Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-07
Hawkins Responsibfii,y for the Crime

Hawkins Responsibility for the Crime
The Nashville World, in All editorial on
the Polk defslcation, says that for months he was
stature who sought by every means in their power
10 make him give the bond required by the law.
In this the LEGISLATURE was bafied in the most
n h-handed aud r-prehensible manner ever s-en
or known in a parliamentary body His default
was suspected in the hour when the famous enc
hundred-and-three coalition held the fame and
money of Tennessee in their remorxeless grip.
That combination was formed by an alliance of
the Republican members OF the last Leeis-
lature and the few Democrats who went with
them for the infamous purpose Of enslaving and
robbing and plundering the people for the benefit
lists. Head, Houston, Haynes Thompson and
other gallant spirits sought BY all sorts Of meas
ures to protect the treasury of the State IN every
effort they were foiled by the hollow squsre OF the
one-hundred-aDd-three coslation, which inclosed
in its disgraceful limits the Ascending and de-
faulting treasurer. The Republicans actually de-
bauched the treasurer and got possession OF the
contents of his office for the purpose of exc
enlng ana cs1rslns OUT Two OF me most IN
way the statute books of any State The patriots
we have named demanded in the name of justice
and the coalition, under the lead of Butler, for
babe It and prevented it The present governor
appears in no enviable attitude in this dark work
from his own showing and from the facts which
will be developed fully hereafter by the joint
mittee Of the two houses. And as this may lead
70 Hawkins's impeachment we viii enter into de
he has twice called the attention OF the Legislature
to the condition of the treasury under Folks ad-
ministr4tion. He says that he called upon that
tainly fixes upon him the knowledge of Folks de-
fault. Furthermore, Polk claimed 70 have paid q
firm in New York City for engraving the one hun
dred-and-th bosds S23 900. The one-hundred-
snd-three act required the treasurer to have war.
rant from the comptroller to pay this money
before he paid 1t out and the governor was
also required by it 10 issue certificate to
the treasurer before he paid it. Butler sought
to get q credit for this outlay for Polk, and ii
refused because m.
Months after the money was paid, Hawkins, in q
nune pro tune manner, issued certificate to Polk,
and the comptroller issued him warrani. which
were retroactive in their character BY this means
knowledge of Folks illegal methods was brought
TO allow the credit, and also refused to pay the
attorneys in the Northumberland three case.
Polk. however, paid some money on this account.
credit Now, when the whole land is ringing with
the crime perpetrated against the State and peo-
Pile, We ask the public to read the statute which re-
qures OF the governor very plain duty. 1t is sec
ton III of the Code of Tennessee at Is the duty
the governor to require new or additional bonds
or additional security from the comptroller, sec
Rotary Of state snd treasurer whenever in his
opinion the Interest of the State demands it. -
The fact is. that when the present governor took
his seat, Polk was elected treasurer, and he did
not give bond. The governor knew then and
has known it ever since and yet he did require
the treasurer to give the bond as this statute re-
quires. He saw millions of the peoples money
go into his hands without making him give
a new bond or additional bonds or additional
securities. In fact he let him, in open violation
OF law, execute the duties of the high ONCE OF
treasurer and handle all this money without
even making him execute any bond. Haw-
kins knew that there was no bond and that his
bond executed years before was not binding on
him and his security. Knowing all this he fla
gravity allowed the people to be robbed and plum
dered uUder his nose. In fact he shielded the de-
faulting officer in every manner he could and in
cited his party in the Legislature TO protect and
defend him from any and all assaults. It will be
remembered that during Hawkins's administra-
ton famine flung its baleful wings over the
state and the people called aloud TO him in every
conceivable manner to grant them relief. He was
asked to seno in permission to of his four ses
sions Of the Legislature to exte1d
the time for paying double taxes un.
der his one hundred and-three act, but he Ie-
fused, Although he gave the Legislature a score
or more Of reasons Tor convening them in ex-
traordinary session, he did not as much as men-
ton that there was famine In the land. Hi
not the cries of Gods chosen people. TIE result
of that inhuman conduct was that the people
were forced to pay in the money which Polk flung
to the four winds of the heavens. This blood
money was dished out to the bondholders, and II
may be to the lobby. Anyway, it is gone, and the
people who were cruelty feeced are left in the
lurch, and have not one thing to show for II. For
this Hawkins and his confederaies are responsible
In the sight of God and man. II he had been len
lent, and lis ened to the cries OF the people, and
had not sold himself, body and soul, to the bond
the state. The fall and fight of Polk was pro-
duced by the schemes Of band of the worst men
that ever plundered and pillaged an Impressed
people. This mans fall is the climax OF the rot
tenest and flthiest method that ever was prac-
ticed in this or any other State.