The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-12-29
Colnptroller Colt Resigns.
Governor Easood Accepts His Resignation

O1uOl SO-0ot oSos w S''~ A~oN '
lowing message and accompanying
letter:
COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec. 20, 1880.
Gentlemen of the General Assem-
sem6ly:
I beg leave respectfully to inform
YOUR honorable body that James c.
Colt, ESQ.,, comptroller-general, has
this day rendered to me the resigua-
ton of bis Office, and that have &C.
cepted the same.
The reasons inducing this step Oh
the part of the distinguished public
officer alluded to are set forth in his
letter of resignation, which is here
with transmitted.
I have to express my regret that
the State is deprived Of his valuable
service
JOHNSON HAGooD, Governor.
OFFICE COMPTROLLER GENERAL,
COLUMBIA, S. C. Dec. Is, 1880.
To HIS Ercellency johnson Hagood,
Governor
SIR-I beg leave herewith to ten
der my resignation Of the Office Of
comptroller-general Of the State Of
South Carolina. In resigniug the
Office to which I have been elected
and into which have been recently
installed, T feel it due to myself, as
we'll as to the people who placed me
there, to state the reasons which
move me to do so.
While not personally favoring the
nomination of general ticket In
June, it was my fortune to be placed
upon the State ticket by the unani.
nous voice of the Democratic Con-
yention which met at Coluubis at
that time. Within one short moath
thereafter, while engaged iu an earn
est endeavor to discharge faithfully
the duties whish had been previously
imposed upon me and feeling as I
thought just pride in having done
90 with honor to myself, I sas sud-
denly stricken down BY an unforeseen
misfortune. I have never felt that
I could blame myself for any care
lessness in the management Of my
Office as special commissioner. Yet
the fact that loss did a occur in
thet Office was a source of deep morti-
fcation and distress to me.
The modification and distress was
Increased by the manner in which the
information Of the larceny was con-
veyed to me.
I rejoice and shall ever be thankful
that the discovery was made in time
for the facts to be ascertained, and
that no imputation can rest upon my
character.
! cannot but regret, however, that
it had not been sooner and in differ
ent manner brought to my attention.
The extent of the loss to the State
hsing unknown, and supposed to be
large, naturally created an alarm 10
the public mind. 1t was impossible
to place the public in possession Of
the facts in anticipation of a trial in
the court. Under these circumstances
it was thought by some that my
name would be load upon the Dem
ocratic party in the heated canvass
which was then anticipated in the
State.
Had the executive committee pos
sessed the power to fill my place With.
out the call of q convention, and could
I have honorably withdrawn my name,
I would unhesitatingly have done so.
The call of convention in my
opinion would have tended to a dis
organization of the party IN the State,
and the best interests of the people
would have been in jeopardy.
In this emergency, while expressing
to the executive committee my ina
bility to make good the loss to the
State, assumed the loss and agreed
to devote the labor of my life, if ne
cessary, to its liquidation rather than
hazard the welfare of the people.
I will not deny that I had great
hope, when the facts were made known
By an investigation into the whole
matter, that generous people would
not permit a public servant to be
financially ruined if it was ascertained
that he was not to blame.
My expectation has not been dis
appointed. The generous action Of
the General Assembly has this day
placed it within my power to honor
ably resign my position and remit to
the representatives of the people their
right to select another to FIJI the Office
I hereby vacate.
I beg that this Communication may
be transmitted to the General Assem-
bly, that the people may know that
what I did pending the election was
for no purpose Of securing to myself a
position of honor and trust.
! desire it further that I may ex-
press to the members of the General
Assembly my sincere thanks for their
kind action of this day, and to assure
them that I shall with pride ever hold
in remembrance the expression Of
confidence in me personally exhibited
by those who favored the action Of
the Assembly. I beg to assure you
that I have not hastily adopted this
course. It has been my desire for
long time to lay down my trust at
the first opportunity that I could hon.
orably do so.
Very respectfully,
JAS c. Corr,
Comptroller General.