Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-08-23
WHY HE RESIGNED.
Ex-ComptrOller w. w. Hobbs Publish
es Card.


The following card from ex-Compt.
roller w. ". Hobbs appears in the
Union and American few days since:
WAvERLY, August IL, 1873.
Having been absent for several days
OH business in the country, | returned
home Saturday evening, the 9th IN
staht, when my attention was called
to an article which appeared in the
Nashville Bulletin of the 9TH, headed
Sale of the cffice of the Comptroller
of the State" l have also seen the
card of the Hon. John G. Burck in
your issue of the Sth, (the truth of
which L am ready to verify,) which so
fully refutes the false allegations con-
tanned in the Bulletins article, that
L scarcely deem it necessary for me to
come before the public with this state
ment, unless it be further to contradict
the statement of the Bulletin, that |
had acknowledged that / had received
$4,000 for the office, and treated it as
business affair; for l take 1t that the
observing and thinking people will at
once comprehend that no higher and
no other motive prompted the said ar
ticle in the Bulletin, than to subserve
the interest of the party of which it is
the organ at Nashville. Some, per-
haps, would appreciate the noble and
tender charity of the Bulletin in trans
ferrisg the responsibility of the ugly
transaction" it publishes to others,
excusing me upon the ground that /
was "an unsophisticated man from the
country, not accustomed to the wiles
of the politicians in and around the
Capitol, fond of my horn and hounds,
and never having had so much money
before as $4,000" l fail to see it in
that light, and the extrayagant charity
of the Bulletin is wasted upon me.
The cause of the resignation was an
nounced, and truly announced at the
time through the press, to-wit: The
condition of my health, having been
advised by eminent physicians, who
were intimately acquainted with me,
that it would be great peril if / con-
tlnued longer in the Office. the certif-
Gates OF whom are herewith attached:
JOHNsONvILLE, August IL, 1873.
This is to certify that / have known
Capt. w. w. Hobbs intimately for
over Is years, and for many years, was
his attending physician, during which
time he has had frequent attacks of
protraeted cough, which, with other
indications led me to believe there
is predisposition to pulmonary con-
sumption. l have repeatedly express
sed this opinion to him, so he could
avoid exposure and other causes
that tend to develop this disease. In
my opinion he has inherited predis-
position to the disease, as his father,
brother and three sisters have died
with consumption, and a brother at
this time in bad health from the same
di8ase.
Consequently, as friend and ply
sician | have counseled him often in
regard to avoiding all exposure, and
the buildingup of his physical strength.
Upon his election to the Office of
Comptroller, expressed my doubts to
himself, as well as other persons, as
to his physical ability to fill so confn-
ing and arduous a position with JUS
tice to himself. The Office he occu-
pied is situated in the State-house at
Nashville, building which generates
much humidity or dampness of the
atmosphere, as l am informed, and
will tend to the development of colds,
coughs, ETC., particularly so in persons
predisposed to lung affections. In my
opinion, Capt, w. W. Hobbs health
suffered from the location of his Office,
too close confinement to business,
change in diet, want of regular out
door exercise, etc., and he did his duty
to himself and family in resigning the
Office of Comptroller of the State.
P. F. GOULD, NJ. d.
WAvERLY, Tenn, Aug. IL, '73.
Capt. Hobbs, wayerIy:
DEAR SIR-In reply to your request,
L would state that when applied to by
you during your Comptrollership in re-
gard to your health, and the effect like
ly to result from your close coufne-
ment to the business of the Office,
very freely advised you that if an ar
rangement could not be effected by
which you could be released of the close
stay at the Capitol, that the confne-
ment and mental labor necessary to
proper discharge of your duties, would
most probably excite into active exis-
tence the disease (phthisis) with which
so many of your family died.
| have known you and other mem
bers of the family for years, and
yeuld, as before, advise you to avoid
sedentary life or business of any char
acter that requires great mental labor
or clnsa nhuainal nnnfinnmant