Year: 1872

in Office. This is plain proposition-a just
and fair proposition that cannot be mis-
understood and it does seem to me that no
fair.minded member on this floor can oppose
its passage. I am frank to say, that am not
actuated by any ill-feeling toward either OF
the gentlemen constituting the Financial
Board or Agent, but by sense of duty l owe
nv constituents and the Taxpayers Of the
State at large. The honor Of these gentlemen
demand q thorough and searching examina-
ton. The high and digni6ed State offices
they fill call, in laundering tones, for a thor.
ough investigation Of the charges preferred
against them-not to be made alone by legs-
lative committees, who, if they were to exon
crate them from the charges, would be accu-
sed of bribery. Therefore, my suggestion,
that it should be conducted by legal men, who
thoroughly understand the emergency of the
case, whose legal character would be above
suspicion, and gentlemanlY department would
defy reprosch or excite suspioion-who as
we'll prepared to examine into legal questions
or the finances of the State asgentlemen we'll
versed in the law? Then, if either or all Of
these gentlemen are guilty of embezzling the
funds of the State, the first step would be to
recover them; the next, to punish them tor
high crime and misdemeanor. And, my word
for it, if these gentlemen, or any one of them,
are not guilty Of the charges preferred against
them, these attorneys will so make it appear !;
and the Republican party would then have it
in their power to hurl back in the teeth Of
those who have so industriously engaged in
vending all the foul aspersions their ingeni-
Gus or inventive minds could originate.


As an honorable man, member Of this
House, and I am prouder than all to say true
national Republican, I am not willing to bear
any of the guilt of State officials, if they be
guilty; but if innocent, I am willing to 60 as
far and risk as much in protecting them in
their innocence as any member on this floor.
But, why shirk the responsibility? lam fear
full "there is something rotten in Denmark"
If the officials referred to are guilty, it is due
alike to honesty and good conscience that the
law should wreak its vengeance upon their
guilty heads, and purge the party of such foul
calumniators and vampires, who have sought
to enrich themselves by robbing the very peo-
pie who furnish the capital that runs the State
Government machine, and have placed the
poor old State on the very verge Of bankrupt
cy ask you, gentlemen, in all candor and
sincerity, if these are are not facts2 Are you
willing to share part of the infamy? I tell
you if you object to investigating this matter,
there will be good grounds for suspicion. L,
for one, propose to wash my hands clean of
guilt and if there is any way or meals by
which this whole financial matter can be un-
earthed and brought to light, 1 will support
any measure to bring it about In my hum
BILE judgment, this Legislature will be guilty
of one of the most bare-faced wrongs, in fact,
I might almost say party to the crimes, if
they do not bring about some measure to con-
vince the people of the State that the State
officials are amenable to them. fthey refuse,
when called upon, to report their official trust,
this Legislature has the intelligence, the stam-
ina and backbone to devise means to make
them do it. I for one, am in favor of not ad-
iourning this Joint Assembly sine die, but to
take recess until this financial matter is
thoroughly investigated and satisfactorily ad.
justed or adjudicated. a =.


Gentlemen, this is no matter of boys play /;
it involves either the saving or ruin of our
beloved State, and on your shoulders the re.
sponsibiltY falls. Are you willing to assume it?
If so, play well your part, guided by the i'm
pulses ofa conscience clear of guile, and look
ing to the interest of the people you you have
the honor to represent. g.. .,.....


There seems to be desire on the part of
many members of this House that the Gener-
al Assembly shall adjourn sine die at the ear
liest time possible. I can very well tell which
way the wind blows from the course the straws
fly. The Financial Board and Agent are
amenable to this honorable body for the yio-
lation of their solemn duty, and the commission
of the most fragrant wrongs. To evade &C;
countability is their great Object. An early
and final Adjournment would not only put q
quietus upon any fears they, may apprehend
on that score, but enable them to commence
afresh and untrammeled their work of plum
der and gain. A 6tful fever Of anxiety has
seized, and will continue to afflict and harrass
them, as long as this Assembly continues in
session, for it is somewhat uncertain at what
hour this honorable body may 60 off half
cooked. Procrastination is the thief of time,
and in this instance the thing hangs heavy
with many parties, I have no doubt. I am
entirely in favor Of placing a check over the
State officials, until they are honorably ac-
quilted of the charges preferred against them.
That purpose, in my humble opinion, can be
accomplished by taking recess at the. earli-
est day practicable-to convene again when
circumstances in our financial matters shall
arise requiring legislative action. l am
averse to adjourning sine die, for the very
moment the Speaker raps bis gavel on the
desk, and proclaims the House adjourned sine
die, YOU open the door for the commission of
new frauds, and virtually say to the State Of
fcials: "Roll up your breeches and wade in
it amt deep; you have nothing to fear. we
are blind, and won't see if we could" Let us,
then, as legislators, continue to hold the reins
of authority in our own hands, and apply such
remedy as will bring the guilty to justice,
and prevent, them in the meantime from tran.
scending the honest and legitimate functions OF
their respective Offices The good name and
credit of our State are dissolving and fast IA
ding away. Unless we abandon the do'noth-
ing or milk k-and-cider policy that has hereto
fore marked our proceedings on this subject,
the unimpeached triumvirate, whosteal abroad
stepped in guilt, without a mark upon, their
brow, will very soon strangle the last pulsa-
ton of our financial existence. -, g.. ,,.....


THAT'S ALL R1GHT.-How many Of us but
use this expression a dozen times week, and
have it to stick in the throat, at least half OF
them2 1t is coming to be hypocritical ap-
pendage of business and special intercourse.


A sponger goes behind the counter and cuts
off dimes worth of tobacco or cheese, with
an excuse that he wants to sample it," and
the grocery man says, "that's all right" =.


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