Greene County GaArchives News.....An Appeal to All Good Men (by Thomas P. Janes) September 21 1879
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Denise Murphy denisemurphy13@msn.com October 27, 2004, 8:45 pm

The Daily Constitution, Atlanta, GA
The Daily Constitution, Atlanta, GA., September 21, 1879
An Appeal to All Good Men.
Editorial Constitution.  The resolution [unreadable] by the house on Thursday 
last upon the motion of Mr. Philips, of [unreadable] does great injustice to 
myself personally, and the administration of the department of agriculture.  
It [unreadable] that the commissioner was called upon for a [unreadable], 
complete and itemized statement of receipts and expenses from the year 1871 to 
September, 1878, on the 13th day of November last, and that such report has 
not been given as called for.

These are the facts.  Whilst the bill to abolish this department was before 
the house committee on agriculture for investigation this demand for a 
statement was received and immediately complied with.  My clerk presented it 
before the committee, and was examined in reference thereto.  No objection was 
made to its want of clearness, of [unreadable], and never has been up to the 
time of this present action.  That committee with all the lights afforded as 
to the administration of the department, made an adverse report to the passage 
of said bill, thus sustaining this as one of the departments of government.  I 
did then believe that I had discharged my full duty in reference to the call 
made upon me by said resolution.  If my attention had ever been called to the 
defects now set forth to said report, it would have afforded me great pleasure 
to have furnished a voucher for every dollar that ever passed through my 
hands.  My quarterly reports have been regularly made to the executive 
department, as required by law, with vouchers showing the disbursement of 
every dollar drawn by me from the treasury.  They are, and have been, there on 
file subject to the inspection of every citizen of Georgia.  This should have 
been known to all persons interested in the examination of the accounts of 
this department.  This resolution places me in the false position of refusing 
to make a full showing for the money expended in this department.  It is 
unjust to me personally, and a censure upon my official character.  I have 
nothing to hide.  All that I have done in my attempt at the administration of 
my duties is written, open every citizen of Georgia at any time whenever 
called upon.  I say, therefore, that it is unjust that such a declaration 
should be made, and I make this appeal to every fair-minded man to withhold 
the formation of an opinion upon the matters set forth in said resolution 
until their truth has been established and I shall have afforded me a fair 
opportunity to meet these charges.  I do not allow myself to believe that it 
was the intention of the house in adopting this resolution thus to assail me.  
It must have been done inconsiderately, for I am very loth to believe that a 
public officer of the stat who has faithfully discharged his duty is so odious 
as to be thus dealt with by the house of representatives, and I am persuaded 
that a full investigation will relieve me and my department from all suspicion 
of intentional wrong in my administration.  Do give me a fair hearing before 
you strike.
Thomas P. Janes, Commissioner of Agriculture

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