The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-04-05
AROhER'S RESIGNATION.

Forwarded to the Governor by His Son-in-
Lav-He Has Handled Thirteen and
Om-haIf Million Dollars, and His EN-
pioes Have All Been Honest.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, April 1.-The pain
full silence which State Treasurer Steven
son AIcher has maintained ever since the
damaang charges in the administration
of his office have been made public, has
at las been broken. He himself has
spoken and his friends who have beer
waiting for voice from Belair can find
little comfort in what it tells them. To
day MI Archer S resignation was brought
to Annapolis by his son-in-law, Senator
Silver; but Governor Jackson had gone
to Baltimore before Mr.. Silver reached
here, aud it was given to Secretary OF
State L.compte. Nothing was known OF
the resignation here except by these two
gentlemen until Governor Jackson re
turned tonight and the resignation was
given out. 1t is singular composition,
and while commendable effort is made
to exculpate his officials from blame, the
one necessary inference all through the
letter, AID certainly in the concluding
paragraph, is confession of guilt
Following is the full text of the letter:
BELAIR, MD, March 81, 1890.
To HIS ErceIlency ELihu e. Jackson Co..
ernor q Maryland.
Sri herewith tender yon my res
ignation As treasurer Of Maryland. Dur
ing the fur years of the incumbency Of
the office by me, over S13. 100000 have
been received and disbursed by my office
every dollar of which has been scrupulo
usly accounted for by the efficient,
laborious and honest employees in my
office, so that the books correspond ex-
actly with the charges against me in the
comptroller Office. 1 say this in justice
to those officers. The safe Deposit boxes
in Baltimore, which held the sinking
fund belonging to the state were under my
sole and exclusive control, no other per-
son ever having had access to them since
have been in office. Any irregularity
in the funds in those boxes is Attributable
to me alone. If this cannot be explain
ed, then must submit myself to the
majesty of the law.
Respectfully,
STEVENSON ARCHER.
The resignation has caused considera
BILE surprise and speculation to the few
members and senators here to night. 1t
ia evidently written under legal advice
and is taken as removing all doubt, if
any has existed since the report of the
committee, as the the enormity of the
charges. The letter is written i'll a clear,
beautiful hand, and is signed in Mr.
Archer's own well known characters,
but with evident nervousness.
Governor Jackson has not yet deter
mined what action he will take as to the
resignation, but will hold it to await the
advice of the Attorney General, who
will probably be here to morrow. Ii
has no bearing upon the work of the
investigating committee. which is eharg
ed with specific duty by the Legislature
and will carry it to a conclusion. Meth
er will the resignation affect in any way
the bondsmen, or prevent any prosecu
ton or action that may be determined
upon as most advisabl against the states
defaulting officer. This was settled il
the case of Secretary of War Belknap,
VINO resigned for the express purpose
of avoiding prosecution, but was after
wards subjected to the proper legal
proceedings.
Governor Jackson went to Baltimore
this morning, where a conference was
held at the hotel Rennert regarding the
matters which are most seriously agitat
ing the party at this time. These were
the Archer defalcation, the re-assessment
bill and the liquor licence commission.
No one seems to know with any de.
gree OF certainty yet who the next State
treasurer will be, or when the appoint
ment will be made, it cannot, from the
nature of things, be long deferred.
There is one man who can have the
place by saying yes. He is an East
ern Shoreman, and his name is Robt. F.
Brattan, the late president of the Senate.
Mr.. Brattan is very close to Gov. Jackson,
aud has been rendered the place, but
has declined. Mr.. Brattan has his eye
on the office held by the defaulting
cashiers immediate superior when the
time comes around. Governor Jackson
said tonight that there bad really been
no conference beyond an informal
affair. The investigating committee, he
said, had determined to renew their in