Richland beacon., 1875-06-26
Auditor Ciinton's EscpIy TO
Judge Cu,i0n,.

Judge tu,iOg,l.
Last week we published an opcr
letter from Judge l.. North Cullon
TO Auditor Clinton, and in order tha
Doth parties may have an equal hear
ing we copy the following roply whicl
that letter called forth from the Audi.
tor:
NEW ORLEANS, June II, 1873.
Hon. +. North Culom. Judge Fifth Distric
Court.
Sr-Your letter addressed to me
and published in the Picayune vcstcr.
day morning was brought to nav
attention to-day, anG recognizing the
Importance to you (and others who
have like claims upon the State
treasury of being promptly paid
your salary, respectfully submit to
you the following reply:
The appropriation OF $4,000. made
by the extra session TO pay their mile,
age, per diem and contingent expenses,
was doubtless in excess of what was
necessary. | believed at the time the
bill was signed that the part Of it
requiring me to issue warrants upon
the treasury and make them rccciva-
ble for licenses, in preference to other
or constitutional warrants, was un-
constitutional, and referred the matter
TO Attorney General Field, who re-
piled that it was my duty to issue the
warrants as specified in the appropria-
lion act.
Some six or eight days ago | had
some S2G 200, general fund, to send TO
the treasury, and made request upon
that officer that he WOULD permit me
10 pay judges with said amount,
which would have completed pay
mcnt of all the district Judges and
district attorneys for their first quar-
ter throughout the State. His reply
was that he had in his hands some
$4,000 Of legislative arrants which
he intended to pay first. need not
tell YOU that these warrants were
doubtless bought at discount and
percentage of profit was being real
lied TO some one whenever they were
paid.
They were made receivable for
licenses while Judges warrants were
not ; and they cOu d have been soon
retired through license payments,
and the general fund from current
taxes (S2G, ,0O0) could and should have
been in equity applied, as | had re-
questcd, 10 paying TO salaried officers
of the State. | think you will bear
Inc cut in the assertion that have al
auost inccssantly, since my official
term commenced, eh1eav ored to break
up the rings around the Treasurer's
Office, who manage TO have their war
rants paid to the exclusion of original
holders. But as long as the Treas
urer tolerates them and encourages
them, and warrants are ioated out on
the market, it will be impossible to do
so.
You request Inc to consider certain
laws unconstitutional and disregard
them, but | am not by any means en-
couraged in such course by the
kind Of support | have heretofore re-
ccived at times when was endeavor-
ing to overcome and break up fraud
ulent and dishonest practices pur-
sued under the technical forms of
law. In the pursuance Of what |
judged to be my duty, | took many
responsibilities calculated TO draw
upon me, and which did draw upon
me, the bitter hostility of powerful
political rings, and at the same time
was left wholly without support from
the class of citizens who should have
sustained me in such efforts (Which
were for their protcction) however
much they may have dislikcd me
politically. | have been fined for
contempt, indicted, impeached, prose
cuted civilly and criminally for actions
which l believe all honest people will
yet justify and while | am still will
ing TO take all reasonable responsible
ties in the discharge Of my duties, |,
do not intend to furnish other excuses
for rings and desperate politicians to
make war upon me unless | find u
better support than have heretofore
received
However, as to your salary, all cx-
cept $4,000 Of the legislative warrants
are now paid, and l think you may
rely on getting your first quartor's
salary on the 5th or 9th of July.
Very respectfully, yours etc,