Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-10-02
DO NOT FORGET FAcTs.

We are determined that if any number
of the tax payers of Tennessee, through
partisan blindness, are willing to endorse
the gigantic frauds which have been perpe-
trated upon them by certain corrupt rings,
that they shall do it with full understand
ing of the facts. We have charged time
and again, that ten and O half millions of
the peoples money have been lost, prn-
| cipally through the mismanagement and
corruption of Democratic Office holders, as
auxiliaries to corrupt, thieving, plumber
| ing rings and yet, not q single one Of the
Democratic organs, or Democratic stump
| speakers, hare eUcr dared to deny il. These
charges are based upon facts and figures
taken from official records, and if they are
untrue they can be easily disproved We
call upon voters, honest men of all parties,
to witness the fact that not word even of
denial has been offered, much less any tes-
timony against their truth. We call upon
the people of Tennessee, those who have
an interest in the prosperity of the State,
to take notice of the fact, that in the dis
position of certain delinquent railroads, an
amount almost equal to half the State debt,
has been lost. We call upon them to
make a note of the fact, that an amount of
money has been lost, sufficient under any
thing like economical management, to
pay the current expenses the State Gov
eminent for six years. a sum equal to all
the money you have paid as State taxes at
present rates, for the same length of time
al ray 1, 4lrr
portion of it has gone into the pockets of
thieves and plunderers. Your hard earn
ings, that should have been devoted to the
cause of education-to internal improve
ments, &C., have gone into the pockets
of a ring of swindlers who have
grown rich at your expense. Are YOU
willing to become party to this fraud, by
endorsing the men who have permitted,
connived at or participated in it? 1t is
serious question for you to determine, and
upon you rests the responsibility of prop
er decision. If you endorse these rings,
you tacitly consent to further depreda-
dations upon the public treasury
and the public credit. If you endorse
the members of this corrupt ring,
you indirectly, if not directly, endorse the
swindle they have perpetrated upon the
State, by squandering railroad property,
to the detriment of the public interest and
for the benefit of private capitalists.
We ask voters to think about this mat
ter. Do not take our,word for the truth
of the grave charges, but procure the Off
cial records, the comptroller's reports the
reports of the commissioners for the sale
of delinquent railroads; examine the. re-
cords of the courts through which these
roads were sold, and satisfy yourselves. If
we have made false charges, hold US re-
sponsible for them. If we have not told
the truth, convict us of falsehocd and pub
fish us to the world as unworthy of being
trusted or believed in the future. But if
you find that we are correct, as you GER
tainly will, then, in the name of all that is
patriotic and good, let us appeal to you to
lay aside partisan prejudice and join with
good men of all parties in hurting from
power those who have demonstrated their
unfitness fo- position and have shown
themselves unworthy of public confidence