The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-04-24
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To the Editors Of the Herald and Mail:
The communication which appeared
in the last issue of the HERALD, over the
signature of "Fanx," / desire to notice.
Unlike some of the other Justices l have
no hard words or epithets to use towards
Mr.. John Ballanfant, who is understood
to be the author of the article which has
done the magistracy so much injustice.
The Justices take no ofense at the com
ments of the public upon their official
acts, but it is unjust and beneath the dig
nifty of any gentleman to charge them as
being in league with the lawyers to rob
the taxpayers. No sensible man, hav-
ing any regard for his standing in the
community in which he lives, will make
such an assertion. Every official act Of
the County Court is placed on record,
and synopsis of every thing done is
published; there is nothing kept hid from
the public They may err in many things,
but for "Fanx" to say that they are in
league with any body, to rob the tax
Taxpayers, is false, and smells to high
heaven" The charges against the mem
bers of the court comes with little grace
from "Fanx," who is known for his OBJ
stinancy in refusing the people of Guile
| Okla, because of his position as director,
| a depot at that place, but insists on hav-
| ing it on his own premises, where the
people do not want it. Furthermore il
he is such friend of the taxpayers, why
! does he not make an alteration in the ex-
| cessfTe freight rates on the road of which
| he is director2 1t is a well known fact
| that if farmer wishes to ship bale OF
cotton from Culleoka to New Orleans, it
will cost him a dollar cheaper to first
| ship it TO Nashville, then return over the
same road, than to send 1t direct to n.
o. Is "Fanx's' 600 acres assessed at its
value? Those who know its value, say
not. These facts will demonstrate the
fact, that if there is a necessity of an
| O'Conor, he is not the proper person to
play the role. am no apologist for
the county court, and no doubt they
do many things not sanctioned by law
but forsooth, are they 10 be classed as
Boss Tweeds? Certainly not by a dis
eliminating and impartial public. l con-
fess that there is no law In the statutes
| justifying the court in making the apprO-
priation to the suffering of Memphis, but
| venture the assertion that not a third OF
the taxpayers of the county will condemn
the act, for it must be remembered that
large portion of the people of Memphis
Memphis would, if we were placed in like
circumstances, scourged by a dreadful
plague respond with like alacrity to our
necessities. To his shame be it said,
there is one man in this county who has
sought in pu bic print, to bring reprOanh
upon his neighbOr for an act Of mercy,
and acknowledge himself even more I'M
merciful than he who contended for the
pound of flesh.
1t is to be hoped that this man will sue
coed, if not in getting an indictment
by the grand jury, to file a bill in the
Chancery Court against the Justices but
as he is no lawyer, and having charged
them with being in league with the Jus
tees, it is probable lie will run for lawyer
himself and no doubt he would come a
near being elected lawyer, as he was in
that little fduT pas of his to become Il
law giver. He says that eff our magls-
trates will give the taxpayers jurors out
side of their own body they will indict
them every court for such unlawful acts.
Now, he KNEW when he penned this SEN
tcnce, that of the Is gentlemen compos-
ing the last grand jury NOT ONE was JUS
tice. What will be the conclusion of the
public on the presentation OF such fact,
which FanX dare not and cannot deny?
In reference to the jury system | will say
there are some citizens who have an aver
sion to serving as jurors, and when put on
the venire manage to get released by the
Judge: and there are others whose business
engagements are such as to make 1t Il
great inconvenience for them to serge,
and it is often the case that citizens ask
that they be not put upon the venlre.
lis true, there are professional Jurors
1.
regularly as the twelve months roll
round, and often without any appointment
of the County Court, but by means best
known to themselves.
In reference to the purchase of picks
and shovels, | deem it proper to say that
while there are some two or three Justl-
ces who oppose it, yet a majority vote
them, with the hope OF having good roads.
FanX says the taxpayers should be
under lasting obligations to the editors Of
the HERALD for bringing this matter OF
$500 to light. Surely he is but recent
reader of the paper or he would have seen
mention Of it at the time of its appropri
alton.
| deem it unnecessary to say any thing
in defense of lawyers, for they are fully
able 10 defend themselves, as was patent
to every one who heard Mr. Myers in the
County Court last Monday. What mus;
have been the feeling of FanX, while seat
ed among those whom he had charged
with robbing the people, and compelled
to listened to the volume of denunciatiOn
as it rolled in majestic splendor from the
lips of the speaker. He had not the man.
illness to offer a reply.
never would have given the communi-
cation any notice whatever but for the
bald assertions contained therein, for |
deem it a duty of the public to closely
criticise the official acts Of their public
servants. In conclusion, would suggest
the name of this Daniel as a suitable per
son to ASPIRE to Legislative honors. The
State can i'll afford to do without so great
jUris perituS. y }. L.