Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-01-30
THE HOBBS MYSTERY.

Vi tue luNCollSdbluS OoAAtAiscSSs "haOH
report is too voluminous for cur space.
Hobbs made full statement. the SUBJ
stance of which is-that, impelled by
III health and a conscious incompe-
tency, he resolved to resign, and hav-
ing been at much expense to procure
his election, could see no moral wrong
in accepting $4,000 from DIR. Duncan,
as a consideration for vacating the
Office. Such obtuseness of moral per-
ception. we had hoped, was rare in
this State, but fear that Hobbs is far
from beinganisolated example of those
who sell conscience for money, and
whilst we do not hold him to be more
criminal than those who accepted his
bribe-money, yet can not accept his
plea of ignorancein extenuation of his
guilt. Hewho sells hisvote, isaworthy
candidate for the honors of the Peni-
Tertiary, and he who sells his Office is
a fit companion of the first, in mutual
atonement for their crimes.
Mr.. Duncan testified that he was a
large holder of State bonds, and being
satisfied that Hobbs incompetentman-
agement of the Office would ruin him,
together with friends in the same boat,
he, on his own responsibility, and with
out assistance from any quarter, paid
Hobbs $4,000 to quit-prefering to
loose that sum, in the beginning, to
taking the risk of bankruptcy in the
end. He attempts to sugar-coat his
grave offence by arguing that, whilst
he acted in self-defence, he was salts
fed that he was doing the State good
service by disarmiug Hobbs of his
power to damage its financial prosper
ity through sheer incompetency to dis
charge the duties of Comptroller. In
balancing his moral account, Mr..
Duncan is entitled to no credit for any
incidental good that may have resulted
to the State, from the wrong done in
his own behalf At this point. the
people may well ask-if one bond
holder can controlan important branch
Of official duty, how many bond hold
ers will it take to control the entire
State government?
John L. House gave his testimony
with seemingly confused recollection
of many points, but as his evidence
relates mainly to his making Hobbs
pay him 81, 800 to defray his-HOuse's
expenses as a candidate for the same
Office, and 81 800 more for a violation
of his promise to make House chief
clerk. His testimony, though not as
direct as it might have been, savors
strongly of bribery to control the votes
of some of the members of the Leg
islature.
Frierson, though exhonemted from
the charge of having paid any portion
of the $4,000 received by Hobbs, evil
IDENTITY knows something which he is
unwilling to disclose to the committee,
or he would not have gone to Alaba-
ma to keep out Of the way. But as he
is said to be willing to appear before
the committee to investigate the con-
duct of ex-members of the Legisla-
ture, clue may be obtained to the
facts which he is so unwilling to dis
close. But as the chief point of pub
lie interest seems to have been,
whether Gov. Brown, or Mr.. Burch
had any agency in the foul transaction,
and since no witness, even by implica-
ton, cast a suspicion upon their fair
fame. it is needless to dwell longer
upon the report. 1t uncovers a good
deal of corruption, and warns the
people of the danger Of filling Offices
with selfish and INSCRIPTIONS dema
gogues, yet all shuold rejoice that the
intended victims ola foul combination
stand, even higher, in public conf
dence and esteem because of their bit
ter persecution and triumphant vindi-
cation.
Many other witnesses were examined,
but as they only tended to confirm the
facts contained in the statements of
Hobbs and Duncan, in reference to the
resignation and the price paid for it,
interest in the case ceases with those
statements, and all should feel relieved
that the mystery is cleared up, and
and that the guilty alone bear the stain
and the guilt.