Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-14
USPIEAsANrEEss AT NASHVILLE.

The legislature spent the most OF the
day yesterday 10 wrangling and person.
a%lities. Judging from what we can
gather, there is not much harmony in
either house, nor any strong probability
that any result will be reached except
mileage and per diem. Four dollars a
day Is big money to some of them, and
since Porter will not let them leave, and
they can conseientiously draw pay for
twenty days more, dating from the begin.
ming Of the second extra session, DO
adjournment eau be expected until
the pay ruRs out. Bills have been
rushed through to a second reading. aud
the real contest now begins. judging
from the purely personal discussion yes
terday in the house between Brien, o
high tax man, on the one hand, and
Messrs. Colyar and Savage on the other,
there is considerable temper and bad
feeling in that end Of the capitol at least
Brien had the bad taste to dra. up Col.
yars Confederate record, as il that bad
anything to do with the State
debt question. He charged that
Colyar while in the Confederate
congress, when most Of the members on
the floor we're 10 the ranks, voted
for the twenty negro law. Colyar denied
this positively, saying that the law was
passed before be entered congress. Brien
repeated the charge twice, and Colyar
denied it as often. Brien spoke OF set
ting the controversy outside. Colyay is
old enough for his father. They both
live in Nashville. and should have had
such controversies during the canvass at
ward meetings. The people of Tennes.
see are paying for this extraordinary
session at the rate Of about six hundred
dollars per day, and they expect, and
have a right to demand, some dignity
Of proceedings aud attention to the bust.
ness designated 10 the governors call
At present it does not look much like
anything will be done. A fifty cents
compromise at 6 per cent. interest is not
acceptable to all the low tax side by any
meaus-especially If the coupons are
made receivable for taxes and no sink.
ing fund is provided for. The interest
on Sl2,00O,00 at 6 per cent. would be
$72O,O00 per snnum. This alone would
require a tax Of over thirty cents on
the hundred dollars, TO say nothing of
ordinary and extraordinary expenses.
We hope Out members will stand out for
two points to the last: a loR rate of in
terest and a sinking fund. If these pee
vail the new bonds will 20 up to 80 cents
at least, and the great question which
has troubled US so much for tha last ten
years will disappear from Tennessee pol.
itics; our credit will be restored without
impoverishinG the people, and a lot Of
the smallest politicians that the old Vol
unteer State ever yet nurtured 10 her
bosom will bs forever debarred from any
further participation in public affairs
We sincerely hope that the Legislature
will stop quarreling and rise to The dign;
ty and gravity Of the occasion. The
members have no excuse for not being
Informed upon this question or as to tht
sentiments Of the people. 1t has beer
discussed on every stump and in ever,
paper in the State. All the facts ar,
accessible. The man who does not avai
himself of them now is uDft to repre-
sent any constituency 10 the legislature