Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1900-01-25
SLIGHTLY DISCURSIvE.

Democrat and the Hustler appear to
have served in this capacity for par.
ties whose ambitions and aspirations
would be defeated by a refusal of
the county to submit to a law, which,
if operative, would would cause
trouble. Capable and thinking men
of both parties agree that the re-dis-
tricting of the county was done sole
ly for political purposes, and not for
any desire to benefit the county, and
moreover, say that if such had been
the purpose, how could il work any
benefit? We are now speaking of
how the re-districting was accom-
plished, not of how the work should
have been done. We reiterate.
Democrats and republicans alike
have expressed regret to us that such
change should have been made and
said that it was measure "cOnceiv-
ed in sin and born in iniquity,"
1t was folly to divide the county
into such large districts. Marion
County is not retro grading, and will
not retro grade, even if few wish
to hint 10 the outside world that it
is in such a condition. Even if there
was an absolute surety that the re-
duced number of justices would be
elected at the locations most conven-
lent for all the people, still with
Ruch large territory over which to
hold jurisdiction, in many cases the
ends of justice would be defeated
and the criminal escape
Technically speaking and Judging
from the arguments of our contem-
poraries, the County Court is not al
together guiltless, and yet it is not
altogether in fault if this section of
the Code of Tennessee is worthy of
credeuce:
Art. 2. Sec. S3. The County
Court OF any county, two thirds
of the acting justices of the
nonna hninO yrasarf ,,,o1t. cbauo.a
the boundary of any civil dis
trict, and make new districts or
re-district county entirely,
when necessary, by means of
commissioners to be appointed /
by such courts, or otherwise, -
Miliken d Vertrees' Code.
And also again in Sec. 81, same
chapter and Code we find the follow
ing;
"For every $500 qualified yo-
tiers, and under 5000, there
shall be twenty districts"
And these laws to our knowledge
have never been repealed, at least by
the legislature that made the alleged
re-districtlng law. Hence the legis-
lature seems as much culpable as the
County Court, perhaps the only par.
ty in fault. If we have two laws on
our statute books, which one are we
to obey? In case of two evils, the
wise citizen will choose tho least.
We do not consider the action of the
County Court should he condemned
altogether i'll view of the evil which
would result from submission to an
arbitrary measure, which, if there be-
any truth in the law quoted above,
is not legal.
Some may say that the action of
the County Court is arbitrary, We
grant that it is arbitrary, but the act
cannot be said to he uncaIled for.
The best interests of the county de-
manded that there should be more
than four districts, and the only way
to get more was to refuse to obey an
arbitrary law, which seems to have
been devised by few to the prejudice
of many, and for infringement there
was no penalty. Chap. Ala, Acts of
1899, does not repeal Art, , of Mllli-
ken q Vertree's Code, 1884, or any
other law as far as we can discover,
and there you have the whole ques-
ticn in nut shell. We suppose the
matter will have to be referred to
the Supreme Court for settlement
but who will assume the initiative in
the prosecution of the County Court
at his own expense we do not know
In regard to the matter of J. c
Kelly the sentiment of a great mauy
if not a,majority of our citizens, is Ii
favor of Mr.. Kelly's position. HI