Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-04-23

one of the ablsst and most pro-
found constitutional lawyers in this or
any other country. His reputationsas
his position In the United States
,snate-bsing now the chairman OF the
judiciary committeeman his character
as q statesman would give him an infu.
encs with that court not surpassed BY
any other man. His argument Is said to
have been . mastery effort, and ex-
hausted the subject. Trumbull or O'Con-
or could not add anything more. That
decision is final, and will never DO
changed. and the hopes that we're
aroused by the speech you refer to will
only meet with disappointment.
James-Itmay be 10. But the supreme
court of our state has decided that the
bonds were not legally issued. Here 10
q defense we can rely upon. If any at
Tempt is made to COLLECT the judgments
rendered on these bonds by levying q
tax. We can, through the agency OF
,he state laws. prevent 1t; We can meet
them in the courts and defeat them at
every point.
joint may SO. 1 am not prepared
to say that it cannot be done; but all
we'll informed persons are aware that
the federal courts are the ehighest+the
supreme judicial authority in this coun-
try-and I am informed that in every
case IN the past in which the state courts
were in conflict with the federal the lat
ter have prevailed in the end. 1t may re-
suit 20 in this case. If SO We would
eventually have to pay this debt in tull.
But let me admit that your position is
correct; what. then, would be the RESULT
James-Why victory for rs and defeat
Tor the holders ii the bonds. Of course.
John-How long do yen suppose it
would require to secure this victoryl
Jamss-As soon a. they were coz
vinced that they could not collect they
would give it up.
John-What q false position. There
was issued by the different county courts
OF this state mere than $3,0O0.0OO OF
township bonds. Most OF them are now
in the hands of capitalists who are able
not only to hold them but TO urge their
collsction-by all, the appliances OF the
Jaw. They will get together, form com
binations and employ the ablest law
yers IN the country to press their claims.
They will harass the people ana-she
county courts for ten, twenty or fifty
years. Judgments are being rendered
now At every session of the federal
courts In this state. One mandanus upon
the county court will follow another, re-
curing it 70 make, levies to pay these
Judgments. To prevent these levles or
their collection. it will be necessary to
employ attorneys. Large amounts Of
money will have to be raised fer officers
will not do their duty without pay, and
no one would expect that. lawyers viii
defend the public interests without 70
Enumeration. Their time. their knowl'
edge and experience is their capital. and
when used they must be paid ter It; and
when you cease to defend your cast il
the courts you will have to pay the lev
les il you keep up the hight you vii
soon expend enough to pay off this pro
posed compromise. AL this time you
debt is increasing; the interest is accu
mulating, and at the end of ten or TWEEN
ty years of strife you are no nearer
settlement than when you commenced
But, James, how Is this money to b
raised to carry on this contestP
James-By private subscription.
John-Who do you suppose will Civ
, their means for this purposep
James-All who pay much tai would
1 suppose.
!, John-I think you are again mistaken
Nearly all of my neighbors who pa
q much tax wish to compromise. They d
not think that this trouble can ever b
settled by fighting it off in the way 20
! propose, and will not contribute thei
money to q hopeless cause. There ar
o others who would do SO for a while, br
, they would soon see that they woul
|. have the whole burden to bear, and
? successful in the end, others would d,
o rive the benefit, and they would SOC
t stop it.
Q James Why, I had thought If "
d concluded not to compromise all woul
d JOIN and mako a general fight.
,t joint will not be 10. But II til
proposition is voted, l believe it wi
IT unite all upon that basis. There a.
some opposed to any compromise ;othe
do not favor this proposition. bscau!
d the rate is too low. Now, this is a M
II dunn between these extremes; we mu
1t first compromise our own differences
opinion. and then we will euccee
it Nothing is truer than the rsmark of N
Trambull, that sit is impossible
h wiring taxes from an unwilling and III
ted people,"
RS James-With the opposition you spe
at Of, do you think this proposition will
be adopted.
er John-Yes. A large majority are
e, compromise. They differ as to the IA
TT Some believe the rate is 50 low that I
by creditors will not accept, and prefer
figure 'that would insure success.
re, wish you to remember they are amo
I'D the largest taxpayers. and are men W
y, are well Informed. They are anxious
no remove this incubus from their prop
cd ty, but they do not desire to pay q
no moro than Is necessary; now, convil
no them that this proposition will acco
all plish the object, and they will support