Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-30
TUE DAVIDSON COtNTY REVENUE
COLLECTOR


TUE DAVIDSON COUNTY REVENUE
COLLECTOR.
The Cincinnati Gazette Of the 2Sth
inst, has the following paragraph
Capt NJ Walsh was, at the March
election ia Tennessee, elected Tax Col
lector Of Davidson county Compare
lively stranger, be could not give a
bond satisfactory to the County Court
Governor BrOwnlow has authorized the
Registration Commissioned to take his
bond and induct him into Office. The
bond required by law is for three hum
bred thousand dollars
The Gazette unwittingly puts this case
in a very strong light Here is a COM
parative stranger elected to the most re-
sponsible Office in the county, because Of
the large portion of its revenue which is
to be collected by him. The Code pro-
yides that the Revenue Collector shall
"enter into bond, with approved securi-
ties, to the satisfaction of the County
Court, in penalty double the amount
of the county tax, for the faithful
performance OF the duties imposed upon
him la Capt Walshs case the bond
was fixed at three hundred and sew
enty-fye thousand dollars, in ac-
cordaneo with the provision Of the
law we have quoted Capt Walsh
presented a bond to Judge Glenn, of
the County Court, which was not
satisfactory, and hence the Judges res
fusal to accept this bond The law is
explicit and imperative The bonds
men must be worth the amount Of the
bond, and Judge Glenn would fail in
his duty if he accepted bond that was
not entirely solvent Under this state
of the case, it appears Gov. Brownlow
was appealed, and with his readiness to
usurp authority, he ordered the Commits
sioner of Registration to induct Capt
Walsh into office. We understand he
claims authority for this outrage under
the tenth section of the franchise law,
which provides as follows
THAT in case any County Court shall
fail OF refuse to induct into Office any of
the officers elected under this act, it shall
be lawful for the Commissioner of Regis
tration, upon orders from the Governor, to
perform that duty, and to administer all
necessary oaths, and to take and approve
all necessary official bonds, and the same
shall be good and valid in law"
This law was certainly not enacted to
meet a case Of this kind 1t was for
captious or political reasons that
County Court should refuse to induct in
to Office Nothing Of this character has
actuated Judge Glenn in this case. One
of the officers elected at the same time as
Capt Walsh, presented an insufficient
bond, and the Judge refused to accept it.
Subsequently it was withdrawn and a
satisfactory bond presented, when he
was indicted into Office by the Judge
The other officers presented satisfactory
bonds, and they were indicted into of
fee. Capt Walsh presented a bond
which was not satisfactory, and the
Judge rejected it lie refused to induct
Capt. Walsh into Office upon an unsatis-
factory bond. And now comes Governor
Brownlow, ever ready for a usurpation,
however fragrant, if he supposes it will
annoy that portion of the people who are
not Radicals, and orders the Commits,
sioner of Registration to induct Capt
Walsh into Office In the meantime, Capt
Walshapplies to Judge Cary, ofthe Circuit
Court, for mandamus to compel Judge
Glenn to show cause why his (Walsh's)
bond was rot approved The mandamus
was granted, and the matter is to be
heard to day While this is pending,
the Commissioner of Registration has
sworn in Capt Walsh The question
now is, did Mr. Sheridan approve the
bond which Judge Glenn will show to-
day is wholly insufficient? The Cincin-
matt Gazette pleads for Capt. Walsh that,
" comparatively a stranger, he could not
give a bond satisfactory to the County
Court" The law requiring this heavy
bond, with approved sureties, to the
of the County Court, was
upon the statute book when Capt Walsh
was nominated and elected to office, and
is it to be disregarded because he is
comparative stranger, and cannot give
such bond as the law contemplates2
Had his competitor been elected the same
kind of a bond would have been required
him. Have the people no protection
against these outrageous usurpations of
Brownlow and his clam During his ad-
the people of Tennessee
have been governed by two sets of laws
as efectually as if the Legislature had
resorted to class legislation We tell
these men that the law must be "a law for
Radicals as well Democrats and Conserv-