Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-01-24
JUDGE TELER,s CARD.


We cheerfully give a portion of our
space to-day, to the Communication of
Judge Tyler, in reply to our article of
last week. In that article our sole
object was to prove by the law and the
facts. the power of the court to au--
thorize the advertisement and sale of
the property of delinquent railroad
tax payers that the Court did so IN
struct its agent and thereby bind the
county. in law and equity, to pay our
claim. With this, we should have
closed our remarks, had we not been
led to believe that Judge Tyler en-
dorsed, if he did not, substantially,
furnish the article in the Leaf-in the
preface to which we were charged with
being Influenced by sordid self-inter-
est in making up our opinion in favor
of the legality of the proceedings of
the court. In reply to this ungener-
Gus imputation, we quoted the express
sion of the gentleman on the street."
not with the expectation that it would
strengthen our position, but to verify
the old adage, that they should not
throw stones, who live in glass houses,
and that the game of inuendo can be
played by two, or more.
We freely accept Judge Tyler's dec
laration that in all he has done, and
intends to do, he has been, and will
be, governed by sense of duty and
honest conviction of right. But he
must pardon us for finding self-vindi-
cation in the truism, that the purest
integrity does not confer infallibility
of judgment, and that honest error
does not work forfeiture of moral
integrity. We may err in the inter-
probation of the statute we published
last week; we may misinterpret the
order of the court to its agent, and
the extent of the power it conferred
I
upon said agent; and if so Judge Ty
Ter makes no effort to enlighten us on
those points, but, leaving the statute
in full force, the order of the court
unimpeached and the powers of the
agent underlined, disposes of the sub
ject with the declaration, that the ques-
ton raised by ours and similar claims,
sis matter. to say the least, over
which rests very grave doubts"
On the question of the power of the
Quarterly Court to make an appropri-
alton to pay such claims, we have made
no inquiry, supposing all that was
needed, had the claims been allowed,
was check upon the railroad fund
for the amount due.
For the reply of Judge Tyler to our
comments upon the proceedings of the
Committee, see his communication, in
which he acknowledges, as an over
sight of his own, the points which drew
out our remarks and for which he can
not hold us censurable. With COM
mendable candor, he takes the respon-
sibility of all that was done and exon
crates every member of the court from
blame, provided any wrong has been
done. We disclaim any intention to
censure the members of the Bench,
either in the aggregate, or in the de-
tail, and we hope they will pardon US
for the friendly suggestion, that, as
they are elected to transact the county
business and to protect tie rights and
interests of the people, each for HIM
self. to investigate the merits of every
question presented for their consider
alton, and not hazard the interest of
any one, on the plea of want of time
for investigation. If they are content
that one man shall act and think for
the entire body, the people may begin
to think that one man is sufficient and
conclude to dispense with all the rest.
With regard to the consultation with
a certain lawyer and his opinion Of
our claim, we can only say that we are
not mistaken as to his statement, but
as il is an issue altogether irrelevant,
we withdraw it, being resolved to bring
no third party into controversy into
which we were led through misap-
prehension, and which we here close
finally. In conclusion, We cordially
accept Judge Tyler's proposition to
shake hands as friends, and should
misunderstanding ever again arise, we
hope he will, as now, defend himself
in our columns, with the assurance
that if we fail to agree, he shall be
treated with courtecy due from one
gentleman to another, and all the fair
ness we are capable of manifesting.