Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1854-02-02
Remarks Of Mr.. Hebb,

in the House of Representatives
January 10th, 1854.
Mr.. Speaker-It is a matter o
surprise to me, Sir, that no railroad
can be projected in East Tennessee
that does not meet with opposition
from the representatives from th,
immediate vicinity of Knoxville, un
less it has its terminus in that city
With what show of justice can thii
opposition be made? Let US for /
moment turn to the record and ex
anime the facts and figures there
presented. The city of Knoxville
has had already, in direct appropria.
tions, for two roads, the enormous
So N Of one million one hundred
th ousand dollars Isl ,lO0,000,) be,
sides State aid to the same two roads
for Iron, &c, at eight tho usand dol
lars per mile, amounting ih all to the
sum of one million six hundred
thousand dollars Isl. .6OO.OOO) I'd
addition to this there il the Dam
vile railroad terminating at Knox
vile, which has State did to the
amount of four hundred and eighty
thousand dollars (S4Sq000) Is
this not great injustice 10 those por-
tions of the State which have never
raised one dollar to aid tie m in works
Of Internal improvements? 5?
Sir, it is not my intention at this
time to make a speech on the bill
now under con sideratioh, but the
gentleman from Blount (Gen. Wal
laeel having advocated a system,
which, in my Judgment, is detr i
mental to the best inte rest Of the
State, and which, if al hopted, will
lead to bankruptcy and ruin, ! feel
that | would be false tP myself, to
my constituents, and I'd the State,
| if | remained silent, ] will not f9l-
low the example set ME by some
members Of this Genera Assembly
Some gentlemen seem to think it en-
tirely consistent and proper for them
to do all they can to advance the in
terest of bill which they know
does not meet the appreciation of
those they represent, and when they
see the bill will pass without their
votes. in order to avoid the curses
Of an outraged cOnstitn nency, they
simply cast their voteE 5 against it,
after having done more than any
other member TO secure its passage.
My actions and my vbtes, Sir, as
long as | have the honor Of seat
upon this floor, shall be consistent
with each other. / i Intend to be
guilty of no double dealing. Hav-
ing promised my con btituents not
only to vote against aid extravagant
expenditures of the pbblic money,
but to talk against it, | am here to
redeem that pledge, although ! feel
great reluctance, and it may appear
presuming in me to attempt to speak
after so many eloquent and able
speeches have been made.
| ! am well aware, Sit, that have
no influence in the House on this
subject. All influence on the ques-
ton has passed into the ha nds o.
hucksters and dealers 10 State Bonds
a coalition to extra ct very dollar
from the public Treasury for theil
own use and the use of few coun
ties. The outside Influence Of LOBBY
MEMBERS is greater, | am sorry tt
say, than all the members On this
floor. Sir, it appear to me that
gentlemen holding seats on this hool
would show more mpdesty if they
would be satisfied with the libera
appropriations already maze 20 road:
by the General ssembly of the
State But it appears the m ore yor
give the more they want. ! SCI
that the counties to which appropria'
tions have heretofore been made fol
railroads are the most clamo rous fol
additional aid. The cry is, gire, gire
/ This cry will never be hushed as long
as there is one dollar in the treasu'
| ry.
Sir, has this Legisl lature f. has the
country learned nothihgfrom the TACT
Shall it's reasoning be unheeded! !
we would look back at those disas
trous times to 1883 and 1888
and be admonished by the record pre-
sented, We would pause in our wild
reckless extravaganza. Large appro
II priations we're then made to all por
tions Of the State for railroad, turn