Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-28

tenance Of the State credit, we have
petty, splenetic resolutions providing
for payment only Of the current ex-
penses Of the State, and still Others for
payment of current expenses and 50
much Of the interest as caa be after
the exhaustion Of theannual collections
from a rate Of taxation carefully calcu-
lated to do that and no more.
Never IN the history of Tennessee
were the interests of the State so abb
surdly tempered with, or the strength
of dominant party so recklessly jeop-
ardized. And this is not all. In face
Of the solemn remonstrance of the CON-
mercial, which is the largest tax-paying
and most hourisbing of all the interests
of the State, the House yesterday re-
pealed the conventional rate OF interest
act, which here IN Memphis. as well as
IN Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanoo-
ga, has been found an essential TO
growth and prosperity-as if it were
not bad enough that these cOmmuni-
ties are laboring for growth despite
constitution that is a monument Of re-
proach to every citizen IN the State.
Merchants, bankers, mechanics and
business men generally are asking,
what does the Legislature mean by
thus striking at our best interests, in
spite Of the party pledges on which its
members were elected: Why, they
ask, VIII the Legislature thus cripple
Us IN credit and capital? Is it merely
to aggravate the stagnation in business
brought about by Grants impolicy?
We cannot believe 1t, and yet we are at
a loss to account for 1t. Never did
legislative body rush on so blindlyfrom
bad to worse, as if intent upon the ruin
of the State they were elected to pro-
tect and defend.
But, besides these blows at the State
credit, and this measure to drive cap
ital out Of the State, we are threatened
with another bill as stupidity begOtten,
having for ITS object the abolition Of
the Office Of Superintendent Of Public
Instruction. stab evidently at the
public school system, which has proven
so admirable an aid IN the labOrs Of our
immigration agent, encouraging in
tending emigrants in Europe to believe
that at least in respect of public educa-
ton we are equal TO the most favored
States Of the Union. Thus, we are not
only to be branded on the marts of Eu
rope and the Union as utterly without
honor; as a Democratic State going
back on Democratic pledged faith; as
a State so ignorant and so Obtuse as to
refuse TO bid for the idle capital of the
world by a premium Of four per cent.
more than what used to be the legal
rate Of interest, but are so stepped,
stupefied and overcome by that ignor-
anee as to be declared enemies of the
public schools, the only means Of gen.
eral enlightenment besides the press.
This is not all. The bar Of Men,
phis, inferior in no respect to the Leg
islature, and certainly well advised Of
its own needs, supported by the general
voice Of the people and by the Ledger,
and Avalanche, as well as the appeal,
as 1t has a right to demand,
that our courts remain as they are, not
one Of them IN the least to be impaired
Of their powers or value to the cOmmu-
nifty, and with what result? Did the
Legislature, Obedient TO that request,
stay its action IN the premises: No.
On the contrary It made greater haste
as if to mark its contempt for a body
so intelligent, and its defiance of the
press and people Of Shelby county.
And, last Of all, we are told with an
air Of complacency, that the new city
deliberated upon for weeks by
a thoroughly competent committee, and
adopted unanimously by the general
council after a lengthy debate, may or
may not be considered since there Is
now under Amusement what a member
thinks is a better charter-perhaps Of
his own making.
But space fails US to-day. Besides,
we confess ourselves at a loss TO char
acterize these fearful and undeserved
blows at the brave old commonwealth
81 long the prey Of contentious and
and so much IN need Of
healthful Tcpose and enlightened aid IN
legislation. We look back and recount /
them in utter amaZement; that they
could be levellcd by a body of our own
political faith and Of our own choosing.
The people Of Shelby defed and our
bar insuited, the State credit made a
the integrity Of our school
system threatened, and our standing
invitation TO foreign capital to be re-