Year: 1873

The Charleston Courier Of August


18th, makes the suggestion that the


Public Printer should be legally prose-
cuted or else the clamor against him
should cease, the text Of the following
caustic editorial.


The foregoing extract contains a


practicable and valuable suggestion,


which has been often made but never


needed. Governor Jacob began his 500
called investigation OF the Public Print


er's accounts about sixteen months ago.


More than a year ago he professed to


have discovered gross delirquencies
on the part of that official. And
although the power OF removal
was placed in his hands by law,
although the duty of prosecution rest


ed upon him by virtue OF his oath, he
.shrapk from bringing his charges TO q


final test by the exercise OF that power,
or the discharge OF that duty. He


had not the decency or themanhood to


follow his charges to their conclusion,
although repeatedly invited to do so, by
the Public Printer. He laid his charges
before the House of Delegates. That
body thrust them back, reminding him
that it was not only his privilege but his
duty to carry to the courts any cases OF


frauds in which he had confidence. He
had them renewed before the Senate.
That body, without division or debate,
declared them baseless and false. And
John J. Jacob, after filling the State
with his fierce accusations, and
blowing out of them "a bub-
bic reputation" for frmness and
integrity, quietly accepted, without ap,
peal, the verdict which declared him a
wlful defamer Of his fellow,man. He
refused to exercise the power OF removal
and falsely denied that he had any such
power; he allowed the printer 10 serve
out his term Of office undisturbed, and
finally confessed the utter baselessness
OF his charge by paying to Mr.. Walker
G. large sum Of money, nearly four
thousand dollars in amount, which
that gentleman claimed from the State,
but which had not been allowed while
tie charges were pending. The Audit
:r books will verify this statement.


We say that the failure OF the Gov
!'nor to suspend or remove Mr.. Walker
IL step which tne Courier repeatedly
defed him 10 take; his failure to insti-
tute prosecution in the Courts-the
only tribunal before which the wrongs
OF the State, If she had suffered any,
could be redressed; his cowGrdly ac-
quiescenCe in the dismissal Of his
charges from the Legislature, and the
alacrity with which ne rendered the
printer q peace offering Of four thou
sand dollars to which, unless the Gov.
ernor had borne false witness, he
was not entitled, are al incon-
testible facts which portray bad mans
guilty knowledge OF his own meanness
and malice. This statement is made
in the fixed belief that Governor Jacob
will not, because he dare not, institute
such legal proceedings as will fairly sets
tie the issue against the printer which
he first went far out Of his way to raise,
and then went still farther out OF his
way to dodge. lie has neither the
courage nor the fairness to give the
man whom he has accused an oppor-
tunity to confront him in q court o!
justice.


We are advised that the State print
Ing is about to be let to contract as re-
quired by law. There can, therefore,
be no filter time for closing up the old
business than the present. Why should
not the Governor, personally or through
some one of bis noisy clsquers, cause
the proper legal steps to be taken, TO
end this matter in the manner that will
be most satisfactory to the public?
There is but one reason and that Is, he
knows, and his friends know, that such
course on Lis part would result in
further defeat and worse exposure,
than any to which he has yet been sub
jected. We presums it is useless to pre-
sent to him or to them the RcgiStcr'8
suggestion that they shorll institute le-
gal proceedings or cease this clamor.
For all that, in view OF the invitation
which has been 80 often thrown out
and so persistently disregarded, it is inn
possible for the author and finisher Of
the raid upon the State Printer to avoid
the conclusion, that his failure to pos
ecute is proof Of his inability to sus.ain
his charEes.