Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-20
wAsH1HGroH LETTER,
Correspondence Punlro LrDorn.I

taxing DlbtFlCt, nave cause III iO
joicing over their great victory in the
supreme court Of the United States in
the case Of Minor Meriwether, re-
ceiver, VS.. Garrett & Sons, ct ais,
creditors Of the extinct corporation.
The opinion of the court, as delivered
by Chief Justice Waite, is short and
was evidently intended to decide as
little as to collateral issues as possible.
But it does decide that these creditors
have no right to go into the United
States court and have judgments
against delinquent taxpayers; aud
that the legislature had power to
abolish the charter, and to
regulate the manner in which
back taxes are to be col
lected, and "a fortiori' how debts
are to be paid. This dismissal of the
bills in the United States court leaves
Meriwether as the eceiyer, and custo
dian, of the city's assets, and bids
Mr.. Latham to step down and out
The suits in the chancery court for
collection of delinquent taxes will
now be revived in Meriwether's name,
and collections will go OMIT is to be
hoped-promptly. Whilst it is a
source of much qualification that local
affairs are thus left to local tribunals
it is of the gravest Importance thai
our people should not go to extremesin
regard to: their debt, for policy
ifpo higher motive, dictates that a
settlementjust to all parties, should be
begun as soon as possible, and per-
fected at the earliest moment. TIE
three opinions delivered in this inn
portant and leading case upon mu-
nicipal corporate rights, indicate a
wide difference even on the points
raised. The opinion of the court as
before stated, was as brief and terse
as it could be made, and only settle
the rights Of the parties in this case
on the theory that courts cannot as
sumo legislative functions and levy
and collect taxes; it further recog-
nizes the power Of the legislature t.
abolish municipal charters.
The dissenting opinion holds
substantially, t. at the courts
can grant relief to creditors i
all cases where the legislaturg
has not provided full and adequate
methods for relief. The concurrini
opinion goes further than the majority
of the court were willing to 60, and
holds substantially that the legislativ,
power in such cases is absolute, and
that if no provision is made for CRED
itors, that they can only look to al
honest public sentiment to instruri
the legislature TO DO justice to them
If this public sentiment should b,
manifested in such way as to operat,
unjustly against the creditor olals
there is danger that the courts M!
shape their decisions to remedy ID,
evil, as has often been done, and thu.
as great wrong would result to th,
debtor class as you'd be avoided 70.
the creditor class. it was
close cut in this case, as three justice
~dissented, while three insisted on 60
ing far beyond he real scope Ct tb,
opinion as delivered by the chic
justice. Hence in a court Of sever
sitting justices the opinion and decree
was shaped by one, and it is easy t
see that with a full bench ofnin,
Justices a different conclusion nigh.
have been arrived at. But as it is
the case is one that will revolutioniz,
municipal government and check tbr
fearful waste and extravagance thar
has borne so heavily upon the citizen
Of our great cities. While the sound.
ness Of this decision may be doubted
by some, it is hoped that like tn,
Kentucky bank case it will stand q.
a precedent for all future time.
THE TENNESSEE sENATORsBIP.
The question Of most general in.
terest here is hal Of the Tennessee
senatorship. Grave rumors are sfoar
that the federal administration viii
buy up democratic members Of the
legislature, and it is no longer kept
secret that overtures Of official patron
aga will be made BY agents Of the re.
publican party. The Tennessee seDa.
torship is the most absorbing top.C
just now. Owing to the unfortunate
discussions among the democrats.
whereby Hawkins was elected COVER.
nor, confidence in the integrity o.
Tennessee democrats has been i'm
paired, aud sensible men ask me if it
is true that the legislature is to be
bought up by the republicans l
think not. l do not believe it, nor
will / until professed democrats cast
their votes for 3 republican. How
ever, the republicans viii not spare
money, nor be ungenerous In their
promise Of Office to any democratic
member who might exhibit a dispCsi.
ton 10 vote against the choice Of
the democrats for the senate. The
election Of the Tennessee senator de-
termines the political power Of the
United States senate. With a demo
cratic majority in the United States
senate, the country will be safe
against the characteristic legislation
Of the radical party.
SALTUs MoHEaAN.