The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-03
ClintOn's Last Rascality.
He Violates Law after it is Ex-
pounded to him by the Attor-
ney General.

The fact that Clinton has issued warrants
under an enjoined section of the General
Appropriation bill is now matter of record,
and the Attorney General with his accus-
toned vigor has gone for him in a way that
Mr. Auditor wilt be apt to think unkind.
We are delighted that the valiant Auditor
has at last tackled an antagonist that he
will find worthy of his steal.
We called on the Attorney General yes
terday, and we found him at once courteous
and indignant - indignant that Clinton
should pretend to have misunderstood the
purport of his letter. He explained to us
that Mr.. Clinton could not plead such a mis-
understanding, for after he had written the
letter, and before warrant had been issued,
he sent for that individual, and in the pres
ence Of ex-Goy. Hahn explained to him
fully the meaning of his letter-explained
that the sections in the Appropriation Bill
providing for the payment of printing and
advertising were unconstitutional and that
40 warrant could be issued under the en-
joined sections.
Heinformed Mr.. Clinton that if he thought
the Printing bill of 1871 authorized him to
issue warrants he might do SO, but they
could not be paid. They would be mere
evidences of Indebtedness, which would
| have to be funded or provided for hereafter
| BY the Legislature. Clinton understood
| this perfectly and coincided with the Attor-
| ney General, and yet he went to his office
and in q little less than week Issued some
| 10000 worth of warrants under the enjoin-
ID sections. Hence the action OF the Attor-
| uey General, and hence his indignation.
We warn Mr.. Kellogg now, as We have
warned him before, that if Clinton is per
| nitted to remain in office, he viii bankrupt
utterly the State and the party upon which
he has fastened himself like a Hungarian
ieech.
The letter Of the Attorney General to
Clinton having been published in Il garbled
manner by the Times, we give it in fab
NEW ORLEANS, March %, 1874.
hon. Charles Clinton, Auditor Of Public Accounts:
Sill have the homer to acknowledge the
receipt Of your note OF this date. requesting
nv opinion in regard TO the payment OF the
country papers ior printing the laws under
! contract with the printing committee
designated to audit and settle their ac-
COUNTS.
The answer is clear, that you cannot Issue
my warrants for claims of this kind, under
tny Of tie provisions OF the appropriation
iii Of the last session Of the Legislature.
lnless the injunction issued BY the superior
Court il raised. No part OF said injunction
10 propose TO suspend until compelled to
TO 80 by the decision Of tile highest court in
he State. Bat Your right and power to do
. under the printing bill" as Indicated IN
n. Gore1T0ts note, Is another and different
question. II goa can issue tie wafTaRts under
lie printing bill, the provisions OF which are
lain and unamb;guous, and you can under
stand them as well as | can, you VIII not
Violate any of the clauses Of the injunction
which tie State has obtained.
! appreciate the difficulties and annoy
tnces by which you are surrounded, and all
can say is that public officer should fear
essly perform his duties according to the
BEST of his ability.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
A. z. FIELD, Attorney General.