The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-09
Gen. CatehIngs' Letter.

Rev. r. D., Gambrell, Editor Sword and
Shield, JACKSON, Miss.
DEAR SRI have your letter OF the
18th instant, asking me to reply to GER
tan questions propounded TO me in
an article which appeared 10 your
paper Of the 10Th instant, entitled
Should Explain" which you kindly
inclose.
II The author Ct that article had
really desired to know the truth he
could and would have made inquiry OF
Gov. Lowry, who would have supplied
him with all informal on needed. Al
though the effort to injure me is utter
ly absurd, / have concluded to give
you mot The author OF tina. article) en-
account OF my course in connection
with the matter mentioned.
The act of March "a, 1884, required
the Atom ey. General, upon being no
titled by the Governor of the failure
or refusal of the lts5ees of the peni-
ten'iary to pay into the Stats Treasury
the amount due by them, TO institute
suit against them and their sureties.
The object OF this was TO compel
payment by them, Of course.
The Governor notified me some time
in the spring of 1884 that the essees
were in arrears in certain sum, and
called my attention to this act of the
LegislauTe.
Immediately informed them that
unless they arranged the matter l
would sue them.
They proposed thst il would not
sue them they would give me- perfec ct
security for the payment OF the
amount due, in December or January
following.
The securities offered were exam.
iued and found to be good, and with
the s'nc'ion Of the Governor ac-
Cepted the proposition, received the
securities aud at once deposited them
with the State Treasurer and the
amount owing by the lessees was paid
into the Treasury in December, 1884.
This wSs infinitely better than a suit,
for this reason:
As every lawyer knows, the term
Of court to which suit is brought is
known as the Importance term, and
the defendant is entitled as a matter
OF right to a continuance until the
next term, that he may have time in
which to prepare his defense.
The sureties resided in various
Localities, and il IL very. doubtful
whether could have had them all
personally summoned for the July
term, which was the first 10 be held
after the matter was placed in my
hands II / had succeeded in this,
however, 1t is almost certain that with
the means of delay 80 essily invoked,
! could not have obtained Judgment
at the December term follow ng. This
would have postponed the case
until the July term 1885, and possibly
still longer.
Even after obtaining judgment there
would doubtless have been still further
delay in realizing the money by execu-
ton. No means known to the law
could have secured the payment of
the sum due as speedily as il was col
leCted under the arrangements made
by me.
Under these circumstances my duty
was plain, and did not hesitate to
pursue the course most beneficial to
the State, and which any lawyer of
decent ability aud judgment would
have adopted. The object Of the law
was speedily aud effectually accom-
plished, and l most certainly wou d
pursue the same course under the
same circumstances, even at the risk
Of being regarded by your anxious
correspondent as "contemner of the
law"
While asking you to publish this,
must apologize to your readers for oc-
oupying 80 much Of your space in re-
plying to an accusation founded in
gross and objectionable ignorance.
appreciate your motives in giving
me the opportunity to EXPOSE the lit
tleuess OF the assault made upon me
in your paper, and thank you therefor.
Respectfully, T. c. cATCaINes.