New-York tribune., 1879-02-26
NPECIUtNS or SOCHIERN HONOR.

Between Congress and Southern LcGiNa-
tGt,s the country Is IN way to get iaT
ide1 of "Southcrn houor.r Just when DEM
orratic House. ruled by the "Solid south" is
ri,hihg an extra session, in order to break the
credit of the Government, Democratic lcgis-
lator, in Southern States are rca0uing to new
art. unknown to the p!mdcrcrs of former
times.
Virginia j. an exception thus far, The Sen
ate bY strong vote has passed au act which
the bondholdcr~. convinced that they can get
40 better, seem generally disposed to accept.
Even in that state, however powerful oppo>i-
ton is made in the House, and a5 q convention
Of rcadjuStcrs Is IN ses ion to defeat even the
moderate bill pending, there is a possibility
that nothing VIII be effected.
In Tennessee, the State Legislature, not
with.tandiug strong expression of feeling
by property owners ANA business men. in con-
sequence Of the suit against railroads, has re-
jcc.cd the 80 per cent proposition made by
committee Of the L0ndh0ideIs. In effect II
say, to creditors: "lhc more yOu offer 10
surrender, the more we propose 10
steal" The possibility OF any adjustment
of the state dtbt seems remote. The City
of Memphis is in the hands Of a
receiver. and n does not yet appear that the
citizens feel any shame. The STATE, however,
no, satisfied that its mcdtatcd robbery of
creditors should ia any WAY be interrupted,
propose 10 resist the authority OF the United
States courts. Governor Marks has given
notice thAt he will hold to strict
accountability any officer who has turned over
any effects Of the old city, no matter 10 whom,
and apparently intends 20 appoint receiver
of ms own. mi, will lead to neat question
Of jurisdiction between the state and United
States Courts.
Alabama follows, the Legislature having
PASSED an act ycpcaling the charter OF the
Ciy of Mobile \ new coIporaion,'" The
Por; of Mobile" is created. and three com
ml->loncr- have been appointed. Police com
mi--loners are to b. elected ON the 10Th Of
March. Undoubtedly the same legal questions
that have arisen in thc case of Memphis VIII
bc submitted to United states CouIt> IN
respect to Mobile.
Arkansas proposes to rob by Whoic-aic.
The Legislature has passed an act repeating
al laws providing for suits against counties,
and deriving all counties in the state of
corporate or political capacity. The in
tent is to make it impossible to collect any
debts which any of the counties may
owe Precisely the same question will arise
here as IN the case of Gle cities already men
toned and it may be well to remember that
in thc st. Gencylcyc case, quoted some days
ago, the United States Court held that 1t had
ample power for the protection of creditors.
What is to become of the creditors is not
inst now the most pressing question. What
is TO become of the people Of the United
Statcs. men will ask if this set of highway
men get control OF the Government. What
i, 10 become of the public credit, upon which
rests the solycncy of savings banks, trust COM
! pauics, insurance companies, and other banks
! throughout the Union ? What Is to become
of those international regulations for which
! the National honor stands pledged and upon
which vast commercial and industrial inter-
! ests have been built
Somebody has suggested that the question
still remains whether the Rebellion has been
wholly suppressed. In view of recent events,
! it seems more pertinent to ask whether tho
| Rebellion Is about to suppress the United
States, Its honor, its prosperity, its very in
stitutions. Careful study of events In South
ern States il well worth while just now. 1t
| will lead to the same conclusions that each