Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-09
PROGRESS OF THE INJUNCTION
CASE,
further Argument Yesterday.

Inc motion TO dissolve the Injunction
against the Corporation is still being ar
gued before Chancellor East. The room
was crowded during the whole day The
argument was opened by Judge 10 c
Guild on behalf of the citizens. Ills
speech was quite lengthy, having occupied
four hours of the day. Below we give a
brief synopsis.
This, said the speaker, was probably the
most important case that ever occurred in
the State of Tennessee. There were two
great questions 10 be decided by the Chan.
cellor. One is the motion to dissolve the
injunction issued to enjoin officers Of the
Corporation from exercising such powers
which we deem illegal The next question
was the motion to discharge the Receiver,
Mr.. Bass, who was appointed TO take
charge of the corporation money, its az
fairs and TO control the financial affairs Of
the city. The most efectual means should
be used by the Chancellor to remedy the
the evils under which the people we're
laboring. To say that court of chancery
has no jurisdiction over such corporations
who take upon themselves the power to
issue checks made for the market, to
establish bank, not only Of deposit but
for issue. The officers admit in their
answer that they have in the last eight
months Issued 81, S6S, 900 in checks. He
could take up this answer and convict
them Of the most Outrageous wrongs, OPP
pressions and frauds that had ever been
perpetrated upon an unoffensive people.
This young Mr. Smith says in his argu.
ment that We go abroad to procure a par
tizan judge to appoint this receiver and
denominstes Mr.. Bass as lord. He ad-
vises resistance against the law of
the country and says that if
he had sufficient force Of
police the law would be ridden
over. These people have been in Office for
so long, that when any person passes the
public crib they commence to raise their
bristles and growl. Out of the whole list
of them not 100000 in taxes has been
paid by them since their sojourn in the
city. They are usurpers, and are usurping
their Offices, and when the case will have
a hearing they will be kicked out. Mr..
Smith argues that the Attorney General
should be consulted, and that the suit
should be brought by him; but he
contended that the Attorney General
need not be consulted, nor the Governor
and any tax payer who feels himself
aggrieved has a right. to come forward with
information and ask for relief They sd-
NIT that they are incapable of serving in
their Offices, and desire that the affairs be
placed in the hands ofsome wealthy man.
The court has done this, and now they
want the Injunction dissolved. Would it
not be disgraceful to displsce Mr.. Bass
and restore these men to Office? He en-.
dOrsed the action of Judge Smith and re-
pudiated the charge that politics had any
thing to do with his decision.
When a history shall have been
written showing how the rights
of this people have been
trampled under foot and how patiently
they bore the sfflictions, then this decision
of Judge Smith will be the proudest
feather in his Judicial cap if he should
preside upon the bench for the next fifty
years. This is new case and one extra
ordinary in its nature. You cannot find such
case as this, because there was never Be-
fore SO much corruption in any govern
ment. Mr.. Smith argues that the munich
pal government is a sovereign power, and
that Mr.. Bass is going around, sword in
hand, cutting off the heads Of men. Mr..
Bass is a quiet, inoffensive man,
and has assumed to take upon
himself the responsibilities of managing
the affairs of the city. or course he would
not appoint men who are hostile TO him,
who would check him at every turn, and
in Gaze Of fire in the city would not do
their duty. Still he is denominated by
Mr.. Smith as Lord Protector, and the
Judge who issued the Injunction a tyraut
Judge. A greater outrage was never be-
fore perpetrated upon a Judge. Judge
Guild then touched upon the right Of
Mayor Alden to hold his Office as Mayor
Of the city, that he was no owner of free
hold estate.
The amount of taxes collected from the
citizens is about 100000, yet the
tax collector is only required to
give a bond of $4,000, and the
bonds Of both Sheridan and Magrane are
signed by irresponsible men.
The Treasurer says he has $3.50, in
checks in his possession, and says that he
will cancel them and settle at the end of
the fiscal year. What would prevent
this Treasurer after finding out that he
could not hold to the public crib any
longer, from taking his carpet bag and
vamoOsing with all these checks. He did
not pretend to say that the officer would do
such a thing, but was suppose such a
case.
Lack Of space prevents US from giving
further notice of Judge Guilds well timed
remarks. He was followed by Gen. Nancy,
for the corporation officers. After he con-
cluded, the court adjourned until this
morning at II AN.