Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-29
THE RADICAL WAR ON THE
STATE OFFICERS.


STATE OFFICERS.
From the Clarksville Tobacco Leaf, Aug. q.
The Nashville Bulletin has been making
some heavy charges against Gov. Brown
and Col. Burch, which ara briefly as follows:
That Col. Burch received fee from the re-
tail liquor de3lers to obtain from Gov.
Brown veto of the liquor, or local option
bill, the inference being that If Col. Burch's
influence was used and pail for and the
veto obtained, Gov. Brown hsd yielded TO
improper influences.
Gov. Brownpublishes card IN which be
shows, whist every reading man in the State
knew, how the bill was vetoed, and Col.
Burch publishes card in which he denies
that the retail liquor dealers as class paid
him snythir g; but admits that he received
q fee for services rendered in that behalf,
In digesting authorities. Gov. Brown in his
card, says that he was satisfied Of the uncon-
stitutionality of the bill at the time of its pas
sage and especially of the mode of its passage
that he avaied himself of the authorities,
of the opinions of able jurists and consulted
the Attorney General and was fully sus-
tanned in his opinion by them all. He per-
mitted two lawyers to present authorities
in favor of the bill, and permitted Col.
40 inst the bill. There was no time to
pass the House bill through the Senate, nor
to PASS the Senate bill three readings in the
House, and to save the bin, the Senate bill
was adopted as an amendment TO the House
bill, and Gov. Brown, says in his card that
ore of the friends of the bill asked his
opinion before its passage and he replied
that he thought it an improper procedure.
Afser its passage the opponents o! the bill
fled protest in the Governors Office and
copy of the journal. Thus the point was
brought directly before the Executive, and
without considering whether the bill was
good or a bad one he had to consider the ques-
tion not of the effect of veto on q good
bill or on society, but solely whether the
forms Of law had been complied with. The
veto power is to check hSssy and iil-consid-
cred legislation, to prevent much Of the leg
islation with which wa have been afflicted.
The constitutional provision requiring
bill to pass three readings in each house is
for the sane purpose. If the Governor can
permi' good bill to become law when
the forms of the constitution have not been
complied with, we have no assurance that s
bad law may not be equally fortunate
There is but little difference of opinion as
to the uncoDstitutionality as to he mode
Of passage of the bill, and there should be
then none as to the duty of the Governor to
veto 1t without regard to the character of
the law or the opinion of its friends.
Gov. Brown also denies emphatically
that he knew Of any sale of the Office of
Comptroller or of money paid to Hobbs,
and says Hobbs had spoke Of resigning on
account of bis health for sometime before
his resignation, and that be had given Col
Burch no intimation that he would appoint
him before be rendered the appointment,
and that be could up to the time of his ap
pointment have rendered the Office to any
one else without violating any pledge to
G oil. Burch, or disappointing any reasonable
expectation of his that he would be ap-
pointed. OF course we all understand that
Col. Burch had been warm friend and
supporter of Gov. Brown and his policy,
and that this had much to do with his selec-
ton; but those who choose to know it can
know if they do not, that he appointed
man orSughly qualified for the position,
and mere support and friendship would not
have procured from Gov. Brown the ap-
pointment of an incompetent man, how
ever warm a supporter.
Gov. Brown defies the malice of bis enc
mics. His charac eT for integrity and honor
are complete answer to any charge of in
tentional default; and if ne has in the ad-
miaistration of his office been guilty of
official mistakes in the discharge of his du-
ties, his enemies have failed to point them
out. Opposition papers assume that Gov.
Blown is q demagogue working for bis own
personal advancement. His official course
gives the lie to such an assumption. 1t has
been characterized by great firmness, moral
courage and devotion TO the best interests of
the Safe. No man without moral courage
and devotion to principle would have taken
his position on the credit of the State. A
demagogue would have been forced by the
vsry logic of demagoguery 10 the opposite
position. He has upheld the law with a
firm hand, and peace and quiet now reign
where all was before chaos of insecurity.
We have no intention of defending the Leg
islatures we have had; for their errors of
commission and Whist is more of omission,
Gov. Brown is not responsible. His sd-
ministrAtion has been wise and pure. His
position was difficult one, and be has well
discharged the arduous trust.
From the Pulaski Citizen, Aug 2s.
The Postoffice ring at Nashville are never
81 happy as when they are trying to mslign
aud traduce the name of some honest State
official. Born and fed and tstted them
selves amid corruption, aud never having
breathed any but the foulest political atmos-
phere, they seem to think ii impossible for
O her people to be honest. If they could
ouly make it appear that Gov. Brown and
Comptroller Burch, two represe entatiVe men
Of the conservative element Of the State,
were corrupt, they would be perfectly happy.
But ihsy can't do this, and they are perfect
ly miserable. Brown and BuIch are above
reproach. The honor of the State and of
the party is cafe In their hands. The Bld-
Letin's charges have met with the scorn and
contempt they deserve at the hands o. the
people. The Butletin'S own psrtisans here
are disguised.
From the MurfreesborO Monitor, Aug. 2S
Gov. Brown, Col. Burch and Mr.. Hobbs,
have all published cards denying, in the
mos. positive language, all knowledge OF
auy money having been used to procure The
latter's resignation of the Ctice OF Comp
troller, as charged by the Nashville Bulletin,
a Republican organ. That paper has sig
naIly failed to sustain the grave charge 1t
saw proper to prefer agairst these gentle
men. It has not been able to produce
single witness to prove its statements. Ii
made the charges apparentlY on no other
foundation than mere rumor. The people
WIN now lock upon the Bulletins charges
as slauderous, snd honorable men, OF all
rs7ties, will deuounce its attempt to blacken
lie characters Of distinguished and honora'
lie gentlemen simply because they are men,
horo Of an onnOsino nolitical partV,