The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1879-08-07
GOLDSMITH TO BE 1mpEAcHEp.

investigate the attempted bribery, Of
Davis and Strickland, by Hinton p.
Wright, to secure their names to
paper more explicitly generating
Comptroller General Goldsmith from
any wrong in his official transactions,
has made a lengthy report in
which they present sixteen articles
of impeachment for misfeasance and
malfeasance against said Goldsmith
and ask that committee Of seven be
appointed from the House to con-
duct the trial before the Senate
All the committee signed the report,
except Hanks, DuBose, Fitzgerald,
aud Colley, who agreed to the ma
jori,y report in most of its conclu-
sions, but in two or three articles
gives Goldsmith the benefit of
doubt.
The articles charge that Goldsmith
issued wild land fifas in advance OF
the time prescribed by Law; that he
demanded costs for tax fifas on nn>
returned wild land lots and before
the time had arrived for him to issue
them under the law; that in divers
instances he received fifty>ccnts on
fifas issued by him; that he illegally.
frAudulently and surrepttiously is
sued two hundred and twenty-eight
ffas against the lands Of Raundo g.
Co, and Fox & Co., aud transferred
them to Daniel Lott, when he knew
that the taxes had been paid two
years previous; that be violated law
in allowing Sberiff's to perform his
duties; that be allowed various per-
sons to retain money that should
have been paid into the treasury ;
that he retained in his own possess,
ion Sl1,I89 u arising from the sales
Of wild lands, which he should have
paid into the treasury; that he paid
cut money without the authority of
warrant from the Governor; that he
has made false aod fraudulent re-
turns that he has violated his obi
cation as a public officer that said
w. l.. Goldsmith retains IS clerks 10
his office one Allen j. Bell and one
James NJ. Goldsmith, who have made
false entries and specuated on wild
lands; that said Comptroller has
failed to pay into the treasury ST.
400 70 insurance tax collected; that
he has placed large sums Of public
money in bank to his private ac>
count and used the same when his
private business required it.
A supplementary report also
charges that Goldsmith furnished
money, 50 SO to Wright to pay for
a carriage to ride Davis and Strick
land out at tho time they were APP
preached by an offer of bribe; that
Goldsmith loaned Wright $3.50 to
pay pressing debt; that subse
quently Wright offered these Legis-
/ lators $3.50 and 500, at the same
time pulling out bank check book;
and that, therefore, w l.. Goldsmith
is guilty of lobbying, aud through
the agency of Wright endeavored to
influence, bride and corrupt with
money the Legislators named,
We must confess the bill of inlict
ment is strong one, and that the
charges named, places the official
conduct of Comptroller Goldsmith 10
an unenviable light, and carries with
it an influence that impresses us
with the conviction that the commit
tee have done their whole duty. -
He has been considered one of the
most competent, if not the best
Comptroller, the State ever had, and
these charges must, therefore, fall
with crushing force upon bis friends
and carry sad disappointment to the
people. We deeply regret that he
is thus cnvroned, and would be glad
to know that he could honorably ex-
tricate himself; but, notwithstanding
all this, the Senate, while just and
impartial, should not allow Interior
motives TO influence their action
either for acquittal or conviction :
Goldsmith alone is responsible,
and must stand in his own shoes =
Let there be no whi'ewashing. Let
Justice be done though the heavens
/ fall. Georgia wants none but faith
full, honest and competent public ser
wants. To have any other kind, is
to incur the expense of repeated in>
vestigations. consumption Of time of
members, and the consequent dis
grace of trusted public servants. =
Let the official broom sweep clean,
and remove from public Office all