Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-03-01
Letter from Nashville.
NASHVILLE TENN, Feb. %.

NASHVILLE Tenn. FeD. 70.
MR. EDITOR: The legislature is
now down at hard work, although
but few laws have been enacted.
Bills have passed their first reading
and gone before their committees,
and been returned with the recon-
mendation of the committee, and
now, on second reading, are being
killed s fast az Samson slew the Phil
istines.
Our temperance advocates feared
the repeal of the four mile law.
Their fears are no longer to be en-
tertained. In the house yesterday,
bill for the repeal of this law was
rejected on second reading, motion
to reconsider was made, and that
motion was laid on the table. This
kills the repeal very dead, SO far as
this legislature is concerned. On
this subject, morning or two since,
a vote was taken in the well known
investigating committee as to the
sense of the committee on total pro-
hibition. The vote included mem
bers of the committee, newspaper
reporters and some spectators.
There were only two who were OPP
posed to prohibition, and one Of
them reporter.
A scattering shot has occasionally
been made on the State debt ques-
ton, mainly as to the question of
submission TO the people, on which
the Republicans and State credit
Democrats agree, and the result is
with them. Mr.. Trimble, of David
son county, has introduced a bill
which springs the question in q new
place. It is to settle the debt dollar
for dollar in smell bonds, coupons
receivable for taxes, the bonds draw
ing interest at 360-1O0 per cent, and
not to be due until the far distant
future. This gives the full amount
of the bebt, and clears it of even the
semblance of reputation, while it
fixes the interest to be the same that
would have to be raised at sixty cents
on the dollar and 6 per cent. interest.
There are some sound arguments in
it's favor, while there are many rea-
sons Objectionable to it. If the
bondholders had not attempted to
play the part of horse jockey last
fall, in the issuance of their circular,
the indications are that there would
be but little trouble in effecting a
settlement, but as it is, it is feared
that no agreement can be made.
The legislature condemned, in a
, prompt and unmistakable manner,
the acts of the mobs at Winchester
and Springfield, and it is wonderful
what strengthening effect it had on
certain newspapers in discouraging
mob violence. The teachings OF
Democratic leaders in this locality
leads to this state of affairs, and they
are responsible for it. It is the re-
suit Of just such i'll humor as that
shown by high dignitary of that par
ty on a recent occasion. It seems sin
gu,ar that the home of x-Gov. Marks
should present scene of distlrb-
ance from q mob clamoring to muir
der helpless prisoners. and. more
singular, that the late 4adjutant-
general of that dignitary was there
and did not raise finger towards
quoting the mob. This, I am in
formed, is true. On this point, we
need a good Republican daily pa
per here. It would do more to cor
rect the evils of this local ty than
anything else just now. If we had
such q paper, with such q man az
Col. T. II. Baker at it's head, it would
have wonderful effect. The papers
here are not even good reporting
. papers. They omit many things
, creditable to Republicans and dis
creditable to the Democrats. This
is not the fault OF the reporters, fol
they gather up full reports, which are
culled for the sake Of Democracy. Ar