Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-03-24
THE roRBErr ISSUE AGAIN.

DAOuShu w llSub III IcunCSSCe. by
the Torbett Issues Is meant, million
and-a-half (,50O,0O0) dollars of the
State Bank of Tennessee, issued by
Torbett, the then President of the
bank, under the orders Of Isham G..
Harris. This large issue of fraudu-
lent bank bills, was expressly intend.
ed to carry on the rebellion, and was
used for that accursed purpose. This
pretended money fell into the hands
of parties in Cincinnati in large
quantities, while we we're Governor
of the State of Tennessee, and we
were approached by those whom we
suspected were interested in the
game going on, and our opinion was
solicited as to the ultimate redemp-
ton of these bills. We unhesitating-
ly denounced the whole scheme as a
villainous fraud, and we told those
concerned, that we did not believe
they would be redeemed that they
ought not, and that they should not
if we could prevent it. Quite re-
Gently the Supreme Court of the
State decided in favor of the redemp-
tioE of these issues. and ordered, in
effect, that they should be redeemed.
Forthwith the present rebel Demo
cratic Legislature declared solemnly
and officially that no appeal should be
taken from the decision of the SUI
preme Court of Tennessee. The
meaning and object of this declara.
ton is, that no appeal should be taken
to the Supreme Court of the United
States. 1t is well understood by gen.
tlemen Of the legal profession, that
the Supreme Court of the United
SU''tes WOULD rnverse their decision,
and prevent the redemption of these
issues. This is 4 high-handed mea-
sure, and q most infinitely internal
assumption Of power, intended to
plumber the taxpayers of the State,
and force them to redeem these fraud
ulent issues. Why this order for the
redemption OF these issues? Why
this refusal to allow an appeal to the
Supreme Court Of the United States?
Have the Torbett Issues all fallen in
to the hands Of the rebel Democracy
of the State? And have the leaders
seen from some decision already given
by the Supreme Court of the United
States, what will become of these
Torbett Issues, when they are once
brought before that high tribunal?
The Legislature of Tennessee, as
at present organized, can not control
this great question. The people,
through their influential friends, will
appeal to the Supreme Court of the
United States, and that Court will re-
verse the decision of the Supreme
Court of Tennessee; not only so,
but the President Of the United
States will enforce the law, if it re-
quires the regular army in force
Here we take occasion to say, that
a more bold and villainous project to
plumber the people and State has
rarely ever been brought to light-an
immense issue of fraudulent bank
bills, issued without the authority of
law, and in giOlati0n of law, are pre-
sented to the honest taxpayers to be
taken up by the people out of their
hard earnings, and they are deliber-
ately met by a thieying Legislature
and told they shall not appeal to any
higher tribunal. And yet these men
talk and legislate against Radical
Republication as the source Of all
our trouble, and as the robbers of the
people Of the StaUe.
Was brazen effrontery ever equaled
/ before? Can a Legislature like this
command the respect of dog of the
lowest degree? Our word for it, the
honest taxpayers ofthis down-trodden
State will respond through the ballot
box, in thunder tones, to these wicked
assumptions Of power, and teach these
men and the members of the party
which endorsed them that they have
yet 20 learn who they are fooling with.
] They have witnessed one uprising
Of the people upon the subject Of Civil
Rights. That was child's play COM
pared with the storm that is ahead of
us. Men will be required 10 speak