Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-03-14
OF INVESTIGATION

Are costly things to State, and we would
suggest to the future legislator that they should De
entered on very deliberately. As they are now or
oered any captOuS member can run the state 10
vast expense In investigating where there Is no Le
cessifV should a member offer resolution hereaf-
ter to Investigate Office, let committee frst be
appointed to report on the necessity for IT, They
can, II proper care be taken quickly determine It's
necessity, and out Of their recommendation the leg
lslature can then enter fully upon it. This would
money and a faithful officer much unnecessary
chagrin and acknowledgements Banner.
The cost of these inquisitions is not the
main objection to them, when they are use
lessly instituted and given plenary power for
general mischief. The mere money these
oeripatetic courts have squandered this win
ter Is a small matter compared with the pub
lie disgrace they have brought upon the gen.
eral assembly, and Indirectly upon the State.
There has been perjury enough to sink ship
unloaded in these secret Investigations.
They have covered themselves with ridicule.
They have done their best, apparently, to
dlscredit and disgrace the State. They have
permitted any and every fellow, however
irresponsible be might be, to vent his spites
upon those whom he had grudges against,
and allowed such witnesses to leave their
august presence without cross examination
or confronting the men they accused. Their
mode of questioning has been leading; their
means of securing the presence of witnesses
the most disreputable; their attempt TO
Justify theft by gross SANDER of private
character the most sneaklng and mean
we ever observed in a body owing its
existence to a legislature. We do not at all
wonder that the Banner, which has all along
shoy a disposition to apologize for and de-
fend the legislature, has sickengd at the dis
gushing performances of some of the inves-
tigating committees. But the Banner should
state the main objection to these tribunals.
That objection is, we insist, moral, and not
political nor economical. Niue out of ten of
the Investigations are ordered for the pur-
pose OF creating capital for some man, clique
or party. We are opposed to the rule OF try
ing, by committee, to ascertain whether evety
noisy patriots resolution for a costly inquiry
shall be passed or rejected. Delay can al
ways be secured sufficient TO enable the MEM
bers to act intelligently on such matters. If
the would be investigator is importunate, the
best thing to do is to promptly put his resO-
luton on the table, and him unoer it. If the
whole brood of demagogues in our iegisla-
ture, who are responsible for the sham inves-
LEGATIONS of the present session, had been
squelched the State and the people would
have been saved from deep humiliation, and
spared considerable expense - Ghnfta""a'"
Every man in Tennessee, who is not of the
repudiating ring, will thank the Chattanooga
Times for this frank and free and very proper
denunciation of the star chamber proceed
lngs. Search as we may the history of legis-
lation, we can find no parallel to the infam-
GUS proceeding, which, originating IN a de-
clared desire to investigate the validity
Of tue bonded debt CT the State,
was degraded TO secret move
ment for the purpose of defaming some
of the best men the State has ever employed
to ell the highest Offices in her gift-not only
the governors since 1852, but the judiciary
and the legislatures that since that time have
upheld, defended and protected the best in
terests of the people. The Democratic party
should mark the men who initiated and car
ried forward this outrage to its elimination,
aud should see to it that they are consigned
to the oblivion which their conduct merits
The words of the Chattanooga Times will
find an echo in every honest heart in the
State. We have especial pleasure in giving
them prominence in our columns, and trust
that every one of our contemporaries in the
State will do likewise.