Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1886-05-19

Mention was recently made in these
columns of most malicious attack made
on Attorney General Churchill by the
Phenlx Gazette and copied into the
Courier. The attorney general publishes
an open letter to the editor of the Gazette
in which he not only vindicates himself
thoroughly OF the charges. bu, uses some
very forcible language. Referring TO the
oft repeated charge, that as attorney
general he had received $3.50 from the
directors Of the insane asylum, he says
"The truth IS that no fee was ever pal d
to the attorney general by the directors
OF the insane asylum Whatever was
paid to the undersigned was SO paid no
IN my official capacity nor for any legal
opinisn. but for actual attorneys work,
IN the examination OF title to lands, acd
the preparation of papers ana for no ser
wee which the attorney general was re-
CURED BY law TO perform, and the pay
ment OF money to me is not made the
ground OF charges by the Governor
against the directors OF the insane asylum
and could NOT well be, as any lawyer
will inform.you
In this case you seem to labor under
the mistaken belief, that the attorney
general Is not an independent officer,
whose duties are defined by law, and
who IS responsible to the Territory and
to the people for the performance OF
those duties. On the other hand, YOU
seem to discuss upon the hypothesis that
the attorney general and all other terri
tonal officers are personal appendages OF
the Governor, and who have entirely los,
their individuality, and who only live,
move and have their being, by and
through the Governor. l say to you,
that If such was the case, / would never
have held the Office one day, and do
not believe that among the many aspi--
rants for the place, one would be found
now who IS degraded enough to accep,
II upon any such conditions
Since | have held the Office, have
personally performed what l believed to
be It's duties and am responsible therefor.
l do not now propose ts have any one
dictate to me how or in what manner
shal perform those duties hereafter,
unless their views agree with my own.
Although Governor Zulick has often
asked for my opinion, In my official ca
pacity as the attorney general, upon legal
questions which have arisen before him,
and have always complied with his re-
quests, as shall cheerfully do hereafter
as occasion seems to require, he has
never asked, nor have given him, any
advice upon the questions pertaining to
the removal from Office OF the gentlemen
who now constitute the board of direc-
wa ~. sf( iuSdHC dolt
The Statement insinuation and inu-
endo IN your article to the effect that my
course In relation TO the Governor, as
well as to the directors of the insane
asylum, has not been open, fair and
frank, IL all respects, are entirely false
and without any foundation whatever:
and to me they seem to be malicious and
intended to deceive the public, and lead
the people to falsely believe me not only
capable, but actually gully of -dunl.rsiY-
in the matter, and unless the author of
that editorial article publicly, and in the
same manner as the article IN question
has been published, retracts the same,
| hereby dencunce him as wilful and
malicious liar, who should not be allowed
to poilute the air which honest men
breathe, but whose cowsrdly, sneaking
conduct should cause aim TO he summed
by every far minded and upright
person"