive Department. The
office was before the war sinecure,
but under recent legislation has
been loaded with ex-oficio duties
Of the most important and delicate
nature. The Executive Office is al
ways open for the transaction Of
business, and from 81 A. n. 10 =. n
All officers are constantly at their
posts. The correspondence of the
Office is the first thing in the morn
ing which requires attention. This
is tos considerable extent distribu-
ted T., the Secretary Of State.
Comptroller and Treasurer's offices,
aud thus finally disposed of. 1t is
an invariable rule of this Office to
either answer or have answered by
others all letters received, 10 mat
ter Of what nature. They are writ
ten upon all conceivable matters,
Including the financial, railroad,
turnpike. common roads, luHatic,
deaf and dumb, blind, common
school and college interests; agri
cultural, mining and mechanical
pursuits, while the departments of
Geology, nlineralogy and meterOlo-
gy all claim attention. The peni
Tertiary with its various branches
and multiplied departments re-
quires constant attention. The 20
lice and domestic concerns of the
people in each division of the State,
and the relations Of the State with
its sister States and the general
Government, furnishes an exhaust
less field TO be overlooked and
watched and guarded day after day
and without intermissiOn. The ei
forts Of the present Administration
have been directed earnestly to the
IIerculean task OF systematiz ng and
properly arranging this vast 1eld,
and to do this it became necessary
first that the records and archives
should be kept with order and scru-
puluus care. No commissloa Is
now issued, no impo. tant paper is
sent out from this office, until 4
copy is made both by the Cover
nor's private secretary and the Sec
rotary cf State, and until it has
passed under the careful scrutiny OF
all the officers concerned in it.
This plan to great extent was
originated under Gen Browns AL
lninistration. The archives have
heen arranged and the libraries pre-
pared, and are kept in the Execu-
tive office SO perfectly that no call
can be made for facts in the history
Of the State which cannot in q few
moments be answered, So far as the
records furnish an answer TO
this work Gov. Brown has given
his time and energies and the ca
pacitv Of the most p1aetieat vtiHd
that Tennessee has produced.
The office of Treasurer is filled by
DR.. VIM. Morrow, a genial gentle
man of most excellent business and
social habits. Under his admins
tratioR of the Office it has been con
'ducted with fidelity, ability, and
with astonishing success and salts
faction under the circumstances
With a floating debt of one and a
half millions of dollars in the shape
of warrants and Tennessee money,
alt OF which is receivable fer taxes,
hut little cash comes into the
Treasury, while the demands OF
creditors are clamoTous and contin-
ual.
The Comptroller, Mr.. Peuneba
ker, is one of the best financial
officers, as we'll as one of the most
pleasant and ojliging gentle men,
that has honored tile State OF Ten
nessee with his services. lie fills
the most complicated, harass ny,
difficult Office in the State with ell
tire success. Under his adm iais-
tration more than $4,000, OCO o.
tie State debt has been retired, and
with such care, that after the most
searching investigation by legisia-
tive committees. no error has been
found in his settlements. No other
financial officer Of this State has
ever or perhaps will ever be called
upon to acuuit himself ct such vast
responsibility as has rested upon
the present Comptroller. He has
made an efficient and an honest of I
licer in a position where temptation I
to become rich at the expense OF the |
State was every day open to him. |
The Secretary Of State, Thos. n. !
Butler, is also a most excellent Of I
iicer, quiet pleasant, Industrious,
careful and obIiging, and has done (