Year: 1874

STATE. OF LOUISIANA


2 Auditors Office. ,


New Orleans August ii, 1874.
To his Bxcellency William P. Kellogg, Governor of


Louisiana: 20 -.-f .-..


SIR herewith hand you my resignation
of the Office of Auditor OF Public Accounts,
to take effect upon the election and qualif-
cation Of my successor.


The reasons which impel me to this action
are, bri. fly, these: You are aware of the
wretched condition of the treasury at the
Of your administration;
that by means of an unconstitutional
law and the manipulations of q
class of men who cared nothing for
the true interests of the State, or for either
party, being wholly bent on their own gain,
it was so prostituted as to be completely at
the mercy of a combination OF speculatOrs,
whose interests the whole management OF
the finances was made to subserve. Added
to this Overshadowing evil there was host
of minor ones which l need not recapitu-
late These Influences combined, with bad
legislation, have reduced our financial
affairs to a desperate condition. You are also
aware that from the first the most strenuous
exertions were made on my part to correct
the abuses VI hich had brought merited
scandal on the offices of Auditor and Treas
urer, and that every effort was met with
bitter resistance on the part Of the Treas
urer and his advisers. who also had the
sympathy of a considerable portion OF the
Legislature. 1t is also known to you that
in this struggle to release the State from
the clutches Of a remorseless gang Of specu.
latOre, operating with the connivance of
the Treasurer, all the resources of calumny,
persecution and abuse were exhausted
agalnet me personally by the batf1ed assail-
ants of the Treasury, who. with shameless
etfrontery, charged upon me the very Of
fenses which they were attempting to COM
NIT, and which had been largely instru.
mental in frustrating. Being satisfied that
time would show how mearly and cruelty
unjust these charges were, l should have
continued in the discharge of what l con-
ceived to be my duty could l have been
assured of change for the better in the
treasury, and Of reasonable degree Of
harmony and cooperation between the two
offices. But have now the contrary as
surance. The Endorsement of NJ. Dubu-
Gle. by the Republican convention. secured
in part by the most disgraceful means,
satisfies me that he will return to his
old practices with renewed zeal, and it
is not unlikely that be will be sup.
ported in the Legislature by the
persons who indorse him in conven-
ton. In the close relations existing between
our two offices, it is unpleasant for the par
ties, if not detrimental to the State, for the
respective heads to adopt clashing policy.
decline to serve longer with such an as
sociate as the nominee of the Republican
convention, or to be longer held responsible
for acts which, though l oppose them. !
may not be able to prevent. l also regard
the Endorsement of Mr.. Dubuclet as a
condemnation of my course by my own
party, and gladly avail myself of the
opportunity to escape from a thank
less and most unpleasant office, which
otherwise would have felt bound to re-
tain. Further, l consider his nomination a
| fagrant violation of the fifth resolution OF
| the platform adopted by the convention
| which reads as follows: "That duty and
| sound policy alike cOnstrain us TO nominate
| and support for office none but men OF
| known honesty and capacity, and that
! men who are unmindful OF the interests OF


the Sta,e shall not be permitted to force
| themselves upon Us IN any capacity under
| any pretence whatever" That is the best
resolution in the platform, and intend, so
| far as my action is concerned, to stand by
| it whatever becomes of the others.


l, therefore. respectfully suggest that you
| issue your proclamation in accordance
| with law. for the election OF an Auditor OF
| Public Accounts on the day of the ensuing
general election in November.


In conclusion, l gratefully acknowledge
| the uniform courtesy and consideration
you have shown me during my incumbency
and beg to assure you personally OF my
continued esteem and good wishes. Very
truly. CHARLES CLINTON,


Auditor.