Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-02-14
Gbt9ailg GBronielt.
Entered at the Post-Ofrlce as Knoxville, felr
aeesee, - Second-class matter
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY ID, 1882.
WHAT NEXT /?

So far as the settlement of the
State debt upon the basis adopted
by the Legislature last spring is
concerned, it is at an end, and the
whole question is re-opened. A
majority of the court has decided
that the law is unconstitutional, and
though the decision is contrary to the
wishes and views of State credit
men, it is the decision of our highest
judicial tribunal, therefore the law
of the land, and we must acquiesce.
We had hoped that the majority
of the court would present reasons
for their conclusion so clear that
there would be no controversy over
the correctness of their decision.
This is not SO, however. Only bare
majority concurred in the opinion,
Two out of the five judges, men
learned in the law, one of them, the
Chief Justice, both of them respect
ed, not only for their eminent ability
as jurists, but for their character and
integrity as men, delivered dissent
ing opinions, sustaining the validity
of the act. No man dares to charge that
either of them was influenced by po-
itical Or other sinister considera-
tons. The fact that they could not
acquiesce in the decision of the ma
jority is evidence that others will not
admit it's correctness. And the fur
ther fact that the position of the court
leaked out several days before the
opinion was delivered, giving specu-
lators an opportunity to make hum
dreds of thousands out of the result,
will not add to the respect and conf
dence in which a court of last resort
should be held.
But it is all over; what next
The whole question will come before
the people of Tennessee in the cans
yass of this summer The Glow
tax men, as they call themselves,
repudiators they are, will gain
large accessions to their ranks, as
they have already, and will have,
candidate for Governor. By these,
we mean those who supported S. F.
Wilson for Governor in 1880. Lest
our readers may have forgotten just
how the Wilson party proposes to
settle the debt, we make an extract
here from their platform. The fol
lowing is the main point in their
so-called declaration of principles:
We favor the adjustment and
speedy payment of the State debt
proper.
We deny the validity against the
State of all that part of our alleged
Indebtedness represented by bonds
issued for or on account of railroads,
and declare they shall be left for
settlement where they belong, in the
judicial controversy between the
bondholders and the railroads.
We recognize the sovereignty and
supremacy of the people, and declare
that no settlement of any part of
our alleged indebtedness shall be
made which is not first submitted to
them for ratification OF rejection at
the ballot-box at special election
to be held for that purpose only.
They propose to pay no part of
the debt except the estate debt
proper" which amounts now to only
s2,105, 900, and the interest on that
amount at six per cent. for seven
years, since 1875. This party was the
minority party in the last gubernato-
rial campaign, but it has gained many
recruits since, and the effect of this de-
cision of the Supreme Court is to make