Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-09-28

| the debt was reduced largely, vet on the other
hand 1t was increased almost as rapidly by
| the issuance of Pacific Railroad bonds, while
under his administration the public debt had
been really decreased over $500, OOO, 900 within
| three years. The depreciation of greenbacks
was scarcely an indication of prosperity. He
treated the subject exhaustively, without rheto-
rical flourish, appealing rather to the reason of
\ his hearers. Passing on to the flag and the
| constitution, which he had stood by in the hour
| of danger, he came to the charges OF oppression
made him. no rfTaE 7Tirt EE
| As regards the leyying of tax on wealthy
| men to support the wives and families of Con-
| federate soldiers who were absent fighting the
battles of the South, he now only regretted that
he had not levied twice as much as he did. If
there was a Confederate soldier present who
loved those wealthy men better than the wives
of their comrades in arms, let him speak, for
! him had he offended. He had said that the war
was arich mans quarrel and poor mans fight,
illustrating by an act of the Confederate Con-
gress by which all who owned twenty slaves
were exempt from military duty, but those own
ing less number, or none at all, were forced to
bare their bosoms to bayonet and ball.
As regards the fact that Gen. Chatham had
supported him for the Senate, he had certainly
been as good a friend to him. but that had moth
ing to do with their fitness for the position each
aspired to fill. -
Concerning the question of equality, in bis
opinion merit and not birth or education should
be the test by which all should be Judged. He
had vetoed the Freedmen's Bureau bill, the
civil rights BILL and others elevating the mill
tary above the civil authorities. He had been
impeached for his remonstrance against the en-
crochments of Congress. His ambition was
to meet the appreciation of his fellow men, and
defend the flag and constitution of his country.
Mr. Maynard's Rejoinder. - "a
He said he had but little to say. If his col
leagues had stated facts, then for ways that are
dark and tricks that are vain, !" the Democratic
party was peculiar His competitor hadn't
said as much about the constitution rs usual
though he wanted that venerated instrument
doctored, but it would hardly be done in his
Ii fe-time. Mr.. johnson had houted civil rights
and wanted merit made the test of association.
That would not do. All must be equal before
the law, and as each individual had his own
standard of merit, SO would he select his COM
pany. His competitor objected to National
banks as being manipulated by men who grew
wealthy in so doing. In reply, he would say
that rs he had not made anything during his
long public career, and if banking was so very
profitable, he would like to organize q compa-
ny with Mr.. johnson as President, for he was
really poorer now than when he entered poll
tics
He was glad General Cheatham agreed with
him on public improvements, and in this con-
motion would say that he had experience and
thought he could do mora than q new hand, for
proof of which he referred to the Custom
House now building in this city. Corruption
against his party had beeen charged but inves-
tigatiOn had generally developed the fact that
the frauds had been traced to conservative
sources. AT all events no Republicans had
been making many presents, and Gov. Brown
low lived in the same unpretendmg house he
had for many years. With an allusionto Dgn-
nington, when he denominated q very 'ferocious
rebel" Mr.. Maynard retired, having made a
most hapDY effort. .'.....-.. 81.