The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-23
Mr.. Colts Resignation.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
oFFIcE COMPTROLLER GENERAL

DEtAHlMENA
coIuMp1s Lusun s. S. G.. Dec. 18th, 1850.
To His Erceiieney. johnson Hagood, Ger
er',or:
SIR beg leave herewith to tender to
YOU my resignation of the office Of Comp
troller General of the State of South Car.
olina.
In resigning the office to which have
been elected, and into which have been
so recently installed, feel it but due to
myself, as we'll as to the people who
placed me there, to state the reasons
which moved me to do so.
While not personally favoring. the
nomination Of a general ticket in June,
it was my fortune to be placed upon the
State ticket by the unanimous voice of
the Democratic Convention which met at
that time.
Within one short month thereafter,
while engaged in an earnest endeavor to
discharge faithfully the duties which had
previously been imposed upon me, and
feeling, as thought, a just pride III hav-
ing done so with honor to myself, l was
suddenly strick en- down by an unforeseen
misfortune.
have never felt that could blame
myself for any carelessness in the man
aeement of my Office as Special Commits
sioner, yet the fact that loss did occur
in that Office was source OF deep mortl-
fcation and distress to me.
The modification and distress was in
creased by the manner in which the III,
formation of the larceny was conveyed
to me. I rejoice and shall ever be thank
full that the discovery was made IN
time for the facts to be ascertained, anu
that RIO imputation can rest Ipon my
character. cannot but regret, however,
that it had not been sooner, and in dill
ferent manner, brought to my attention.
The extent of the loss to the State be-
ing unknown, and supposed to be large,
naturally created an alarm in the puDlc
mind. It was impossible to place the
public in possession of the facts in antlc-
fpation of a trial in the courts. Under
these circumstance, it was thought by
some that my name would be q load upon
the Democratic party in the heateo
canvass that was then anticipated in the
State.
Had the Executive Committee. pos
sessed the power to fill my place without
the call of convention, and could nave
honorably withdrawn my name, would
unhesitatingly have done SO.
The call Of convention, in my opin-
ion, would have tended to the disorgani-
zation of the party in the State, and the
best interests of the people wonld have
been placed in jeopardy. In this emer
gency, while expressing to the Executive
Committee my inability to make g good the
loss to the State, assumed tho loss and
agreed to devote the labors Of my life, if
necessary, to its liquidation rather than
hazard the welfare of the people.
will not deny that had great hope,
,vbap fho f,ots 1pQro n1Qda known nv an
investigation into the matter, that gen.
erous people would not permit public
servant to be financially ruined after it
was ascertained that he was not to blame.
My expectation has not been disap-
pointed, The generous action Of the Cen
eral Assembly has this day placed it with
in my power to honorably resign my po-
sition and remit to the representatives Of
the people their right to select another to
fill the Office hereby vacate.
beg that this communication may be
transmitted to the General Assembly that
the people may know what did pending
the election, was for no purpose OF secur-
ing to mYselfa position ofhonor and trust.
I desire it further that l may express to
members of the General Assembly my
sincere thanks for their kind action OF
this day, and to assure them that shall
with pride ever hold in remembrance the
expression OF fcontidencein in me personally
exhibited by those who opposed as we'll
as by those who favored the action OF the
Assembly. beg to assure you that have
not hastily adopted this course. 1t has
been my desire for long time to lay down
nv trust on the first opportunity that l
could honorably do so.
Very respectfully, JAMES C. Corr,
Gon Dt ro l1pr.( General.