The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-03
Interesting Details of the History Of
Reconstruction in Georgia.
HOW A PARTY WAS FORMED.
Three Business Men Go Into Politics and
Become Seriously Involved.
THE CHARGES IN COURT.
[DY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.

!,
To-day Rufus d. Bullock, formerly Governor Of tho
State OF Georgia, appeared in tho Superior Court
Fulton county 10 answer to tho charge preferred by
the Attorney General OF being cheat a sw,nder aud
| q folon.
AS this Is the first time the history OF the United
States that Governor has been brought
GUS charges Doore the bar Of Justice resume OF tho
causes leading 10 the prosecution The facts upon
which IT based will be Interesting especially as this
resume will embody a bit OF racy political history and
throw good deal OF light upon the shadowy days OF
| reconstruction.
Early in the year 1865 three gentlemen OF them
well-to-do and inauential-met IN q private
Augusta. They held consultation OF about Two
hours During that select the republican party
OF Georgia born-albet tho brat destined such
an eventfu career was not then chrisened with the
name under which II afterward became notorious.
The mon Rufus b. Bullock, Foster Blodgett and
Benjamin Conlcy. Bullock very rich man,
being The general manager OF the Southern Express
Company, director In aud founder OF national bank,
and resident of Georgia 1857 II is said that
his various salaries amounted to over SO, year.
Bodsctt was man OF high position. lie was recog
hzed Whig leader, famous Tor shrewdness and
sagacity and had several times boon elected Mayor OF
| the city. Conley was q wealthy shoe merchant OF
thoroughly respectable standing. This trio played q
leading part tho evcntu decade that followed their
ONCE left the State and stands before bar OF
justice charged with crime. Conlcy became Prssi-
don't OF tho Senate then Governor and holds the
Post Office in Atlanta. Blodget became tho manager
OF tho Administrations political affairs, was commits
stoned United States Senator spent his fortune In tryi
ing get admission, and died few days ago In great
depression, with criminal charges, justly unjustly
| the future must decide, hanging over hts name
These men, after q OF the situation, In which
n.
ver.s decided the peaceful acceptance by the
State OF the plan OF rcconstruction proposed by
Congress- In pursuance Of this resolution they an-
nounced themselves candidates for tho convention
called bv federal authority for the purpose OF making
constitution tor the State. Tho democrats al
most without exception, held this convention bc
| illegal, and put up no candidates Under advice OF
Ben Hill, Toombs and others they held aloof from
| all participation In IT, It thus happened that
pcion at attached to any that allowed his
name TO DO used In connection with It, Not word
| had boon breathed against tho character Of either
Bullock Conlcy until alter thoy appeared candi
for Convention and while Bodgctt had boon
accounted shrowd In politics, suspicion attached
hts personal character Il 10 doubtful II either a the
mea concerned calculated the oxtremites 10 which
they would tho antagouism that they would
arouse whom they won't into the Convention OF 1855
| A gentleman long intimate with Bullock says 10
uever dreamt OF going into politics when he
TO run for tho Convention He was strictly business
I naunity, ssa had vast interests oommi.,od
to his Keeping He believed. however. that
the state had best reconstruct itself quickly
aud nnaiy. He thought that tho best OF .hs
State should 60 into tho Convention that was incvita
.bc, aud SEQ 10 II that good laws wore enacted. b.
iicving that no could properly the business
interests OF the state he consented TO 60 into tho Con-
sssacsats thsmseIvos with MIN IN represent,nS Kcn.
mond county He expected 10 retire from politics
the Convention was over, and did not give up
vat ta NM n n IN
began, however Tho newspapers. after expressing
surprise that 40 respectable man should so into tho
''nigger Convention" began TO abuse him. In
deed every stop ho took IN the Convention
seemed 10 au.ssOnize him with The people he
had formerly hold to DO hts friendG He, OF course
took a leading position, aud when at last Governor
Charles j. jenkins refused TO pay the Convention IFS
moved that tho Commanding General appoint Bullock
Provisional Governor. The removal OF Govefnor
pointed In his stead. When the Convention had ad-
ourned however and the republican party was sailed
their standard bearer Here, In my opinion, s
where no determined to 80 regularly into pol
tiles. He withdrew from his business ana DC.
! was awakened and his resentment stimulated" Ho
was insugurated Governor shortly afterward III DO.
licve" continued the gentleman, 'that thcr0 was
another time whom Bullock was driven out OF tho
democratic party, or rather out OF thoroughly con-
scrvatve course. Upon mis- taking his seat no seemed
bent upon building up respectable party. Hrs Cab,-
net was good one. His judges were. almost without
exception, able men his solicitors likewise, and his
general sppointmen bettor than expected. He
was being abused by MS party quite as heartily AZ
Hayes is at present Tho tendency OF ngs would have
carried him into much better company Than ho found
himself later. He was inaugurating 1ne system OF
Internal ipprovem cnts and his admin ration
winning irionda But Just here the game spoiled
General roombs. who, beng shrcwd enough TO eaten
.remcs. He arranged 10 have Tue negro members
Of the Legislature expelled IRON their seats. This
act,on bronght Bullock TO A crisis He had to decide
vital question. Ho had 10 either go back entirely
on the men who had elected him or he had to take
with the negroes III their contest with the white
AT eha Gfaf n aln =
alter decision u was bitter and deadly hight
There compromise possible. IL was war TO the
| knife and tho kp lie to tho hiIt
| LErr THE STATE
| This same Informant gives al account OF tho mo-
| the State.
aust alter the war Mr. H. !. Kimbsli came TO At
| Ianta the manager OF the Pullman sleeping Car
Company. He very soon became involved in building
important lines OF railroads TO which The credit OF tho
BaocH HA and the aSnn,.raon vas nscossarv very
much concerned with the success or failure Of his
prcjecls For some time Bullock had been threat
encd with Impeachment The Legislature elect
was largely democratic, ana II WAS openly
charged that II would mpcach the Governor upon Its
first assembling. do not believe that Bullock elt
that he could be successfully impcschcd but tho pro-
toring OF articles OF Impeachment against him would
have removed him from o1ice until the charges had
been settled. His successor would have been the
President OF tho new senate, who was sure to be
democrat The state would thus have been given
TO the democrats
IA short time before tho Legislature mot, KlmbaI
Jailed. The work hts enterprises was stopped
HIS bills were unpaid. A ciamor against min,
all over the state 1t said that he had received
more state aid bonds than he was entitled TO- Bullock
felt that this would give tho democrats point
which TO hang an impeachment and disposscss him OF
his office He reflected THAI he resigned before she
senate met the thcn President Of the senate this
old colleague, Conleyl would become Governor at
once otcio IL would OF course, DO Impossible Tor
the Legislature to mpcach the new Governor, and he
would thus lie allowed TO serve out tho term for which
Bullock was elected lie ,BaIlock) then determined
TO resign"
.'why did he iexve the staic'r asked.
.Snnpiy because Of the modification that no fct
being forced 10 give MP the night | knew that he
never dreamed that criminal indictment would DO
issued against him. He never thought OF such a
thing lie left thu State. issued his resignation and
sank out OF signt for awhile. He never hid him self
IRON the search OF detectives lie was pond
ence with pubic Enthusiastically with the author
tiles IN Georgiafor years before he was brought back