Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-03-20

Resignation Of MIR. ReeEer.
The following letter explains itself:
STATE OF MINNESOTA, !
TREAsuRER's OFFICE,
ST. PAUL, March 18th, 1873.
His Exccllency, Hon. Horace Austin, Governor
Of Minnesota:
DEAR Sir II hereby tender my re-
signaticn OF the Office Of Treasurer Of
the State Of Minnesota, to take effect
from tho first day Of April next.
Ia taking this step, feel it 10 be
due to the public, to myself, and espe-
cially to those who have confided in the
Integrity Of my conduct, to refer to re-
cent events, and state the reasons which
influence my action. While my man
agement Of affairs, involving SO much
discretionary power, may not have been
in all respects above criticism, my CON-
science wholly acquits me- Of any inten-
ton to do wrong. A large deficit
confronting ulc upon my first induction
into Office, ono Of two courses seemed
open to me, either to disclose tho fact
at once, which would have led to an at
tempted recovery Of the funds by sum-
mary prosecution Of my predecessor or
to pursue such course, o., while pro-
tecting the State from loss, would avert
from immediate exposure and ruin. l
chose the course which / dccmed would
have been the dictate of common pru-
dence in = private transaction under
similar circumstances.
Ny predecessor, it IL we'll known,
was my son.iu law, and II, 10 obeying q
fathers instinct / fell short Of tho stern
est duty in my treatment Of him, my
oGcnse may not DO deemed unpardona.
bic. Nor perhaps will the public
severely judge me because, yielding to
the same feeling, subsequently gave
reluctant and evasive testimony before
4 committee who sought to confuse me
in every manner; denied mo counsel,
and seemed more determined to accom-
plish my downfall than subserve any
public interest. With reference to the
charge Of loaning the public funds to
banks instead Of keeping them in the
Capitol vault, it is sufficient to say that
in the absence Of directory legislation
l chose a course sanctioned not only by
uniform custom, but by subsequent legs
lation, which now requires AZ duty an
act for which l am arraigned as a Grim.
ioal. No pretense is made that by any
act or omission of mine, the State has
! suffered the loss Of dollar. Nor is it
true that farthing Of the public mon
ey has been converted to my own use,
or that l have directly, or indirectly.
proftcd by my management Of the
| State funds. l retire from the Office q
poorer man than when I entered upon
its duties.
Conscious Of my own rectitude Of
purpose, it was nevertheless my wish t,
resi- 20 as soon as I heard Of the dissat
isfaction existing with my management
Of the Office, and my resignation Was
promptly prepared for presentation
From this step l was earnestly d;ssuad
cd by near and trusted friends, having
no pscuniary interest in the matter, who
insisted That such q course would b.
considered as an acknowledgment Of
offences OF which not | had been ~ lty
The resolutions Of censure which follow
cd exederated mo from criminal inten.
ton and ascribed share Of blame fol
existing evils to legislative omissions ia
make adequate provision for the dispo.
sition and care Of the public funds.
While l decliued to accedo to the
request Of the House Of Representa-.
tivcs for my resignation, because
deemed it request they had no right
to make in view Of their own self.con.
fessed delinqusncies. yet ielt strong.
~ inclined to present my resignation
with q view to restoration both OF
party harmony and public confidence
but again yielded to the advice Of
friends and withheld it. But when BY
the resenttol and prscip;tate action o.
that body I was arraigncd for high
crimes and misaemcanors, and for vii
full, co. rupt and felonious misuse of the
public funds, looked confidently for
ward to speedy trial and an honora
bic acquittal. In my sauguine antici
pations of that event, however, bein:
inexperienced in legal proceedings.
overlooked both the time required an,
the peculiarly service involved. / au
assur ed that the trial may continue 70
weeks, possibly for months, and I dis
cover to my dismay that counsel fee
and other expenses will require an ex
penditure by me Of $1,000 or $1,000
q sum fur beyond any means pos
sess or Can raise. Much rs I priz'
tho right to q thorough vindicatio'
Of my good name, l cannot feel il
my duty to persist fn q formal exon
Grafton, at . cost which will reduce
my family to penury. I repeat tina
am poor man. A lite OF varle'
fortune, but stained, thank God, will
no dishonor, leaves me in my declin
ing years with but slender means o
support. It was my earnest desir
to 50 conduct the affairs IF my of1ic
during the remainder Of my term, a
to challenge the severest criticism ant
evoke the practical vindication crav'
by a full restoration Of public conf
dence. But if the exigencies Of par
ty, and the suspicious temper Of tn
public mind, demand a sacrifice, no
SO much to appease passionate
clamor for vengeance a. to atom
for the wide spread evils of
loose financial system, I am content t.
be the single victim. The sands o
my life have nearly run out. and thi
fate had, perhaps, better be mine thai
that ola younger man.
Believing myself already acquitte'
in the minds Of all fairly dispose
men I rest my full vindication ,upo'
that dispassionate judgment and sens
If ovon handed ;ns,;co tn wh;oh cou