The Grenada gazette., 1888-02-25

The State Alliance at its last reeu-
lar meeting requested Gen. j. Il
George to investigate the alleged
debt due by the State to the Univer-
sity, at Oxford. They were perhaps
drawing a much heavier draft on
that distinguished gentleman's fund
OF accommodation than they were
aware of, as the sequel proved But
the old Roman was fully equal to the
emergency. He went to work and
prepared 4 very elaborate and thor
ough opinion on the subject, going
to the very bottom Of the question
and sitting it thoroughly. The docu-
nlent was very lengthy, and had the
gentleman charged anything like a
usual fee for his labor, the amount
of work done and the amount of
money involved would have made
the fee run up into thousands. But
1t was labor of love, and the labor
er received nothing for his great SER
vice, but the good will Of the people,
for whom he lahored. The opinion
was altogether too voluminous for US
to attempt even synopsis Of it, but
the final conclusion reached was that
instead Of the State being indebted
to the University, the shoe was on
the other foot, or to speak more
plainly, the University owed the
State, Soon after the publication of
Gen. Georges frat article on the sub
feet referred to, Col, l.. NJ. Mayes, pro-
fessor of the law department in the
University, published request to
the public, asking a suspension Of the
public opinion, on the question at
issue, Until the University side could
be presented by him, Col. Mayes is
generally conceded by all who know
him to be one of the most erudite,
most profound and most finished
scholars in the South. In addition
to this, he has filed the law chair,
in the University for years past, and
In matters of theoretical and fun da-
mental law, he Is generally credited
by the legal profession as being
without superior, in this State. In
due time he was heard from, and his |
exposition of the questions at issue,
both at law and fact. was fully up to
the expectation of his friends, and of
those who had espoused the Univer.
sity's side of the case. According to
his showing, Gen. George was very |
lamentably wrong, all the way
through, from premises to conclu
sion, and the State was debtor to the
University to the amonnt ofhundreds
of thousands of dollars. Gen.
Georges rejoinder was not long in
making its appearance, and was q
strong enforcement to his former
charge. In this unsettled condition
this very grave question is now sus-
pended, in stutu quo. This leads Us
to ask, when doctors differ, who shal!
decide? The gentlemen who hold
such diametically opposite views on
the subject, are both of them reckon
ed among our highest legal authori-
ties. Gen. George resigned the po
sition of Chef Justice OF the State to
accept the position he now occupies
and in the Senate of the United
States he has forced his political en-
emies to recognize and admit that AS
ajurist he has few equals and no
superiors. Col Mayes, on the other
hand, has filed no requiry the eX-
ercise of legal attaiuments, save pro-
fessor of law, as before mentioned.
Yet his reputation as very profound
judge of law, particularly among the
members of the profession, ie equal
to that of any man, of his age, in the
State. Gen. George is, in our opin-
ion more of IA practical man, and Col.
Mayes more of theoretical man.
IDasmuch rs there are question both
of law and fact involved and we don't
know blamed thing about either,
and as we are forced to accept sec
ond-hand opinion, from one or the
other, We are going to pin our faith
In this instance to Gen. Georges
coat-tail, even if we get left.
True WOnianly Worth.
They were having rather spirited
debate at the pOstOfiice corner last