Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-07
TIVE WILD RIOT IN ptJBLIc PLTN.

A rev Gays ago, attention Was called by
a Communication in the Banner to the fact
that the sum of $500 had recently been
paid out of the State treasury to VIM. H.
Wisener, a lawyer of Bedford county, we'll
known as leading Radical, and at present
candidate for State Senator, for triiing
service before the Supreme Court. The
Secretary of this committee was sent to the
Treasurer's Office to ask copy of the war
rant, which was exhibited TO him, and reads
as follows:
"NAsHvIILE, June 5, lS67-To the
Treasurer Of the State of Tennessee: Pay
TO William III. WiseRer, seventy-fve hun
bred dollars, the amount due and owing on
account of fees liz the case of Nichol IS.
Furman, Green & Co, and Ridley us. Sher-
brooke, com'r. G. w. BLACKBURN.
Comptroller of the Treasury"
On inquiry of the attorneys who so ably
represented the interest of the State Trea-
sury, in the case of Nichol rs. Furman,
Green & Co, we learn that Mr.. Wisener
had never to their knowledge, had any
thing to do with theease. He had never
appeared in the case, and had never coun-
seled with either of them concerning it.
Mr.. East, one of these attorneys, had been
paid $500 in this case, as the warrant of
the Comptroller will show and Judge
Harrison $3.50 for this and other legal
services. These gentlemen had attended
| 10 a half dozen or more cases in the Cir
cult Court; and had carried one of them
by argument to the Supreme Court, where
they had argued and won it. They nsrer
heard, zee repeal, Of Mr. Wisener IN aie case.
In the case Of Ridley rs. Sheerbrooke,
Commissioner, Mr.. Wisener merely APP
peared before the Supreme Court, said he
had only been called on within the last
few days, and would not argue the case
then, but would hand in a brief in few
days. This he did and this is all he is
known to have done.
Out of abundant caution, the chairman
of this committee next went to the Comp
troller's office and made inquiry Of the
matter The account of Mr.. Wisener wal
not submitted to hisinspection but he wa:
informed by the Comptroller that the ac
count was in two items. The first item was
for services in the case of Nichol, Clerk
etc, plaintiff in error rs. Furman, Greer
& Co, $2500-a case in which it seems
Mr.. Wisener had never appeared, and witt
which, so far as the attorneys on that sidt
know, he never had anything 20 do. Tht
second item was for services in the case o
Ridley as. Sherbrooke, S5000-the case II
which Mr.. Wisener merely prepared I
brief!
This account, the Comptroller states, lCas ap
proved By Wm. G. BrolUnlo1o Governor, lei6
has official signature and with such approva
the Comptroller felt bound to pay it. Thu
only color of authority we have been abb
to find for the payment of this exorbitan
and corrupt claim, is the following join
preamble and resolution passed by th'
Legislature, January %, 1867
Whereas, certain causes in law, involv-
ing the constitutionality of the Franchise
Act, are now pending in the Supreme
Court, in session in Nashville:
Resolved 10y the General Assembly o
the State of Tennessee, That the Governor
of the State be and is hereby requested Il
employ two or more couRseilors, learned il
the law, to appear before said court ana
argue said causes on behalf Of the State 0
Tennessee"
Another (House) resolution, passeC
March 4, 1867, directs the Governor to pay
to H. H. Harrison, w. H. Wisener, J. J
Noah and Z. A. Otis one hundred dollar
each in the case of Williams and Martin rs
Anderson and other members of the House
Of Representatives and to pay B. NJ. Till
man ffiy dollars for defending the case 0
Ridley rs. Sherbrooke in the Circuit
Court. Compare these fees with the 5000
paid to WiBener for submitting a mer,
brief in this same last-named case in thu
Supreme Court, and $500 for a case il
which he never appeared, and with which
he seems to have never had anything to do
We hardly know how to comment upor
this exhibition of desperate riot after tn,
public money. This instance which ha
happened 10 come to light may serve t.
give TO a people grooming under oppressiv,
taxation some idea ofthe way their money
goes.
Our State constitution provides tina
"No money shall be drawn from the Urea
sury, but in consequence of appropriation
made by law and an accurate statement o
the receipts and expenditure Of the pub
lie money shall be attached to and pub
lished with the laws at the rise of eael
stated session of the General Assembly"
There is no law that we are aware o
providing for this expenditures; and vel
the Governor and his favorites are thus
emptying the treasury for their own private
purposes, and perhaps for the purpose Of
securing their own elections. 1t is time
for the people to awake and look into These
things. We have taken great care to be
correctly informed of these matters
and can assure our fellow-citizens Of the
correctness of all that is stated above.
By order of the Executive Committee OF
the Middle Division,
JOHN LELLYETT,
Chairman.
10. WILLIAMS AT SPRINGFIELD.-JO