davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
IMPORTANT DECISION ON RAIL.
WAY TAXES.

Judge Deadrick of the Supreme
Court of Tennessee, has given an i'm
portant decision pronouneing the
eleventh section of the railroad tax
bill of 1875 unconstitutional.
This section provides as follows:
THAT any railroad company, which
will accept as a special amendment to
its charter, for period of ten years
from the 1st of January, 1875, and that
will pay annually to the treasurer of the
State II per cent. on the gross receipts
from all sources of such company,
shall be exempt from the forego-
ing provisions of this act, and the pay
ment of l ] per cent. upon all gross
earnings shall be in full of all taxa
ton"
In spite of this provision and in
spite of the fact that the Louisville &
Nashville Railroad had been paying II
per cent. on its profits in lieu of taxa
ton since the passage of the bill, Sum
ner county determined to test the con-
stitutionality of the act by taxing the
portion of the road within her limits,
and has brought suit for taxes since
the passage of the act.
The Sumner county Circuit Court
gave verdict against the plaintiff in
that suit, whereupon appeal was taken
to the Supreme Court of tie State.
Judge Deadrick then reversed the de-
cision in the District Court on the
ground that the eleventh clause was
unconstitutional, alleging that the
Legislature cannot tax property except
according to its value.
His judgment is as follows:
1.-THE 18th section proposes to release
the companies for l J per cent. of their
gross earnings, from the operations of
the equal and uniform taxation pro-
vided in the preceding sections, and
substitutes unequal taxation, or exemp-
ton from all taxation, for the annual
payment of a sum to be ascertained-
indefinite, uncertain IN amount, and
dependent upon the amount Of their
business.
But if this judgment is right then
the railroad should manifestly be re-
paid its II per cent. in lieu of taxa
ton, and as it appears that the State
cannot be sued by it, legislation should
be framed to meet this plain demand
of justice.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
FROM ASHLAND CITY.

EDITORS CHRONICLE While cor
respondents in other portions of the
territory through which your sheet
circulates have kept your readers post
ed with things wise and otherwise,
I have seen nothing of late from the
Estate of Cheatham." So after long
resting spell will again bring my pen
into requisition and send you few
items. Of course we have nothing
new in the political world. As te, the
weather, speculations about that have
become stale and thread bare never
thefess / will say that we have pased
through the coolest snap within the
recollection of the oldest inhabitants
the thermometer one msrning mark
ing 170 below zero. Nick" became
very much excited over this feat of
the weather clerk, fearing lest none
of the thermometers on hand would
be long enough to indicate the lowest
degree to which we would be subject
ed, and seriously contemplated the ex-
pertinent Of uniting two together, SO
as to have margin sufficiently large
to show ali the changes.
Times are dull hereabouts the only
business showing any signs Of vitality
is transactions in real estate. We note
for the last ten days the following real
estate transfers: V. A. Stuart, the
city hotel to Mrs. J. N. Allen, james
Lenox, ST., five acres land adjoining
the city to w. w. Sanders the same,
five acres to DR.. H. B. Carny same,
seven acres to j. T. Edwards; I. N.
Hooper and wife to Geo. +. Murff,
house and lot on square; Carney &
Bro. City Exchange to Jno. N. Allen.
Now, you must not conclude that j ohm
is going to open saloon in the Ex-
change, for it has long since ceased to
be thus used, and he has already in
stalled Monk Lee (not Quarles), an
American of African persuasion, as
professor of the tonsorial art in the
aforesaid establishment. So when
Franklin again visits our town he need
not make such mistake as he did up
on former occasion, when he got into
a saloon instead OF a barber shop.
j. N. Allen and lady have taken
charge of the City Hotel, on the cor
ner of the square aad Cumberland
street, where they propose to entertain
the travelling public as well and upon
as easy terms as anybody else. Our
town is noted for good fare and cheap
rates, and / feel safe in assuring the
public that it will not suffer any inju-
~ at their hands in either regard, and
that it will be their pleasure to make
their guests feel as much at home as
one can when absent from that hal
lowed institution.
Pour oil upon the troubled waters,
and, if possible, prevent anything like
personal alterations between your in
teresting correspondents. As long as
they fight at pen points no harm will
will result; but sword points might
bring about trouble.
[ see you have another correspon-
dent over my non, de plane, but as |
have not copyrighted it we can both
use it, if it suits him. As we hail from
different counties it will cause no con-
fusion, so still subscribe myself yours,
Jan. q, 1877. ANON.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
J. MADISON WELLS.
To Hon. J. r. West, Washington.

CAzANAvE( Catch a k'saUe is supposed
to be the original way of spelling iO,
one of the negro members of the Lou
isiana Returning Board, rose from a
waitership in a fourth-rate New Or
leans lunch and whiskey shop to the
dignity of tool of the Louisiana Re-
publican thieves" So says the Cou-
rier-J ournal.
Rose quotha? You mean fell-fell
as Satan falling from heaven to hell.
Why, Catch or Caz, or whatever his
name is, was very likely a decent mig
ger while he waited at the bar-much
too good to associate with such cads
as Wells and Anderson-rose quotha !!
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10

They played the game so nicely in
1874 that they could not see how the
marked cards could fail to win in 1876.
The pivot of the plot was the alleged
power of the president of the Senate
to count the vote. Had that pivot
held, the Returning Board job would
have been rushed through with a
whoop and halloo, and there the mat
ter would have ended; but when the
pivot broke off by reason of the COM
promise bill the whole machinery
went to wreck and ruin, aud the inves-
tigating committees are now picking up
the pieces.-S. Louis Republican.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
A Good Book.

We have received a valuable book
from the National Publishing compa-
ny, OF Philadelphia and St. Louis,
which is a great consolation to those
who did not go to the Centennial Ex-
position, and a pleasant reminder to
those who did. Its title is 1.-THE Illus
trated History of the Centennial Ex-
hibition, &c, by James D. McCabe. +"
The account Of the big show is illus
trated with over 300 wood engravings.
Agents are wanted in every county.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10

cial question. both the Republican as
well as the Democratic members con-
slider that if the, certificate is pro-
nounced final it gives the Florida vote
to Hayes, but if investigation behind
it is allowed, that will decide the cleo
ton for Tilden. Investigation is what
the Republicans have been fighting
against from the beginning till now.
1t was supposed that by the evening
of Feb. 9th, the judges would give
their judgement on the question ar
rr1ad
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10

The man who rises equal to an en-
Urgency, and through his courage and
talent becomes master of the situation,
is great in proportion to the gravity of
the emergency in which he is called to
act. To be able to distinguish real
from false crisis, and to possess the
courage to take the lead in the last,
and so control events, are evidences of
greatness Histories, poems and mon
uments commemorate the memory of
such men. To this list we add, un-
hesitatingly and heartily. the name of
Roscoe Conkling.-We Capital.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10

1t is now evident that the character
given Wells and the other members of
the Returning Board by General Sher-
idan and the Republican investigating
Committee of 1875 was generous rath-
er than severe. Their capacity for
crime was the same then as now, but
the opportunity was less; and it re-
NAMED for the greater prize of the
National contest to induce an offer
of the sale of the chief magistracy of
the Republic. This may well be styled
the Centennial shame Of the American
Post.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10

The Methodist Almanac for 1877,
reports the statistics of the Episcopal
Methodists of the United States to be
19,433 travelling preachers. 1856 local
preachers, and 3,O43,709 members.
The aggregate is thus made up: Meth
odist Episcopal Church. 1,613,560;
Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
722, 346; Colored Methodist Episcopal
Church, $4,000; African Methodist
Episcopal Church, 200861; African
Methodist Episcopal Zion Church,
200, 600; Evangelical Association, &c.
253; United Brethren, 131, 859. The
non-Episcopal Methodists of this
country have 1929 members. Ac-
cording to this authority, the total of
Methodist communicates throughout
the world is 4, 172, $40.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10

States or unite with them on any of
the favorite candidates.
This paper is already too long for us
to discuss the bearing of this first
election upon the disputed questions
now at issue, relating to the electoral
count, but we propose to do so in our
next issue, and urge any of our read
ers who may be interested in the ques-
ton to cut out and keep this article
till next Saturday.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10

A DISPATCH from Rome says THE
Pope is continually growing weaker.
He is confined to his private apart
ments in the Vatican" The old
Papa has wonderful vitality. He
lives in very unhealthy, unsalubri-
Gus city, and yet he has reached nearly
"a years of age. He has outlived all
his Cardinals and clerical contempora-
ries. He is the last of the set.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
DISTRICT - TEN
NESSEE CONFERENCE.
Second Round of OuarterlY Meetings

oecOnu hOunu OF QuarLerIy MeetIhBs'
Red River, at Mt. Zion, Feb. 10, IL.
Springfield, Feb. IL.
Montgomery, at Stamper,s, Feb. 10, Is.
Saline, at Indian Mound, Feb IL, Is.
Asbury, at Mallory's, Feb. "a, %.
Cedar Hull, at Adams Station, Feb. %
and March |.
Cheatham, at Ashland, March 3, 4.
Antioch, at Salem, March z, s.
Blooming Grove, March 10, IL.
Barton's Creek, at Fagan's Chapel, March
Is, I6.
Palmyra, March IL, Is.
Dickson, March 81, p.
Providence and Bethel, at Bethel, March
"a, 25.
Clarksville, March 25.
District Conference at Charlotte, May II .
II and Is. Bishop Keener Is to preside.
W, BURR, +. L..
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
Death Of Rear Admiral Alden.

San Francisco, Feb. 6.-James
Alden, rear admiral United States ma
Wy. died here this morning, after few
DAYS illness, with congestion of the
brain. He has been here few weeks
on a visit.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10

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This schedule is worth studying as
illustrating the great difference be-
tween the political situation then and
now. No party line is visible or could
be, as in our sense of the word, no
party ecisted ,githin The Union. The
only question which divided men was,
Should there be a Union? Should
the new Constitution go into opera
ton? And this question could not
divide the Electoral College because
those who were for the negative were
not there; they took no part in the
proceedings, and, as we have seen three
of the States in which that feeling
prevailed were not represented. Ac-
cordingly, to the experienced politician
of the present day, this schedule looks
more like the last ballot of nomi-
mating convention than a Presidential
vote. Every elector having two votes
at his disposal gave one vote to Wash
ington and the other to some candidate
whom he might prefer for various
considerations. The favorite son
principle held good in many instances.
Thus Massachusetts, voted solid for
her citizen John Adams, Delaware for
Jay, Maryland for Harrison, and
South Carolina nearly solid for Rut
ledge. And these were the only States
that voted solid at all except New
Hampshire, who followed the lead of
her sister New England State and
voted solid for Adams. All the other
States divided their votes, and it is
worth observing that Georgia voted
for none of the candidates who OBJ
tanned votes elsewhere, but scattered
her five votes among four candidates
who were otherwise not in the field.
This is easily accounted for. Georgia
was the most distant State from the
political centers of the nation, and
she was one of the reluctant aeceders
to the new Constitution her leading
men we're for both reasons less likely
to take counsel with those of othe
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10

ruary term of 1877, will on
Saturday, March 3, 1877,
sell to the highest bidder, at the Court
House in GAINESVILLE, certain house and
lot situated on Commerce street, in Clarks-
VILE, bounded on the South by Commerce
street, on the West by the property OF c. w.
Raoiorq; on Inc Norln oy Sovlngton. ana
being the property belonging to the estate
of Mary L. Shropshire, deceased. Sold for
division among the heiIs.
TERMs-One-third cash. balance in and
IL months, notes bearing interest fran date
required, and lien retained for the pur-
chase money.
PETER ONEAL. Cl'k 4 Com'r.
Feb. 10, IS77-4wprfadv&bills so.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10

THERE are 1000 convicts in the PEN
itentiary Of Tennessee. Twelve were
brought from Shelby county last week
In one day.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10

The population of Jacksonville,
Fla, has increased from 5000 to II,
600 within few years.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
$40 Reward,

Stolen from my house miles from New
Providence on the Lafayette road. light
cclored bay mare mule, with black stripe
across the shoulders, 1411 hands high-a
small knot under the chin, black stripes on
the delivery of the mare to me at my house,
Jan. 3.-tw" FLEMING ANDERSON.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
SIRLYED-S REWARD

About Dec. Is, 1876, dark liver-eolored
Pointer Dog; has gray streak up between
fore leg, and is about a year old. For the
delivery OF the dog to me, or Information
leading to his recovery, l will pay the
above reward. j. s. WOODSON.
Feb. 8, 1877-2w
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
VICIxeS
Flower and Vegetable Seeds

are planted by million people in Amer
lea. Zee
Vick's CatalOgue-300 Illustrations,
only cents.
Viclk's Floral Guide. Quarterly, 25
cents year.
Weeks Flower and eRetabIe Gar.
d len, SO cents; with elegant cloth covers,
81 90.
All my publications are printed in Eng
lish and German. Address,
LANES WICK. Rochester. N. y.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
PTMpIuES,

will mail Free the recipe for preparing
a simple Vegetable Balm that will remove
TAN, FRECKLES,P IMPLES and Blotehes,
leaving the skin soft, clear and beautiful
also instructions for producing luxuriant
growth of hair Oh bald head or smooth
face. Address BEN. VANDELF q CO., Box
512l, No. 3 Wooster ST., Y. janl3-6m
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
FOR SALE.

No. Safe, large enough to hold full set
of books with all the other conveniences
for money and papers.
] lot of Wooden Boot and Shoe Boxes.
lot of Paste-Board Boot and Shoe Boxes,
lot Store Stools, large Mirror, 2 writing
desks, l Counter, large Show Window
Shade, and a few goods such as Hats,
Boots and Shoes, etc.,
Which will close out to some merchant
cheap. Call on me at Harrison & Shelby's
office and will show you these things at
any time and make terms and prices satis-
factory. Respectfully,
feb3-tf ED. V. HARRISON.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
FLEMING COAL.

keep constantly on hand the celebrated
Coal, wi ich will sell at the mark ct prices.
Office at T. p. Burke's agricultural house.
CHAS. r. KELLOGG.
Feb, lS77-3m
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10

WELLS was examined ON fhe 4th in
reference to that little auction he was
getting up, with a Presidential cleo
ton for sale to the highest bidder
He foundered terribly in trying to ex-
plain away the evidence of Pickett and
Maddox and his own letter to Senator
West, and in the course of his exami-
nation said that a Mr.. Kenner (Dem-
ocrat) had offered him 5000, 900 to cast
the vote for Tilden. Mr.. Kenner was
Immediately telegraphed with the fol-
lowing result as stated in special dis
patch from New Orleans to the Court
er-Journal
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 5.-The fol-
lowing telegraphic correspondence
took place to-day:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 1877.-Dua-
can F. Kenner, Neao Orleans: Wells
testified to-day that you offered him
$500, 900 to count the vote for Tilden.
E. A. BURKE.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
WELLS PROPOSED AUCTION.

The evidence convicting Wells of
the purpose of selling the electoral
vote of Louisiana to the highest bid
der converges to point. Maddox
handed to Mr.. Field on Saturday, the
two letters withheld the day before,
one from Wells to Maddox, the other
from Wells to Senator West, which
we now point; they speak for them
selves:
H. Maddox, New Orleans-Dearsir: Under
standing the political condition ofmatters
from ISOLATION with both political parties
and being friend of the President and
government officers, would it not be con-
sidered a part of your-to go at once to
WaShingt with as little delay as possible
and place before the President the cOndi-
ton and pending dangers of the situation?
Should you conclude upon prompt action
in the premises, allow me to commend you
to Senator West, who is my friend and with
whom you will freely communicate.
Yours very M ;n truly r,,s
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. q, lS76.-My Dear
Senator: regret much not seeing YOU
when here. wanted to say much to you,
which would be at least imprudent to put
upon paper. thrust, however, to meet you
in Washington as soon as the canvass Is
over, which is upon US, Our duties as re-
turning officers have augmented to the
magnitude of the destiny of the two great
parties, may / not say of the nation. fully
comprehend the situation, as well as my
duty to the greatest living General, U. >.
Grant, and not with my consent shall this
oppressed people be governed by his pa
rolled prisoners, aided by their wh1te-iiver-
ed towards Of the North. Let me, my es-
teemed sir, warn you of the danger. MILL
IONS have been sent here, and will be used
in the interest of Tilden, and unless there's
some counter movement, il will be impOSSi-
BILE for me or any other individual to arrest
its productive results. The gentleman pre-
Senting this letter is fully aware of the
moves, and, if yOu allow, will communicate
freely TO our friends, and act promptly or
the results will be disastrous. a lift to the
wise. Strictly private and confidential.
Yours, very truly,
j. MADISON WELLS.
To Hon. ]. r. West, Washington.
The gist of these letters is plain
when we remember that, instead of
the Democratic party making offers to
Wells, he was at the time making ad-
vances to the party, which eventually
declined any transactions with him.
These letters now produced show him
engaged in the test process of ascer-
tanning which party would bid highest.
The present position Of the Repub-
lican party is a bitter one-they are
compelled to sustain Wells, or the
Louisiana vote falls to the ground, and
yet they know that he was all along
willing to sell them out if he could get
his price.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
and ancient frauds shall fail,
Returning justiceslift alOft her scale

Ancient fraud? Was there ever
like this? In all previous ages fraud
has succeeded only because it has been
backed by the sword, and protesting
people have been powerless to resist
the force of armed battalions. Never
before now in the history of the world
has fraud succeeded against the con-
conscience and the will of self-gov-
erning people. If it succeeds now. let
us cover our faces with shame. Let
us take down the statue on the dome
of the capitol, which every morning
faces the coming light Let US clothe
ourselves in sackcloth aud sit in ashes
forever"
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
ANSWER.

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 3, 1877.-E. A.
Burke, Washington, d. G. Had Wells
stated the truth he should have stated
that he tWells) asked for 100000 to
count the vote of Louisiana as actually
cast in the ballot-boxes. l replied /
did not have the money. If deemed
necessary | can come to Washington.
d. T. KENNER.
Just after the Returning Board pro-
mitigation of the vote, Mr.. Kenner
met Wells in the street aud said to
him: why, Wells, how could you do
such thing as that ?"
To which Wells repliedS Why, you
all would not do anything for me. -
You must have been paid hand
somely, " said Mr.. Kenner.
You bet. answered Wells.
Mr.. Kenner is one of the best known
and most respected citizens Of New
Orleans.
The more he founders the deeper
he gets in the mud, and the mud is of
the most fetid quality; something like
the mud of that canal which runs
through the middle of New Orleans
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
Commissioners Sale Of Yalua-
BILE House and Lot.

Pursuant TO a decree of the County Court
Of Montgomery county, made at the Feb
mary term of 1877 I will on
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
NO. 1OO6-BENNETT & FITCH,
726 SAMSON ST., Philadelphia, Pa.

.B.-Be sure and ark the number IOO6
before BENIN EFT & FITCH, so that we may
know through what paper the subscription
ONES. jan13-tf
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-10
MR.. DUDLEY FIELD BEFORE THE
COMMISSION.

Every paper in the land which re-
spects political honesty ought to pub
fish the eloquent peroration of Mr..
Fields opening speech before the Elec-
toral Commission. It will serve as a
strong justifcationiof the Commission
should they do signal justice on the
guilty, an indignant protest should
they fail to do So
''Such, Mr.. President and gentle
men of the Commission, is as brief
statement as I can make of the facts
and the law as we understand them
to-day. The greatness of the question
in respect to the dignity of the Presi-
Dental Office and the enormous inter-
ests depending upon it are as nothing
compared with the moral elements in
vo!ved. True it is that the person to
whom you give your decision will
be for four years the chief magistrate of
forty-five millions of people; will be
cammander-in-chief Of your army and
navy; the organ between you and all
foreign States; the bestower of all
offices; the fountain of honor and
power, and the executor of our law.
But that is as nothing compared with
the great question, whether or not the
American people stand powerless be-
fore gigantic fraud. Here is a GER
ti6cate holding it aloft in his hand /.
One feels almost reluctant to touch it.
Hold it up to the light. 1t is black
with crime. Pass it around; let every
man see it, and then tell me whether
or not that certificate gives a title to
an officer contrary to truth, as we can
prove it. One of the greatest poets Of
the palmiest days of English litera-
ture, writing of the Saviour, said