The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-15
NORTHERN TO HIS CRITICS.
The Governor Defends His Course in
the Prize Fight Campaign.

Writes Endorsements of the Gov
ernor.
Atlanta. Ca, Feb. 14.-Gov. Northen
to-day gave to the press an interview and
some important correspondence relative
to the calling out of the militia to prevent
the Corbett-Mitchell fight, and the issue
made on the legality of the claims for ex-
penses incurred against the state treas
ury, answering the question of his au-
thority under the law to draw the war
rant TO meet the bill sent in by Solicitor
General Brantley. for the expenses of the
civil authorities engaged in the Waycross
affair. which warrant, for $3.50, was held
up" by Controller General Wright yester-
day, on the ground that the money should
be paid by the counties at interest, and
not the state. Gov. Northen said:
Before the civil officers were notified
stipulated with Solicitor Brantley that these
Officers would be paid from the contingent
fund as we had no idea to what point any or
all Of them would be sent. Some Of them we
were compelled to send to Florida and fur
nish them with such facilities as would enable
them to get on the inside to obtain reliable
information, and 10 be present wherever the
train might chance TO stop. Each and all OF
them were held in readiness to go TO any point
made necessary, and therefore 1t was not my
opinion that their expenses should be made
chargeable TO any particular county.
AN OPINION FROM THE SOLICITOR.
Anticipating this interference. however, I
recently wrote Solicitor Brantley to give me
written expression Of his views as to the
law authorizing the payment Of these
amounts. and upon his letter drew the war
rant which is now stopped by the controller
as he claims he has the right to do. In his
letter to me Solicitor Brantley said; TO
hold that the counties should pay this ex-
pense instead Of the state would be equiva-
1ant to saving that ~
should invade Georgia those counties which
unfortunately happen to be the border Coun-
ties and are invaded should pay all the ex-
penseS OF repelllng that INVASION when such
acts OF repelling were done for the benefit of
the entire state. The act provides that when
he is notified that there is reasonable cause
TO apprehend the outbreak Of any riot. rout
tumult. insurrection, mob, or combination TO
oppose the enforcement OF the laws by force
or viole nee IL shall be his duty, IL he deems
such apprehension, well founded to call out
the military.
his POWER OVER THE CIVIL FORCES.
Such being his discretion as well as his
duty, with reference to the military, is IL pos
sible that he has no power and no discretion
TO organize the civil forces. and that if his
military is inaccessible he must SIT with
folded hands and see the law outraged and
the state disgraced and made a spectacle of
before all the people; When the matter is
one Of discretion with the governor, then do
not believe that the controller, the treasurer
nor any Official, nor any court, can inquire
governor has exercised his discretion.
The governor is only answ5rable in such
cases to his own conscience and at the bar of
public opinion. Any other rule would ab-
solutelly destroy any and all executive head
TO our government. 1t does seem to me that
the controller general whom know and re
spect. and say this with the greatest OF re-
spect to him, might Just as well refuse to coun
tersigna warrant for the payment OF
rewardon the ground that he does
not think the governor acted wisely in offer
ing It. as TO refuse to countersign the warrant
now being discussed. which like the warrant
for the reward, is drawn in the discretion of
thegovernor. To carry out the contention
of the controller, as have understood it. the
discretion Of the governor is subject to the
discretion of the controller, and that means
that the discretionary power vests IN the
controller and not in the governor"
BRANTLEY CALLED TO ATLANTA.
The counties along the southeastern border
of the state constitute the Brunswick judicial
circuit, Hon. j. L. Sweat being the Judge and
Hon. W. G. Brantley the solicitor. When 1
was put into possession Of reliable informa-
ton that the fight would be
attempted in Georgia I submitted
my information to the attorney general and
he suggested that the civil authorities should
be notified. 1 at once telegraphed Solicitor
Brantley to come to Atlanta. He spent an
entire day with the attorney general and
myself discussing the law ana the facts. He
said, with emphasis that he did not want
the disgrace of the fight put upon his circuit.
he returned to his home under instructions
organize the civil forces and to let me know
from Judge Sweat Il here were any
fur her needs. This 81 CT or ntley did,
anu wrote me lnqu1rin- .,4.n aOULt the su D.
mort OF the civil authoriti IS by the military
h told me that Judge Sweat thought it
best for me 10 90 to WaycroSs In reply l
telegraphed no indications about the use OF
the military forces, but that l would go in
person to Waycross. In the meantime l mott
fed Col w. w. Gordon, OF Savannah, to be in
readiness to respond to any order from Way
cross.
DETERMINED TO STOP THE FIGHT
had fully determined to do all in my
power 10 support the civil officers in the dis
charge OF their duty in enforcing the law
against the threatened defiance if my aid was
needed When Solicitor Brantley returned
TO Brunswick after his conference with Judge
Sweat these gentlemen determined to send
two trusted men TO Jacksonville, unknown to
each other for confirmation OF the informa-
ton we had, If true. Their investigations
confirmed the statements we had received
This learned after l reached Waycross and
then ordered the military to the support of
the civil authorities. While in personal con-
ference with Judge Sweat and Solicitor
Brantley, my appearance at Waycross was
not, therefore, to take command OF the troops
as mas been SO generally stated, but to
save expense to the state II the threatened
disgrace could not be otherwise averted.
did what, in my deliberate Judgment the
good name OF the state required me to do, and
my sworn obligation TO the people demanded.
have every reason to know that unless
these preparations for defense had been made
georgia WoulQ nave sunered the disgrace of
Mississippi in the Suilivan-Killraln affair.
This attempted TO prevent
NOT INFLUENCED BY CRITICISM
For this have been severely censured by
many people in this state TO such
citizens l have no apology to make
Their criticisms, though severe. have not
moved me one particle from my purpose
For their information and for the full salts
faction of all the people you may say for me
with emphasis that no amount of ridicLle
and contemptuous talk will ever drive me
from the fearless discharge Of my duty to the
state and my sworn obligation to the people
My conscience Is my own and will never de-
nverit to the dictatIon or control of any mum
Der OF men who, through ridicule, try TO have
me dishonor the state.
l have now given you my record upon prize
fights, and will stand squarely upon il in
the face OF all possible ridicule abuse and
contempt.
Here is letter received from Judge Sweat
written upon his own motion, that may be Of
interest to the public"
JUDGE swEAT's LETTER
The governor produced a letter from
Judge j. L. Sweat on the same lire as
that from Solicitor Brantley In it Judge
Sweat says:
The Cort EFT Mitchell AFFAIR was unlike anv
ordinary threatened breach OF the peace or
violation Of the Jaw in that the attention OF
the world was largely attracted TO it and was
watching to see If the authorities and the
people down here would prevent a brutal ex-
hibition to the disgrace OF their civilization
los d lie rHarur