Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1890-03-27
}, MISS, THURSDAY, MARCH q. 1890.

a. IN" IunaS were on hand. and
snat correct books would show IL. I
nave never claimed 20 know where the
errors were. but have alwavs felt. ard
stiii feei- that they would he discovers.
whenever thorough examination ~.
made.
In the light Of today see sha.r~,.
! neglisent IN not having periodical bal
snces struck and MONEYS counted ~.
the necessity for this did not suggest il
self at the time. when I now see Il
should have been done.
Il had hoped that the labors Of the
committee and commission would be 40
comprehensive in detail and - thorough
IN execution that the result reached
could De accepted - conclusive. Bat it
VIII De seen upon reading their report
shat they ascertained nothing not shown
N my own report and attempt 20 show
mat Tour entries arp correct. in shit.k IL
nad been suggested there were errurs.
u this were correct. IL settles nothfnx
a. to many thousand other entries IN
which errors might as easily have been
made. To do this weuld have -,,uuf-~a
careful investigation and coupari<on-
extending throughout weeks and pss-si-
nty months. without the ~cop.. of their
duty- Although | DO not doubt tha.
they proreeded in good faith. I must
submit 10 an intelligent and fair public
whether any one in the time consumed
could have made such an investigation
ot the transactions Of fourteen wears, in
volving thousands of items and millions
of dollars. as would enable him 10 saw
that every account was unaffected BY
error
If permitted. will have such an in
Faa.4f ser-sF -.
telay-that can Re avoided. What
length Of time this will require I can
not say, for about IL persons differ. Mr..
Lougino. a member Of the commits
sion- resigned after beginning work be-
cause IL could not BE- pruperl done with
out years labor. while Mr. Patty an
nounced. after four days examination.
that he WAS ready - make a report.
That his work could not be perfect il OBJ
vious. for he changed his report after il
had been given 10 the press and allowed
me credit for >i9.oo0. which he bad over
looked The committee asked me. after
u had completed its examination Of the
books II could point out - them any
error Although | knew there were
errors. for the reasons above stated. I
could not Indicate them. for the books
had been out Of nv reach after the dis
erepancy was discovered except for a
few days. wkich was not sufficient time
to find errors.
~ member Of the committee. A. I am
informed. said that when a book See pcs
makes a statement showing a balance
against him. the burden - on him q
point cut err0rS II he claims there are
any. This Is perhaps the principle on
which IL prueeested- AMI th0egh I could
not meet this requirement. then. 7 am
absolutely confident that shall be
able % do IL when have had an 0ppor-
tunitv ~ make a thorough examination
81 the books.
Il have net sought. and shall not
seek % evade the consequences Of my
conduct. and | am here % answer in
any and every way that the law may
demand and may b. able. To relieve
my sur~ties Of anxiety pending investi-
cation. but not 70 eonciliate public
Judgment. ~ has been charged. have
placed at their disposal all that
possess Of Office. fruits Of
my labor outside. property owned when
| went into office. every dollar | had
and the home Of my family.
is II asking too much OF an intelli-
gent public that it withhold its Judy
meut until opportunity Is afforded me 70
look into the matter. even into the mi
nutest detail. or until judicial inquiry
and determination establish Justice OF
the natter
| am here. ready 10 suffer the penal
ties Of the faithless servant. IL be such.
But | ask in behalf OF my family and
those Interested through me. that no in
jury be done them by hastily formed
opinions based on partial investigation.
IF | am in default the fact was dis
covered By no watchfulne>s Of others.
but was disclosed by my own voluntary
statement. All that Is now known rests
on that statement. and knowing 10 a
moral certainty that if is erroneous.
ask nothing but the chance to find the
error WILLIAM L. HENISGw