Richland beacon., 1874-03-28
Clinton Oh Blackburn.

Auditor Clinton recalcitrates with
vigor on Senator Blackburn, touching
the publication of the laws in country
papers. Blackburn defended the
usage as the sole means of sustaining
Republican party papers in the coun-
try parishes claiming that the main
tenance of such papers was a matter
of high State and party interest.
The Auditor holds different views
After broadly intimating that reform
and economy in our State finances bad
been hir dcred rather than advanced
by the 'pretcu.ious Senator, the Audi
tor, a letter addressed to Senator JAS
per Blackburn, and published in the
New Orleans Republican, proceeds
thus to pierce the Blackburn bubble :
You have used your position in the
Senate to procure Cor yourself the
printing of the House journals in
your paper, at an expense of some
$1,000 or $4,000, well knowing
that the benefit thereof accrued solely
to yourself, ,he work to be done being
of no earthly u-e 'r advantage to the
State, either directly or indirectly.
In addition to this, you had sundry
appropriations made for yourself
amounting to six or seven thousand
dollars-for old printing bills, the
greater part, if not all, Of which was
| in my judgment, a "gratuity." You
are now unwilling to desist from
printipg the laws of the late session
being " ell aware that such work i;
neither necessary nor valuable to the
State, and is beneficial to YOU alone
1t is not great stretch of imagina
tion to suppose that while you wer'
having their gratuities voted to your
self, YOU were placed under some obi
cations TO assist other members t.
helm themselves in like manner rhi
effect is apparent. among other things
in the number of heavy bills alrcad
presented for payment for useless af
worthless publications of the HoF
journal. / hold it to be gross %
: la,ion of trust for members of ne
General Assembly to vote into e"
own pockets the peoples money a'h-
out consideration, or 10 possess 'eih-
selves of doubtful claims agaln' lne
State with a view 70 favorable lglSia'
t tion thereon to their own enrichment
I vet many members of both hclses o.
, the General Assembly who AVoweo
themselves in favor of economy an,
4 reform were guilty of Onf or oo',
these things at the last sesson. ouc'
8 conduct ought to consign ,he doors
of whatever party, to coDempt an
e oblivion. and | trust the tine Is he
! so far distant when Louisiana Repn'
licans will cease to return member
who use their positions solely tc II
things" as they say, to their own AZ "
vantage, and to the detriment OF u
State.
oppose these unnecessa' eXPe
ses for printing on the ground tha'
i had faith to our creditors as well
to the people. While we ar are oao ASK, ~
our creditors to discount Sio,ooo,V
of their obligations, every dollar u
is corrup,lv or carelessly given a"
for purposes not necessary TO ma
tain the State government, Is IN
ally criminal misappropr'a'ion
funds. 1t is just possible 10
through with the year before u-;
nav with the revenue received
necessary expenses the state 6
ernment. The printing contracts u
out will, unless Cancelled req
more than 100000. couid see
way 10 provide for such deot'
felt obliged to request the GoyerI
lieutenant Governor, ana oPeaAe
the House, who constitute the pr
inc commission to relieve US frou
| do not agree with you that this
volSes the destruction OF the cou'
Republican press. IEo'e 7"