Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-10
BOND REPUTATION = THE OTHER
- SIDE.

We print below a letter which covers
so many points in the issue of Lafayette
county's bonds that we desire it placed
upon record in the files of our paper.
1t is written in answer to an editorial in
the St. Louis Republican, which took the
position that it was not honest tor the
townships to avail themselves of the
supreme courts decision:
MExIco. No., June 2, 1876.
EnIrOR REPURLICAN-DEAR SIR: Your caus.
tic illusions to those tax payer who have re-
sisted the payment OF certain bonds, that
they considered ss having been issued not only
in violation of their rights ~ citizens but of the
fund law OF the state OF Missouri, de-
msnds ut least = brief reply. As 1t il not all
gold that Cutters, 80 it 10 not all fraud that may
be SO called. As the glitter of steel in the sun
light depends on the angle at vision, 80 the
questions Of fraud and bad faith depend In these
bond cases. on tbs stand point from which they
are viewed Ass Ar4t preraiae We affirm thst
ell the bonds that have been litigated in the
courts FIR the last ten years had their origin ur.
der circumstances very peculiar. Tho great
body Of ths taxpayers of Missouri by the most
fragrant violation Of right We're for political
purposes dlsfrsnchised, and whilst they were
thus.m snacleda and the power vested in the hands
of ignorant, corrupt county court judges these
bonds were issNsd and thrown ON the market in
total disregard Of the rights, wishes and protests
Of the people.
This was the case In Galloway county. There,
before the bonds we're Issued the people appeal
ed TO the courts for redress and they wen met
At every point with objections. Their frat ap-
wal upas TO tho nSrct,if r,,,rf rNs m f,onts1 -
restrain the court from issuing the bonds.
Here they were told that injunction was net
the remsdy-that this writ would not lie to pre-
vent y Ministerial act. Our supreme court hi
said that some OF the ancient remedial wrlts
known to the law. such ~ msndsmus, c~ertiora-
ri, prohibition or injunction, would lie in such
cases. They then relortsd at once to = direct
proceeding In the circuit court under that pro
vision Of our statute which gives circuit courts
= experimenting control over the action OF
county courts and prosecuted this action with
all diligence. The circuit court sustained y de-
murrsr 70 the petition, All this ruling was re-
versed in the supreme court, the Hon. Ar.
Shspley sitting as special Judge, and the case re-
manded to the circuit court where lnal judg-
Mfsnt was rendered in favor OF the plaintiffs.
notwithstanding this action on the part of the
taxpayers, the county court proceeded to issue
the bonds. and the people by every possible
mesns gave notice that the bands were illegal,
and that tasy Intended to resist the payment to
the last extremity. Hundreds OF these bonds
were purchased by men who had full knowledge
Of these fscts, and. indeed. many purchased the
bends and laughed in the faces Of those who
said they Were illegal. What more could The
people have aeasg Only one thing mare. and
that was to raise = mob and deal spmmaTily
T.tH tnsir 9llsfals. and that would have entail
"a eternal disgraoe elsa the peopls OF the coun'
ty, and let 1t be said to their everlasting hon,s
that they retr#insd from violence. After the
case bad gone to the state supreme court and
been remsnasd, the county was sued in the
United States circuit court on certain bonds and
coupons, and that case decided in favor Of the
bonds and has been appealed to the T.. 8. su-
preme court, and now stands for trial.
As to the counties to which Ysu refer | know
nothing, but I do know that The people Of Cass
county became 90 earaxed o. to resort to v'o-
!ence. Now. sir, ~ to the diligence OF the bond
! holder. Has he In making his purchases used
that diligence that's prudent man would in the
discharge Of his ordinary business transactions