Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-06-30
THE COUNTY, rAx.coLLECroR.

When the late Grand Jury alluded In
such foreible terms to the urgent neces-
sity for "lacld explanation I" from the
State and County Tax-CoIlector, and so
earnestly invoked their successors 1.-THE
present most unexceptionable and truly
representative Grand Jury to continue
the Investigation to exhaustion, we were
inclined to believe that the imputation
thus placed on Mr.. Mclean was based
on q misepprehension, and we preferred
waiting until the public excitement
should have somewhat subsided, and un-
til the "lucid explanation " called for
should have been given by Mr.. Mclean,
which latter, however, has rot yet ap-
peared. So, also, did We hope that the
Citizens Committee, appointed at the
Operahouse meeting, would throw some
light upon the matter. We must con-
fess We have been disappointed In all
these hopes and expectations and great
was our surprise when, a few weeks
since, We We're told that Mr. Mclean
would neither give the "lueid explana-
ton - nor suffer the Citizens Commit
tee to investigate his books, giving,
as a reason for declining, that
"the Grand Jury was in session,
and was the proper body to examine
his records Still e-eater was our as
tOnishment wllea a fortnight ago we
were informed that in the face OF this
excuse Mr.. Mclean had also refused to
answer the repeated summons Of the
present Grand Jury, and only appeared
before TINT body when brought there by
a writ Of attachment in the hands Of
Deputy Sheriff When we add to these
facts that Mr.. Mclean now lies incar-
cerated in the county jail for a
contempt of court in refusing to
give up for examination his vouch-
ers, thus absolutely declining to
show to an impartial jury what he
has done with the peoples money, truly
must we acknowledge that there exists
a most suspicious and alarming state Of
affairs when the servant Of the people
thus brazenly refuses to render an ac-
count of his stewardship. The full ex-
tent of the meaningof all this we donot
know, and can simply wait in anxious
expectation for further developments
which so singular a course of action must
certainly bring forth. Since by a
recent decision Of the Supreme Court,
Mr.. Mclean is an acknowledged de-
faulter to the county of Shelby for
fifteen thousand dollars, retained under
the head of commissions, and over and
above the amount allowed by law-this
for the year Of 1863 only-tbe public will
scarcely be slow to suspect what in real
ity may be the truth when they consider
that this man has been an officer Of the
county for four years, and that upward
of three millions Of dollars taxes have
been placed in his hands for collection
His HenOF Judge Flippin, but stated the
bare fact, when he told William Mclean
in open court, that no honest man
need fear an investigation" 1t may be
that Mr.. Mclean, having been sent
back to jail by Judge Halsey after full
argument OF his case, may now have
time for sober reflection and consider /,
that if he is the honest man he /
claims to be, whether it would not /
be his best course TO purge himself
of contempt, give up the needed vouch-
ers for investigation and establish the
fact as far as he may be able that his
record is a clear one. 1t is certainly a |
source Of eOngratulatiOn, in this condi- |
ton of affairs, that such an able and I'M
impeaehable set Of gentlemen have
charge Of these investigations. a verdict |
from such a sourceis bound to meet with |
the appreciation of all good citizens. |
Mr.. Mclean may undoubtedly rest as
sured that if his resting in Jail be merely |
a political trick to excite sympathy, he
will fail, for an intelligent public can
only look upon it with the eyes Of hon
est folks and regard his action as simply |
an implied confession Of official delin-
quency. To believe otherwise is simply /
absurd.
Since the foregoing was written we
have received the card OF Mr.. Mclean,
published in. another column, from
which it viii be seen that he is consid-
erably demoralized and ehop-fallen.
He has lowered his naughty
crest, and seems ineliaed TO squeal. Had
Mr.. Mclean done at first what he now
s-0poses to do, thera would have been
no necessity for his making himself a
martyr. Having caved in, and con-
eeded all that the law required Of him,
he is deprived OF the cry Of persecution.
Now, that Mr. Mclean seems disposed
to settle, to throw no further impede
ment in the way Of The public, which is
anxious to know the condition Of the
County Tax Collectors accounts, we viii I
be pnahlGd 10 arrive Al The truth during