Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-08-23
"BARGAIN AND SALE.o
Gov. Brown ''Rises to Explain"
From the Union and American.


NASHVILLE, August 16, 1S73.-My
attention has been called to certain
articles in the Nashville Bulletin,
Republican journal of this city, refer
ring to the Office of State Comptroller,
in which it is charged, among other
things, that Gov. Brown must have
given assurances" to the parties alleged
to have been instrumental in procur-
ing the resignation of Capt. Hobbs,
that Col, Burch would be appointed
in the event of a vacancy.
| have invariably refrained from re-
futing through the public press any
criticism of either my official or per-
sonal conduct, trusting always in re-
gard to my public acts to the discrim-
mating judgment of an enlightened
people But in the presence of
scandal so grave and so seriously cal
culated, if unnoticed, to effect my
official and personal character, / feel
that a departure from my custom hith
erto is pardonable, and that the public
will indulge prompt and emphatic
refutatiOn, due alike to myself and
Tue people Vi Tie OpdCe.
At the time Capt. Hobbs reigned, |
neither knew, believed, nor even sus-
pected that any improper, unfair or
corrupt means had been used or resort
ed to, directly or indirectly, to procure
it. He had repeatedly said to me that
he had apprehensions that his declin-
ing health would force him to relin-
quish his Office, and was not surpris-
ed when, week or ten days prior to
the vacancy, he informed me that he
would tender his resignation the first
of the following month. / did not,
then or subsequently, suspect that he
was actuated by any other motive than
bad health and inability to discharge
the duties of the Office
| had no agency in the election of
Comptroller by the General Assembly,
for without the mention of other con-
siderations, sense of delicacy arising
from my official relations forbade any
active participation in such contests
among political friends. And after
Capt. Hobbs induction into Office and
until his resignation was rendered and
accepted, | was not approached on the
subject of his successor, and had not
only given no assurances to Col. Burch,
or to any one else, that he would be
rendered the place in case of resig
nation, but had not intimated to him,
nor to any one, that | would do so;
and when the vacancy did occur | was
perfectly free in entire good faith to
every one, to have assigned to the place
any other qualified and eligible person.
And had l done so, neither Col.
Burch nor any other person could
have said or even felt that | had viola
ted any existing promise or assurance,
actual or implied; nor could / thereby
have disappointed any reasonably ex-
cited expectation. There was no mo-
tive presented or influence used by
any one, to secure the place for Col.
Burch, and in the exercise of the high
official prerogative conferred by law
upon the Executive, | was moved by
no higher or lower incentive than
sincere desire to have the affairs of
that most important Office administer
ed by one thoroughly competent, and
who would serve the State with strict
fidelity to his trust. In so far as the
charges in question may involve other
parties, it is not the object of this COM
munication to discuss them. l know
nothing of the facts, and have no in
formation on the subject, other than
that derived by the public through the
same sources. To those who know
me well, 1 fatter myself that it is un-
necessary for me to add, that if | had
had the information, or had believed
that corrupt means were resorted to
to secure a vacancy in or an appoint
ment to the office, such an act would
not only have merited, but promptly
met my unqualified disapprobation and
condemnation.
1t is impossible for me to anticipate
the phases in which malevolent critics
or inimical parties may endeavor or
desire to have me connected with this
scandal. And l therefore desire to
add, that if there was such bargain
and sale as is charged, (of which |
have no evidence.) l had no knowl-
edge, information or even suspicion
of II X
JNo. C. Brown, Governor.