The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1901-11-19
GOVERNOR BECKHAM
Replies to Governor Dur
bins Letter
REFUSING TO HONOR rHE REQ
UIsIrIoN FOR TAYLOR AND
FINLEY.

Frankfort, KY, Nov. II, IooI.--Hon.
Winfield I. Durbin, Governor of Indiana,
indianapolis, ind.-sSir: Your refusal &c
honor the .requisition some time ago sent
you by me, asking for the extradition OF
w. S. Taylor and Charles Finley, fugi-
tives from justice from this State, charg-
Ell with being accessories TO the murder
Of William Goebel. was not unexpected.
but the remarkable letter with which you
accompanied the return of the papers
was indeed surprise to me, and sin
cerely regret the necessity of this reply.
II is true had been reliably informed
that you had incurred campaign obliga-
tions which committed you to the protec-
tion of these two political adjuncts to
your political fortunes, and that they had
been promised immunity from arrest un-
: der requisitions from the Kentucky au-
thorities in the event of your election as
Governor This information has been
confirmed by your conduct and by the
complete sense of protection under which
these two men. have rested since your in
cumbency of the Office
You are at least entitled to the credit
of having faithfully carried out your re-
puted agreement with them, however
much in doing SO you have violated your
oath of Office and brought discredit upon
the high position you hold But even
with this understanding of your embar-
RAISING position, confronted, as you were,
on the one side by the law and justice
and on the other by miserable political
bargain, ! could not believe that you
would so far forget the dignity and obli-
cations of your Office and the courteous
relations that exist among the Chief Ex-
ecutives of the various States, as to 90
out Of your way to offer gratuitous in
suit to the people of Kentucky, and to
cast a reflection upon the courts and pub
lie officials of the State. If these SLAM
derous charges had come from you as an
individual, then they would be treated
with the silent contempt they so richly
deserve, but as they come from you as
the Governor of great State, / shall not
hesitate to hold you up to public scorn,
and show how unjust and unfounded are
the willful and inexcusable misrepresen-
tations in YOUR letter
NOT A CONSCIENTIOUS CONVICTION.
When your predecessor, the late Gov.
Mount, refused to honor similar requlsi-
tions made on him by me, declined to
criticise him, because, while he had
acted under gross niisrepresentations 10
him as to the facts and an erroneous con-
ception of his official power in the matter,
vet believed that he had been governed
by honest and conscientious convictions.
cannot say so much for you. You are
not entitled to such an excuse, for when,
with tine record III your hands, you de-
liberately misquote that record in order
to forge libel against the courts and
citizens of this State, the plea of ignor-
ance cannot be entered i'll your behalf.
Forgetful of the duties and proprieties OF
the exalted position you occupy as the
Chief Executive of a sovereign State, and
blinded with partisan hate, you have not
only cast an insult upon brave and gen
erous people, but you have also exercised
power which has been expressly denied
you by the Constitution and laws OF the
United States, which you swore to up
hold and support when you took the
oath Of Office.