Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-04-05
SPE ECH OF
HERvEY BROWN, OF MADISON,

SIeu JANUARY Z0u, AcOO-
Mr. SPEAKER:-It would seem that am to be a
hero a martyr. From the opening OF the session,
all the gentlemen on this floor who are favorable to
unlimited issues Of State Bonds have fixed the cul-
mnating point of their ambition in making speech
at 1.-THE gentleman from Madison" They and their
prompters, who make statistics to order, furnish
documents and are waiting for the bonds have oil
tired however Of the poetry Of this operation and
have ceased their efforts in that line save some two
three, at whose hands perchance may yet find
place in the Book OF Martyrs.
The gentleman from Maury, (Mr. Looney,) en-
quires whether will publish my speechs | answer
him. that if he will publish his speech, just it
vas made, without alteration or omission, my i'm.
mortality is secured-that | am u hero-for ''the
gentleman from Madison" was the whole subject
the beginnin, middle, and end of the speech-and
in the dignity Of the theme the gentleman neglec>
ted, very prudenty, to refer to, attempt to dis
cuss, the question before the House. The good Of
the country calls for the publication of this speech
/ aud necessity demands that 1.-THE gentleman from
Madison" should cover the whole canvass. To omit
tie subject, would present "a beggarly account of
empty boxes"
He says that, whenever State bonds are spoken
Of that am alarmed as if haunted by ghost
You will recolect Mr.. Speaker, that when, a few
days since, | deemed it proper TO discuss a legal
question, the gentleman talked of Sancho Panza
VI "A
mill; and today, when question of finance is to be
settled, he marches Banquo out upon the boards;
and he has sa tisfed every member Of this House
that Shakespeare taught him Finance and Cervantes
taught him Law-that he knows more about ghost
Ology than lie does of finance, and very much more
about the mechanism of wind mills than of law
This was followed by the announcement of the fact
that he was born in the State of Tennessee. Now,
Sir, he ought not TO taunt her Representatives with
f,.F Tha aid ha1y h., 4
if misfortune fall upon State, without her fault
consent she should not be arragned for it; but be
speaks Of his birth with a distinctness that would
indicate he was standing by eye witness OF the
fact. was born, Sir, at too early age to recOl-
lect what transDred, but have learned from family
history, that was born on the other shore OF the
La Belle river, in a State distinguished alike for
terprse, wealth and intelligence-wh hammer
tits to hammer, and pillow chases pillow from the
centre to the circumference and where the looms
click TO the time, and the spindes dance to the
music of the engine A State where school houses
adOrn the mountain slopes and the valleys-where
Court houses and churches are found, and justice
and mercy meet and hsrmOnIze, and the people
prosperous and happy--where, through private en-
terprise the iron horse in the wildness OF his speed,
courses more than twenty seven hundred miles OF
the iron track; aud where, under wise caution and
prudent management her bonds are, to day, worth
a premium of thirteen dollars on the hundred.
Mr.. Speaker, nature, though generous in her be-
stOwments, is prudent in her regulations-this
counts for the fact that the gentleman and myself
were not both born in Tennessee-this decree of
nature exceedingly wise, for, Sir, the womb of
the State could not have borne two such prodgi..
Ously great men at one tme-she cOuli not have
survived, but would have sunk under the extraor.
binary effort, from exhaustion.
Mr.. Dunnington. | would ask the gentleman
from Ma ison for information. | not born in
this State. l wish to know what distinctions or
rights there dependent upon birth place.
Mr. Brown If the gentleman refers to politics.
answer that am an American-that the American
Party is the only national party 10 the United
States, and that that party embraces the whole
Union, aud is not marked or divided by State or
sectional lnes aud holds that Americans should
rule America; and if the gentleman ia a foreigner,
he had better become nauraized, before the Ameri-
cans take charge of the Government lest he should
be too late.
Mr.. Speaker, on yesterday I said was an anti
bond man, and the gentleman (Mr. Looney,) told
me to 60 over TO tie other side Of the House. |
answered, that if the other side anti bond, and
TINS side was for bond issuing, | would cheerfuy
DO so. | belong, as | have said, to the American
Party; yet if that party to adopt the gentle
mans State aid views, in the basis platform OF
the party, would 60 to the other side of the
House, and repent of ever having belonged to such
party. Ny country, my State, above mere party.
But, Sir, this is question OF State policy aud not
Of national politics; | must therefore, dcclins the
gcutleman's advice, aud, having taken nv stand at
the ThermopyB of Tennessee, | hope 10 be more
fortunate than Leonidas in this that may yet be
permitted to live, aud plead for the safety, honor
ant glory OF the State; and | repeat, that ] am
consistent improvement man, for the system in all
It's parts, as it s-yet anti bond issuing man, aud
that will labor with such party, whoever may
lead, TO prevent bankruptcy or reputation by the
State. These evils arc not apprehended, however,
by the gentleman. He says he is not II coward
that he does not look into the future. Well, Sir,
no one doubts his counge--but bis discretion,
what Of thatg ] will not however, cOntrovert the
fact that he never looks to The future-indeed,
have been convinced, that the present bounded the
gentlemans financial powers-leuyiug him, then, 70
for the present, while ] endeavor TO act for the
future, | will hand him over TO his friend the gen
tleman from Hamilton, who says: 1T is the dutv OF
man o. provide for his posteTity. The true states.
man will not confne his vision 20 the present, but
will penetrate the shadows clouds, and da kness
which rest upon the future"
will now, Mr.. Speaker, pass to the question be-
fore the House, in which members feel more inter-
est and enquire, what has been the action Of the
State Ia regard TO the bonds embraced in this bili
/. The East Tennessee and Virginia Road has
received grant OF $4,000 a mile for iron; then
the State granted $500, 900 bridge money, with
provision, that thc Company should have all the
residue Of the $4,000 after building the bridges,
for grading or any other purposes connected with
the road. And Mr Lynch, the chief engineer Of
this road reports TO the Governor under oath, that
the masonry OF all the bridges the road has
49, Sal 90, aud that the cost contract price Tor
the suprrstructurc Of said bridges is S4S 6is so,
making the entire cost of al OF said bridges SOL.
400 46-leaving $l9s, 500 81 OF the bridge al
under the law, TO be applied on the road. To cum
up, then, this road gets $4,000 per mile for
iron-a her bridges built, aud Sl9S, 5O9 81 inmo~
ney, for the road under the past grants, aud now
asks $500 600 more and by this bIl for said road.
The Chattanooga road has received about
81 $780, O0-is completed and running, aud now
asks for the small sum Of $4,000 more
8 The East Tennessee aud Georgia road, under
the old Hiwassee d,nasgy, received nearas
aud sunk about half OF that sum, aud handed the
oss over 10 the Tax PAYERS OF tennessee, with the
modest request, that they hquIdate II; and then
received the usual aid under tbs present orgAniEi
ton OF $4,000 per mile for iron, ami 100000
bridge aid, and nov asks by this bill $4,000
more.
These two last appropriations, are said 10 be for
the purpose OF buihiug the Cleveland road, which
has 10000 per mile granted by the STAT, and this
$500, 900 asked oy these companies IS tor grading
That IL, the State is a,ked to grade bridge, iron
aud equip the road, aud thcn 20 give it 10 the
Company This done, aud lhis laVorit,m, extend.
ed 10 these road would they DOT be encouraged TO,
aud would they not at the next session ask appro-
priatious pay them Tor running the roads for the
good, the dryylopemvnI aud the interest OF The
Statrl
But sir, the law requires the Companies reesiv-
Ing State aid 10 report 10 the Governor The fact.
aud the report mu,t bu verified by the oath OF the
Cthcyrs, thai the Company has bona aje subscrip
tiuns and mrans sufficient 10 do ali the local wUrk,
aud thirty miles actually ready Tor the irou before
they eau receive the bonds TO any amoeut The
lsw d0uhtless has been complied with by the of