Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1872-02-18
CASE OF EXSECRETKRY
BOVEE.

On Friday last Governor War
moth sent to the House of Repre-
sentatives the following communi-
cation, containing a series of "grave
charges" against Mr.. Geo. E. Bovee
while in the Office of Secretary OF
State.
STATE OF LOUISIANA,
Executive Department, 7
New Orleans, February 16, 1872. }
To the Honorable Speaker and Members
of the House of Representatives:
I find it incumbent on me to lay
before your honorable body grave
charges against George E. Bovee,
Secretary of State. These charges
are five in number, and are as fol-
lows:
First - That the said Bovee,
Secretary of State, did promulgate
as law pretended copy of an act
entitled can act to incorporate the
Crescent City Water Works Com
pany; to define its rights and duties;
opunish offenses committed against
the franchises of said company and
the public health" Notwithstanding
the fact that the said Bovee had
been officially informed and well
knew said act had not become a law
in any of the modes pointed out by
the constitution.
In support of this charge I sub
NIT herewith the printed proceed
ings in the suit styled "The State
of Louisiana vs.. F. j. Heron" No.
1856 on the docket of the Eighth
District Court for the parish of Or
leans. You will perceive from the
testimony received in said suit that
the act in question was notpresented
to me until February q, 1871, three
days before the adjournment of the
General Assembly.
It is claimed on the part of Bovee
that the bill was left at my residence
on Saturday evening, February 25.
Without entering into the question
whether such presentation was
regular and legal, it appears from
the testimony of Bovee's own wit
nesses that it was past II P. NJ. on
the twenty-ffth when the messenger
bearing the bill arrived at my
residence. The General Assembly
adjourned March 2, 1871, at 1890
P. NJ, as appears by certified min
utes thereof. Furthermore, 1 adj
dressed the Secretary of State a
note, in which 1 informed him of
the facts.
Notwithstanding all this, Bovee
proceeded to promulgate an incor-
rect and spurious copy of the act in
question as law, in utter contempt
of the constitution and in direct
violation of his official duty. 1t is
difficult to see how the conduct of
the Secretary of State in this con-
nection can be accounted for on any
hypothesis than that of wilful and
corrupt malfeasance in the Office.
Second-I charge the said Bovee
with having sold books belonging
to the State, and appropriated the
proceeds to his own use.
Third-That the said Bovee has
sold and retained the proceeds of
copies Of Walkers Digest
Of the Decisions of the Supreme
Court of Louisiana, which were pur-
chased by the State purely for the
purpose of gratuitous distribution
mong its officials.
Fourth-That the said Bovee has
Incorporated a bond fthe State
Of the denomination Of $500, and the
interest coupons to the same attach
I'd, which was, with others, sent to
MS Office to be sealed and counter
signed, as required by the law provi-
ling for their issue.
Fifth charge the said Bovee
With having attempted to influence
he vote of a Senator by offering him
/ bride upon the floor of the Senate.
I submit the matter for your con-
,ideration and action, and request
hat the above charges be referred
70 a committee of your honorable
body, that the said Bovee be cited to
answer according to law, and that,
f there be due proof OF the charges
against him, he be impeached and
brought to the bar of the Senate for