The Osceola times., 1876-05-20
The Public Services Of Hon. W, Il
Miller, Of Independence.

~ ilcr, 0f tndrlsehucitcs, WVp Is y
tvndidaio ior Tho DDmination ior
the olicc Of governor OF ,hc state,
before the Democratic state c0y
vsulion. There are, however, y
good many people who LDye co1c
INTO tho state wi,lSn tho last few
years who are rot acquainted with
IBIS past history. There has been,
perhaps, too much iulsoms culogy
of rival candidates; and shall con
tent mpsclf with stating facts that
are publicly known, and which ad.
nit Of no dispute.
Mr.. Miller was born in Indcpen.
.dcnce county in this state. Lis
luther is o substantial fsYmcr, who
is still living in u hale and extreme
great age. Soon after he bccaMc
Of ago Mr.. Ailtsg WIS olscted clerk
Of Independence county, u position
which 10 held for about SIX years,
when he was appointed auditor OF
tho state, in the year 1854, to fill o
vacancy caused by the resignation
of Hon. Z. &. Danlcy. At that
time the auditor was elected by tho
legislature. Tho next ensuing leg.
islaturc went over TO the American
or know-nothing party, and as Mr..
Miller DID not follow II, he was de-
featcd il race for auditor by Mr..
Huey. At the end Of Mr.. uuoy's
term, Mr.. Miller was elected 10 the
Office ofaudiior, and he continued
10 hold that position until the days
Of peconstrpction, beating Con. Fa.
gan Tor the place in 1866. After be
was beaten by Mr.. Iluey, he was
appointed, with Mr.. Gouge as Nj
associate, TO takc an account OF tho
atTairs OF tho Real Estate bank, il
which the slatc had large interest
The accountants made out u repor
showing the condition of tho banl
affairs, which was published, sn,
which has served as the basis of al
subsequent legislation and adjgdica
ton on the subject of the bank
This account afforded tho first accu
rate statement of the coalition o
the bank ever made, and, although
there has since been much litiga
ton about the bank mortgages
which has resulted in docrccs in ia
yor of tbe state for some millions O
dollars, yet the accuracy ot this re
port has never been questioned
Mr.. Miller did o similar work iol
the land system of the state, whicl
had been trusted TO commissioner,
and agents, through whose ncglec
aud occasional ineompelency th,
landed affairs OF ihc state fell into
the most perpieRing confusion, N
is shown ty the reports of the su
prone court, Aitor this depart
mont was turned over TO the audi
tor the confusion ceased and ther,
is no reported case, and there ha,
been NO private complaint, of any
want Of method or want OF accura
cy IN anything that passed through
his Office and was thcro acted upon
After the commencement of re
construction Mr.. Miller retired tt
| his home in Batesvillc, and ther,
began ine practice of law, and con
unuod In it with success until h,
was again elected auditor at Tho
last election. During the whole
time Of his ohiGial plreer there la.
never been the slightest imputa
tion on his official conduct, THIS j,
somewhat remarkable, Us he 10 no.
in any sense n trimmer, but ma,
of very decided views, which h,
has meyer hesitated to utter on any
matter of public concern. One o
the principal affections made tc
him us candidate for governor
has been that hs could not b,
spared us auiliHr. Having yielded
to what seemed TO be public opin
ion on tins point, he has very prop
erly made y decisive rhoics ans
loft the way to tho auditors offic,
open. There is u somewhat preya
lent opinion that it roauipos bu
little ability to perform tho dutic
OF the office OF governor. This ds
} pends somewhat on the manner II
, WHICH they are performed but
hsy arc well performed ut TIN
timp y very considerable cxecutiv
ab'l,sY Is demanded, and also an n,
: curate and iamilisr acauaintsnc
: ylth the finances and resaurces @
the state and there ia no oae VIII
would claim to have a more pcrirf
knowledge Of these things thsn "
u. Millor- The Importance OF IN,
S ing u good administration of II
y etate government for tho nast Nv
a years cannot he overcstimated, an
il would be exceedingly uHiQrtl
pate If tho state should be cor
= ,roi'ed hy anything else than II
g best cGpsiiIy that we can iarest
!. each branch of the public sarylc
In conclusion, will add that Q
Though tho state government b,
lsscM ip pxixtcncs for iorty year
! slc el,IrI rKccuiive Inns never hee