Year: 1872

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you few words. A little more than one year
ago was appointed to the position of Audi.
tor of State, and since that time I have en-.
deavored to do my duty in that connection to
the best of my Judgment How far have
succeeded remains for the people to decide.
The first action, which, out Of my regular
course of duties, I deemed it incumbent upon
me to take, was the prevention Of the circula-
tion of the Blue Ridge scrip. This, I was re-
peatedly told by the Governor, some one was
going to do; but after waiting until almost
too late, I learned that the action Of the Gov
nor was simply for the purpose of forcing
John j. Patterson, the President of the COM
pany, to pay certain claims which he held
against the road, in the shape Of note of the
company, which he procured in a way not
likely to add to the reputation Of an honest
man. Waiting, as I have heretofore said,
until almost too late, for some one to take this
matter into the courts, finally instituted the
necessary proceedings, with the sanction of
the Governor. After proceedings had been
commenced and the usual necessary induce
ments been offered his Excellency, an effort was
made by himself and others interested, to in
duce me to withdraw the suit. $4,000 in
cash was offered me by one party the day that
the case came into court; and an indirect offer
of 5000 in scrip was subsequently made by
another party, in case would consent to with
draw the suit. This, l, of course, refused
and the matter has been bone Of contention
between US ever SINCE


An effort was made soon after the adjourn
ment of the Legislature, and continued for
some two or three months. to induce me to
levy special tax to pay the interest upon the
entire bonded debt of the State, legal and IL
legal, to be collected Immediately. This re-
fused, although an inducement of $4,000 in
cash was offered me, to either levy the tax or
resign my position for the purpose Of allowing
DR.. Nsagle to make this levy; and, at the
same time, 1 was informed that Gov. Scott
had promised DR.. Neagle to remove me, in
case I refused to make the levy. 1 again de-
clined to comply with their wishes.


Now, second effort has been made to force
me to levy tax to pay the interest upon the
fraudulent debt of the State, and to include a
levy of three mills upon the dollar to redeem
s45O,OO0 of the Blue Ridge Scrip-one-quar-
ter of the entire issue-which has, by decision
of his Honor Judge A. j. Willard, of the Su.
preme Court, been decided unconstitutional
and invalid.


Now, while deem it the duty of every good
citizen to pay all just and lawful taxes, do
not consider it his duty to pay every tax that
may be imposed by unscrupulous men, who
chance to be in power. Nor do I consider it
the duty of any officer who, through the
force of circumstances, happens to be the ap-
pointee Of such men, to blindly follow their
dictation, without regard to right or wrong.
So thinking, and acting as l consider it the
duty of a good officer and an honest man, l
have again refused to comply with their wishes;
and I have this day received an order remov-
ing me from Office. 1t is but just to myselfto
add, that was informed by his Excellency
the Governor that I might retain the office,
provided I would make the levy. His Excel
lency, while insisting upon the levy of these
taxes, informed me that he knew the money,
if collected, would not be applied to the pur-
pose for which it was levied, but that was
none of our business that it was our duty to
levy the tax and he based his argument upon
the ground that many outstanding claims
we're now held against the State, (of which he
is the possessor to the amount of $4,000, as
he himself informed me,) and that the Treas
urer would have no funds to pay them. His
only other argument was, that he had publicly
pied dged his word to Henry Clews & Co., that
the tax would be levied, and that, should it
not he, he would stand before the people in
the light of inconsistency.


This scheme is, as have said, no new move
ment; but while Auditor of the State, l sue
ceeded in preventing its consummation. Be-
ing no longer in such position, l am powerless
to protect your interests, and now leave it
to you to say, shall this plot be carried out,
and you be subjected to pay this enormous
tax, amounting to twenty mills for State, and,
in this county, five and one-half mills for
county-two and one-half times the tax Of
last year? or will you unite in determined
effort to prevent the continuance of the frauds
which have impoverished the people and dis
graced the State? To bring such an effort to
successful issue, I pledge, for my own part,
my mcst hearty cooperation.


EDWIN F. GARY,


Late State Auditor.