Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-21
THE LIBEL SUITS.
what the State Press has 10 Say
about Them.
HnllnAi-, Examiner

Gallatin Examiner.
Tt will be remembered by our read
ers that w. w. Hobbs was elected
Comptroller by the last Legislature.
After a few months, he resigned, and
Col. John c. Burch was appointed in
his place by Gov. Brown. 1t was
charged by the Bulletin, the Radical
newspaper of Nashville, that the change
was corruptly made; that $4,000 was
paid by Col. Burch to Hobbs to get his
place. This charge was promptly met
by those assailed with cards indig-
nantly denying the allegations and de-
handing proof in the premises. Now
we do not intend to take sides in this
unhappy controversy. Common JUS
tice and fair-play would say that since
charge affecting the integrity of a
gentleman was made, it should be
backed up by clear and indisputable
testimony, or else it should not be re-
peated. To require that the party as
sailed should prove a negative would
be manifestly unreasonable. We
understand that Col. Burch re-
sorts to the courts because there is
no other method by which the mat
ter in controversy can be settled to the
satisfaction of the public. In regard
to the counter charge of the Banner,
we possess no information, but take it
for granted that it acts under legal ad-
vice, and believes that it has sufficient
actionable grounds for the suit.
1t is to be greatly regretted by all
thoughtful persons that this unhappy
disagreement between the leading news
papers at the Capital has arisen at this
time. When leaders in the field-in
the face of the enemy-fall out and get
to blows, it augurs badly for the fu-
ture. Whatever may be the private
grievances of the two parties, they
should be sedulously excluded from
their columns. Since the courts are
appealed to, let them be the sole tribu-
mails for their adjudication, and not the
public, and we heseech our cotenpora-
ries-for each of whom We entertain
tho kindest feelings, as well as a high
appreciation of their usefulness as
public journals-from this time for
ward, to eschew all allusion to matters
which have provoked the quarrel.
They have chosen their forum, let them
abide by its decisions. 1t is the path
of dignity and propriety.
GaIlatin Tennessean.
We regret this warfare between our
Nashville contemporaries. hut is was
probably unavoidable, in view of the
course of the Banner In the Hobbs
matter. Our 'sympathies are with
neither party in these law suits. We
simply trust that Justice VIII be done
and truth elected. If the Banners in.
situations in regard to the Hobbs at.
fair be true, we earnestly hope that ii
will be able to establish it. If they are
false, we think it has heretofore pur.
sued an unjust course towards Col
Burch and the other parties involved.
The Banner of yesterday, however, is
laughably full of the affair, and says
that the Comptroller will never prose
cute his suit to a final hearing, that
he is trying ''to play bluff, %
and that the Banner don't scare worth
a cent. We don't know how this is
The Banner says that it intends tC
prosecute its suit slough. 1t is but
Just TO say that the Banner claims that
it has acted in the matter only for the
| public good. This may be true; and
while we approve the motive, we mus
condemn its mode Of action in the pre-,
misses, unless its insinuations are true
or it had legitimate evidence sufficiently
strong to induce in its mind, the honest
belief that they were trGe, Il 1t haC
such evidence, IL was its duty, as a pub
lie journalist, to have made its charge
boldly, and presented its proofs. a
public journal has no right, in oul
opinion, to subserve the public good, il
such thing could be, by wantonly as
sailing the character of a citizen
whether in public or private station.