Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-11-16

alton. Is the prosperity of the people so d6tfn
sumo the payment Of Interest upon this deb
so eqsttcbIe and just as to render this tax i'm
perative? If this policy means the resumpt ol
Of interest payments at any stated period, le
the declaration be made boldly and openly q
! the country, and let the people know for Wha
| purpose this tax is to be levied. Empty prom
ises OF relief, and loud expressions of sympa
thy, will not relieve the distresses of an op
pressed people, nor tighten the burden which
depresses and destroys their prosperity. Thi
| Is not what the people of Tennessee demand
| You may momentarily cheer the crushed RnC
broken spirit of the ponr man who labor
from morn til noon, from noon til dewy eve
10 gain meagre subsistence for his little fam
| ily, ard to pay his taxes to the government
| but when the faint hope, excited by specioui
promises, dies out, he may very Justly con
clude that 1t is better not TO be governed at al
| than governed too much.
Whence smes TINS cISmor for q continue
| ton OF high taxes?
Let Us turn back q few years in the history
OF our State, and compare notes upon the
past and present. From the year 1885 up 10
1853, this hail prese sented strange and ano.
malous spectacle in the history OF free gov.
| eInments.
Sir. upon this fl Dor we're seated eighty four
| gentlemen, representing small mi1erity
| OF the people OF Tennessee; and swarming
around these galleries an halls like hungry
vuitures, were a certain clsss Of persons en-
gagged in the foul work OF corrupttoD-ustng
every mesns TO procure the Issuance of those
very bonds upon which they now so earnest
ly demand the interest.
Csn Such men be regarded as the friends of
Tennessee2
When the people were dis,ranohised and
poTSeriess o'St 70 protect themselves rom the
uemen who are SO Jealous of the homo and
credtt OF Tennessee to-day were here in thes Q
nails assisting and urging the corrupt and
iIres ponsible agents of the State to fasten
this evil upon the people, and 70 ruin her
credit in the money N arkets OF toe world
Tennessee is not in RoOndition to bear @
rate of taxation equal TO thEt levied in her
sitter States nortn. Look at the contrast In
the condition OF Tennessee and the States
noLtn. during and subsequent TO the late
Wn.le the citizen OF Tennessee saw the &C.
cumu'a OF years OF severe 1oii swept
away al one rsde bl st OF wsr-While the So.
der ofthe south returned from the war to and
his country a desOlate waste, his personal
properly stolen or dsslros ed, his fencioB
burned or broken down, in ma Instances
his dwelling burned, or at bes, mOutOerIng
in de cay from oisuse and ne gl, c and not
unlreq denty himself and MS lsmily re-
duced rom a condition at competence and
ease 70 absolute poverty and want himself
deprived of the proud privilege Of an Amer1-
can freeman, and his state government IN
minority. Sir, how fsred itwiIh his compeu-
tor in armsP rHe returned TO a count y IL at
had not bes-o4iig uted by the fiery bl cath OF
war, sJiIF F-.1ther sdvsnced in wealth and
prosperity !. and blooming rs the rose Under
tne fostering inf 1sno of a most liberal and
even plod g Al COVE nment.
Give the people OF Tennessee time to re-
buuo their hrCEen fOrtunos under the
onRnged condition OF eff sIrs; give them an
Opportunity 10 once more gain q fooi hold
upon he nigh 70 70 pros--sI fty, and no
people on the face OF tie glooS-sil more will
hns Y meet their oohgationB, even though
unJustly created, than the people OF TennGs-
SET.
Think. sir, that G tax Of three mIlIs on the
doilsr viii raise revenue entirely Eufz cient
or ali purposes, snd am IN willing to give
my assent TO any proposIlion looking 10 a
higher rate of taxation
Mr.. Speaker. les me say that my vie ws are
WfNsnW
a or, L resisted. with my voice AID
with my vote, the imposition of the
preseat burdens: The same argu nents
were tUeu used that are to-day US . by the
friends OF this measure, but the most blatant
and clamOrOus in support of the tax were
lobbyists, presumed 70 be interested in en-
hancing the value Of Tennessee bonds. They
are OF that class who are to-day for low and
tomorrow for high taxes-acting with refer
ence TO their own personal interests, and not
Win an eye 10 the public veal. trust, sir,
that the motive which prompts me Is an
honest and a sincere desire TO deal fairly and
literally as between parties who were made
debtors against their will and in defiance Of
their wishes, by unauthorized and irrespon-
stble agents, and those who became creditors
with a full knowledge of all the facts Gen
tlemen speak Of malntaining the credit of the
state. Who, let me inquire, has depressed her
credit? destructive civil war, the RESPONSE
bility of which must be shared by us all, but
more than all, sir, the usurpation of her gov
ernmental powers by a reckless and irrespon-
sible faction, who debauched her credit, and
llON NdAA pOll hS " W lpt away AilelE disgrace.
The responsibility is not upon US now, and
will be only when Tennessees restored pros
perity shall prompt our successors, under
popular sanction, 10 give the pound of flesh
for which these ShylOcks clamor. What sir
gives credit 10 states or individuals? Is il be-
cause Of their readiness TO meet obligations of
doubtful origin, created in defiance of their
known will and in utter disregard for their
wishes? Such is not the case. 1t is not in
consistent with the highest honor, nor the
most sacred regard for personal credit, TO con-
suit our own time and convenience as TO the
payment Of such obligations.
Besides, sir, Tennessee is not to-day asking
loan nom any capitalist. She is not Offering
any new securities for sale in the money mar
kets OF the world, and cannot heAfore, in a
practical point Of view, lose anything, because
those already Issued are selling, as many of
them were sold when issued, far below their
nominal value, She may have occasion in the
future 10 extend helping hand TO great en-
terPrises OF development, but before prudence
viii dictate such course her ebt, In my
opinion, can and will be fully extinguished
l yield to no member on this floor in the de- |
sire 70 preserve tpe honor OF Tennessee, II Is |
a holy trust, for tbs time being in great part, |
conhded TO US; but let us beware Mr.. Speaker, |
Of allowipg a mistaken conception of honor
- hat is, violate the Weil-known ahd repeat |
edly expressed will OF a confiding oonstitu- |
ency. !
No people live quietly or happily under OBJ |
noxtous OF unwelcome legislation. Therefore, |
when they ask for bread let US not give them
a stone; when they ask for tish, give them not |
q serpent which may wound their vitalS If not |
crush out their very life blood.
81 Let us do our whole duty to them as we have
engaged; and when representatives shall be |
wanted to provide for the payment of our |
bonded debt and interest, the mighty voice of |
the people will sccredlt them here with no un-
certain or doubtful Instructions in that behalf /
Let Us legiSlste for the evils Of this day /
which is ours, and leave TO our successors the |
cares and respoBs bilities of the uncertain and |
distant tomorrow.
Present relief viii be graf. full to the honest |
taxpayer, and his appreciation Of IL will be |
grateful 10 you representatives, when you |
snail have ended your duties upon this floor, |
and return u give an account OF your steward |
ship.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Enloe's re- |
marks, the House adjourned.