[347] Conley’s message above cited.
[348] It is to be remarked, however, that four of the roads whose bonds the state had guaranteed became bankrupt before 1874. See Poor’s Railroad Manual for 1873-4, pp. 432 and 582; and for 1874-5, p. 426.
[349] E. M., 1870-74, p. 449.
[350] See the case of Hoyt, Minutes of Fulton County Superior Court, vol. I, pp. 371, 445.
[351] Report of the investigating committee of the legislature appointed in Dec., 1871. Its report was printed in Atlanta in 1872. It is bitterly partisan, but a minority report made by a Republican admits, with humorous resignation, that the charges are true.
[352] A. A. C., 1869, P. 305.
[353] See K. K. R., vol. i, pp. 137 and 138. The statements are on pp. 11 and 12 of the letter as published in Atlanta in 1871.
[354] See Conley’s message cited.
[355] In the latter part of 1868 and in 1869 the governor paid to a certain H. I. Kimball $54,500 from the treasury. He paid this to be used in furnishing a building which was at that time occupied as the state capital. (Bullock’s statement, B. A., p. 29.) There was no law authorizing this payment, nor was the state under any obligation to make it. The state bought the building in 1870 by an act of the legislature which provided that the $54,500 should be counted as part of the price. Thus Bullock’s advance was ratified by the state. (S. L., 1870, p. 494.) This, however, does not change the character of the act.
[356] See C. R., April, 1871, and April, 1872. Bullock was accused of indorsing the bonds of three railroads contrary to law. In the case of two of these (the Cartersville and Van Wert, or Cherokee railroad, and the Bainbridge, Cuthbert and Columbus railroad) he refuted the charge beyond contradiction in his address to the public of 1872. In the case of the third (the Brunswick and Albany railroad) he admitted that he had indorsed bonds before the road had complied with the conditions required by law, but said that he did it for the public good. (B. A., pp. 39-41.)