The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-02-27


warrants taken. that were pronounced
against by the Attorney Generals
5. What amount OF warrants were re
ceived?
The first two interrogatories can b'
answered b. a reference to the records Of
the Circuit Court of Hin3s county wheT
judgment was obtained. On account Of The
absence of the Circuit Clerk from this city
have been unable to procure the official in
formation you desire According TO the
best of my recollection, judgment was
rendered last August. and il has not been
paid. The judgment as such never having
been paid, the Governor has not Ere opened
the matter" is my reply to the third ques-
ton. The fourth interrogatOry assumes a.
true state of facts that never have existed
The debt due the State from the N. o.. j
& @. n. Il. X. Company has never been paid
in money. The Legislature has not so re-
quired it, and nobody, as far as my know
ledge extends. has ever proposed to paw it in
money. A law having been passed at your
last session allowing the debt to be paid in
the currency recognized by the State, it is
unreasonable to suppose that any intelli-
gent party would come forward and pay it
| in United States currency. / informed the
Legislature in my annual message that the
debt under consideration was paid by an &C :
| ceptance on New York, and the conditions
of the transactions were that this draft
| must be held until the first day of January,
| 1873. after which time, If the amount of debt
contemplated in the law, it should be at my
| option to demand cash upon the acceptance"
/ The reason that did not draw upon the ac-
| ceptanse OF deposit in New York when the
| first of January arrived, was because l was
| informed by Mr.. Murdoch that he would be
| in this city before the converting of the Leg
| isature, when the law wonid expire, and
/ deposit the amount OF warrants necessary to
| relieve the %ew York deposit. He carried
out this promise only To the extent OF plac
| my in my bands, through Dir. HUMPHREYS.
OF Columbus, $l5i S97 50. Why he cid not
carry it out in full. / leave with him TO ex-
! plain.
But The law under which I acted die not
| require me u deposit the amount received
| in payment OF the debt III any specified place.
| L hold the State IrtasurefS receipt for part
OF il rs explained in my message. and the
balance - in the hands "f Walsh. smith,
Craw ford Il c. bankers, at No. IS Wall
street, New York subject TO the order of
the Governor OF Mississippi. The spirit anii
letter OF the law Is therefore satisfied. All
t.aJ is nee essary in order TO complete this
transaction is authority whereby | may
now pay into the Treasury the amount col
tected. | have collected the debt due the
State from the n. O, j. 81 q. n. r. II. Com
pany, in strict accordance with the law
under which | acted, and on the most favor
able terms that could possibly secure for
the State. The acceptance alluded to in my
message was placed in my hands,
subject to the conditions that / have
already explained, aud had not acceded to
those conditions the Cebt would not have
been paid.
With regard to that portion of your in
curry which refers to warrants pronounced
against by the Attorney General" have
no xplanation to make beyond what is con
tanned in my annual message. did not call
upon the Attorney General for his opinion
concerning the railroad subsidy warrants.
aud | relieve that officer from all RESPONSE
bility SO far as my action is concerned.
believed that good faith and good policy de-
maaded that the warrants should be paid
aud paid them. If any proper tribunal
shall decide that the State has been damag-
ed by my action, let me be held accountable
therefor. Having now complied briefly
with your request asking for information,
desire, in vindication of my action, to sub
NIT few comments upon the resolution
under and by virtue of which you ere APP
pointed. 1t is pretaced by four whereases,
the first of which assumes what is not sus-
tanned in fact. so far as my information
goes, in that it declares There is a large
Indebtedness due the State from Messrs
Murdoch, HUMPHREYS q Smith," If the
gentlemen named owe the State anything,
certainly have no knowledge If IL. The
second whereas declares that 1.-The value of
Auditors warrants is greatly below par
without apparent reason" Whether this
proposition is explained by a want of cause,
or want of comprehension, is immaterial,
so long as the fact that Auditors warrants
are below par is admitted. The third where
as declares that ut is believed by the House
that if said Indebtedness were paid into the
treasury in accordance with law, the said
warrants would speedily appreciate to a
price at or near par"
The House must then discredit the report
of the Treasurer which shows that there
were $eT,525,66 in Auditors warrants
outstanding on the first day of
January, 1873. Besides, there is no
allowed to be paid into the Treasury.
Now, is the Treasurer authorized to receive
it? The fourth whereas makes the direct
personal charge that the Governor prefers
to extend the time when the debt due the
State from the N. O., j. and G. n. Railroad
Company may be paid in order that war
rants in place of currency may be received
therefor. The Governor has had no such
alternate presented TO him, nor has he direct
ly or indirectly expressed any such prefer
ence. Your Committee is instructed To in
quiTe: "By what authority he (the Gov
ernor) extends time TO Messrs. Murdoch,
Humphries &Smith, aud under what law he
now proposes TO make any settlement what
ever with any of the several railroads."
/ have TO say in reply to this resolution
that the Governor has no authority or dis
position to extend the terms of the Act in
the manner alluded tn. Having effected
and com pleted within the time specified by
law a settlement of the State claim against
the n. o. j. and G. N. Railroad Company,
he does not propose to attempt a settlement
with any other railroad company unless he
is duly authorized SO to do.
l submit this communication in response
to the resolution under which you were APP
pointed, and in reply TO the written ques-
tions submitted TO me, and respectfully ask
that il be included in your report to the
House of Representatives. When all the
facts are laid before that body, l have no
doubt spirit of justice and prudenc will
characterize lis actions upon the subjec t
under consideration.