Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-07-13
REBUKE THE RING.

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We had hoped that our protest against |
the injustice of taxing the people of Knox
county to pay tho 81 800 salary given to the
Judge of the new Criminal Court for Knox |
county, just established by law, had been
needed by this Immaculate Assembly at
Nashville, but we find, on examining the
BILL as finally passed, that our hopes were
unfounded. The amendment passed by
House, providing that the State should pay
one half the salary, was not concurred in
by the Senate. The burden falls, therefore,
entirely upon the people of this county,
and in view of the great number of courts
provided for Shelby and Davidson counties
by this same Assembly, we regard the act
as an unfair and proscriptive discrimna-
ton against the people of this county.
There is no partisanism in this complaint.
The facts show that in the division of the
Circuits and Chancery Divisions, an unfair
and grossly unequal burden has been
placed upon the Judges and Chancellors
elected in East Tennessee. We have COM
mented upon this before, but we feel the
injustice so keenly, and regard it as so un
merited, that we intend to have the people
thoroughly understand and appreciate it.
In East Tennessee-where our counties are
much more inaccessible than in Middle
and West Tennessee, and where the litiga
ton, if not involving as much money, is
as important and arduous as in the other
divisions of the State-our Chancery Di-
visions and Judicial Circuits are composed
of thirteen, twelve and eleven counties in
the former, and eight and nine counties in
the latter, while in Middle and West Ten
nessee the Chancery Divisions contain, on
an average, one, four and six counties, and
the Circuits about the same.
| But this is not all. Shelby and Davidson
counties are given special Criminal, Law
and Chancery Courts, which, in almost
every case, are paid for by the State. But
wheh Knox county, whose Chancellor
holds cieUeH courts outside of Knox, and
whose Law Judge holds court in eight
other counties, asks for Criminal Court,
we get it by paying for IL. There can be no
doubt as to the grounds for such unjust and
shameful discrimination. We are in the
minority, and get only such rights as the
Democracy choose to give us. When our
people are called upon to pay their extra
tax for this Criminal Court, let them re-
member that the extra burden is imposed
upon them because they do not approve
and act with Tennessee Democracy, as
promulgated by this incorruptible (?) body
of Solons at Nashville.
And when they come to vote on the 4th
day of next August for this new Criminal
Judge let them be very careful whom they
choose, lest in the result this ambitious
unscrupulous ring at Knoxville who Great,
these offices and attempt to dispose Of them
be encouraged to believe that they carry
about in their breeches pocket the UOte o
RnOr county, and can make and till fat of.
; fees at their WILL
The bill, as we have before charged, pro-
Yides that the Judge shall name his OWL
grand and petit jurors. This we believe tC
: be dangerous and unnecessary innova
ton, and one subject to gross abuse. 1t is 1
) blow at the right of trial by jury, and W,
cannot understand what is meant by the
change.
There is, therefore, very important
| question to decide in this election. The
bill for this court was prepared in Knox
vile. 1t was put through for special pur
. poses, and the best and surest way for thu
l people to rebuke and condemn such triflins
? with their interests and rights is by defeat
Q ing every candidate in political sympath!
, with this Knoxville ring. This trifiins
with the courts of the country is some
thing too dangerous to the rights of tn,
people to be tolerated or encouraged, an,
e we hope they will give the men engaged il
p it pointed and significant rebuke, by de
] feating the candidate they support or en-
: dorse.
ORGANIZE.