Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-02-15
ULE q KICKS. Preprietorr.
The FEARLESS, INDEPENDENT PRESS SPEAK
OUT,

cation of Judge Hall that the special legis-
lation procured by the libel and public
printing swindling ring of Tennessee
is unconstitutional and rOid-an opinion en-
dorsed by every disinterested lawyer at
the Knoxville Bar-comes the following
singing rebuke to Bakers libellers from
the Tobacco Leaf, staunch influential
Democratic paper of Middle Tennessee. Lie
is evidently mistaken about the power OF
the Legislature to pass the law COM
planned of, but waiving this, read what it
says:
The Greeneville Seatiael, which is one of those
papers that tells the truth about friend or foe,
thus speaks of the dSgraceful legislation by
which the suits of John Baxter against the
Cnio, and american and Banner, may be trans
ferred to Nashville-a bill passed for their pri-
vate benefit:
such special legislation, for the interest Of one
individual 10 the disadvantage of another, is re-
sorted to. Tho act is disgrace to our statute
books and this we say after cool deliberatlon.
And coming from a Legislature of cur own
political faith makes 1t the more Illuminating to
US" tH
Legally since il affects only the remedy, and
not the right the Legislature could pass such
law; but what must be thought of Legislature
scheme, and legislste for two lobbying newspa-
pers. What must be thought of newspapers,
which aspire to be leaders of public opinion,
and yet resort to such shameless perversion Of
the legitimate end Of legislation; while assail-
ing corruption, yet seek to corrupt the very
fountain of law, and turn it to their own use?
We have never admired Baxter, nor sympa-
thised with him in his Suits and yet If he should
gain his suit, it will no doubt wipe an exceed
ingly dark spot from the fair face of Tennessee.
Our dispatches this morning report that
the English Government will be forced
by public opinion, to withdraw from the
arbitration agreed upon in the Washing
ton treaty. This will only delay negotia-
tions and need not provoke serious results.
II would, of course, he breach of public
faith, but war need not result from that.
The best indication Of the situation in this
respect is TO be found in the oney market,
which Is always sensitive when there
is danger of war. On Monday (the 5th)
British consols were quoted at 92s, on
Thursday at 92t, and closed OH Saturday at
% for money, and 92I for the account.
United States 5-30s of 1862 were steady
from Monday to Thursday at 92!, receding
to the close on Saturday to91i. They yes
terday recovered to al4. This exhibit
shows how slightly the most sensitive of
all political barometers has been affected
by the storm in the newspapers.
COMMISSIONER WATTS, of the Agricultu-
raj Bureau at Washington, invited repre-
sentatives from the various State Agricul-
Il IL l.
vention at his Department this morning.
The object of the Convention Is to con-
fer upon the interests of agriculture in
general and to devise measures for their
promotion. 1t is not mass meeting but
a delegate convention, composed of two
representatives from each Agricultural
College and from each State agricultural
and horticultural society.
From the list of delegates given i'll the
Washington Chronicle it promises to be an
important Conference. Our University
will be represented by Hon. Horace May
nard and Professors Nicholson and At
water,
We briefly reported i'll yesterday
CHRONICLE the conviction of Gen. Stokes
i'll the second trial of his case at Washing
tom We give this morning some facts
connected with Mondays proceeding that
may explain the grounds upon which
conviction was secured. StrOhmier, it
seems, was allowed to turn States evidence
and upon his evidence doubtless the case
turned. 1t would seem from the state
,.,o,,, ,,;x-o, i'm tho poI+iD,ora Su:, tb,t Z,
defect in the Indictment suggested by the
defendants counsel and seemingly admit
ed by the Judge, il still TO be disp osed of
and may secure him another trial. We
shall probably have tomorrow full details
Of the trial.
Much importance in Washington poll
teal circles, seems to be attached to Col.
Forney's resignation a. Collector of the
Port at Philadelphia. The New York
Tribune halls it as an evidence of his con-
sciousness of the Presidents waning pop
ularity, while the well-infOrmed Washing
ton correspondent of the New York Times
SAYS after personal interview with Col.
Eorney, that the latter resigned to make
his advocacy of Grants denomination
more effective. Others say his resignation
means that he will be candidate for the
United States Senate before the next Leg
islature, against Senator Simon Cameron.
-~ N<----
The Hartford correspondent of the New
York Tribune, i'll reviewing the political
situation i'll Connecticut, says of the pros
poets for the coming spring election in that
state:
The Republican party has the best organiza-
ton it has had for years it has also in this cam
paign the advantage of odds in securing con-
troll of the Legislature and the election of its |
ticket by that body, in case of no choice by the
people, which is not improbable in view Of the |
quadrangular character of the contest know
that the battle will be waged with spirit and de-