Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-09-18
NmOsbe aaleekIp Gbonie aaleOmsOap September 49, leza

member how we all looked into the papers day
after day to sec what Radical bond thief" had
been arrested But not q man was arrested
Investigating committee after investigating
committee was appointed, but no Radical was
shown TO have misapplicd n single dollar Don {
you know that il single corrupt act could
have been proven on single Republican Of
fetal it would have been trumpctoi all over
Tennessee? But the truth will shine and now
it comes out that the Radical bond thieves
were all Democrats. And when we Republi-
cans found that out we raised the cry "Investi-
gate Investigator but the Democrats dared
not do it. 1t is right for Democrats to steal F.;
stealing is wrong only when Republicans steal.
RAILROAD RINGS.
1t was charged that tho Railroad Ring "
ruled the Radicals. The Railroad Ring was
composed of Democrats, the very Democrats
who got tho bonds. Now will tell you little
instance 70 show you which party is ruled by
Railroad Rings. When the Democrats wentinto
power Tennessee bonds were high in the market.
The Democrats in tho Legislature in January,
1870, passed q law authorizing the railroads TO
pay their debt in bonds of any "series or num-
Der" This was the first step in their grand
scheme. Now the next step was to bring down
the price of bonds, so that the railroads might
buy them up at q few cents on the dollar. Ac-
cordingly the Democratic Legislature openly
and boldly threatened reputation, swore they
never would pay single bond, and put the tax
down to 20 cents on the hundred dollars, at the
same time breathing vengeance and slaughter
against the bond holders. What was the result (?
Tennessee bonds fell at once to about 40 cents
on the dollar. The railroads rushed into the
market, bought up the bonds at these rates, and
paid them into the State Treasury. | know
whereof ! speak when ! say that all this was
done at the instigation and suggestion of the
Railroad Ring" What would be Thought of
man who threatened to pay none of his notes
in order to give his friends a chance TO buy
them at a few cents on the dollar? Would
we not denounce him as fit for the
penitentiary? And yet this is Just what this
say ererg member of the Legislature was in tho
secret. Perhaps you do not know that four or
five men in each House rule the whole Legisla-
ture; that whatever they say, the rest do. The
great majority of men who go to the Legislature
are regular dough-heads, and vote Just as they
are told. The Railroad Ring" works with
the leaders; the rest follow, like poor little ig
norsmuses
RAILROAD SALES.
Some of these railroads have been sold lately
4" Who does not know that ~ ] hear Won saw
Well may you say so. 1t has been told with
tho roll of drums, the blare of trumpets and the
thunder of cannon, until some of our enthusi-
astlc Democratic friends almost believe that tho
millennium was at our doors, and could almost
see the Savior in the clouds. 4 voice; " But
the Savior didn't cOmeP'1 No; but the 9criL
came, and We have had him TO pay
Now, in order 20 show you what roads were
sold, how much they owed the State and what
they sold for, will read from the Comptroller's
report of December, 1870, and from the report
of tho Railroad ION,