Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-18
THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE.
The Candidates for Governor Meet
W ON the stump.
Speeches by Gov. Brown, A. A. Free.
man and Col. COlyar.

Governor OF the State were announced to
speak. The train arrived at Lebanon
at 100 O'Clock, and at IL O'Clock the speak
ing commenced in the courthouse, Gov.
Brown beirg the Erss TO take the stand.
The audience, consisting Of about 600 or
100 men, mostly farmers of Wilson county,
who liste led to the speakers with rapt atten-
tion, and frequently atteste1 their apprecia-
ton Of the many well put and trite sayings
ofthe three opponents by applause. The
Circuit Court was in session when the
speaking began, but Judge Williamson
very courteously adjourned to give a who
were compelled by business to be there an
opportunity Of hearing the discussion.
Without exhibiting any impatience the au-
dience ,staoed and heard the speakers
throughout, the meeting breaking up at
O'Clock. After all was ove- grand rush
was made to crafty the inner man, and the
Lee House was not slow in proving how
well worthy it was of the reputation it en-
Joys of being a first class hotel. It is in
charge of those courtly gentlemen, ]. S.
Rutland and L. B. Webb, the former some
wears ago being q well kown citizen of
Nashville. It Is unnecessary for us to dilate
upon the merits of the speeches; below they
are given, aud let them speak for them
selves:
Fellow-citizens: / hope / may rot be
obnoxious, or charged with affectation
when tell you appear before you under
peculiar circumstances, have long known
many of your distinguished men. | have
long known of Wilson county and ergreat
men, but never had the pleasure Of ming
ling to any great extent with the masses of
your good county. have had the pleasure
ofknowing well such men as your Stokes,
aud Caruthers and Judge Campbell, whose
tomb is In sight. A little less than two
years ago, you gave me your suffrages, and
/ have no language to express my thanks.
am here to day as . candidate for re-elec-
ton, and to ask you to endorse my admin
istratIon. You have the right to ask of me
to give an account of my stewardship while
in Office.
STATE FINANCES.
The increased debt entailed upon the
State by the Internal Improvement system,
the events of the Wal and the reckless en-
traUdqauce of Radical rule presents
grave, but embarrassing question to the
people of the State. When the ate gov
eminent was wrested from the bands OF an
oppressive, tyrannicsl and usurping minor
ivy, comp sed largely Of birds Of passage,
the entire debt was abOu, $43,OOO,OOOOO.
The bonded debt now, with interest to the
LIST of January, 1873, after giving credit by
the sale of delinquent railroads and the
debts of sovenL raj roa Is, is about SZO,OUU,
0000 90. This amount mus be paid out OF
the revenue Of the State without aid from
railroads or from any other source. 1t is
increasing too at the rate Of nearly Sl,2OO,-
600 90 per arnum. By the exercise Of the
most rigid economy for the last year, and
pursuing the same policy in the future, we
hope to reduce the outstanding warrants,
redeem the remnant of the old issue o! the
Bank of Tennessee and pay the current
exp .nses of this year, out Of the reso rces
already assessed. There NAV, and proba-
bly, will be, 100000 or $500, 900 deficiency.
RADICAL DEBT.
Much has been said by our Radical
friends about the increase of the State debt
under their rule. One distinguished gen.
tleman asserted recently that they had only
increased the debt $4,000, 900, and he COM
planned that had misstated the debt at the
close of the war. WELL admit that my
figures were not correct, and that Gov.
BrownlOw is right when he says the debt
" dS lLGu SZO,IOO,OOVs ~ IbO S4OoO vi Viz
Radic.l rule it was S43 100000, making
s difference of S23,OO0.O0O. Who created
this debt of 81, 100000? And when you
consult the books of the Secretary
of State you will find there
were issued under Radical rule,
original Internal Improvement Bonds
amounting TO STA ST, 600 and funding bonds
amounting to 81 938 900, making total Of
Sl9,Sl5,000. And it may be profitable to
enquire how and under what circumstances
some OF these bonds were issued. One
notable instance, is the issuance Of $780,
700 in bonds to the Mineral Home Railroad
Company. These bonds were issued when
the road was not located or surveyed. 1t
had not been determined where the road
would commence, nor where it would ter
inmate. There had been no work done,
and TO solvent, bona .fde stock
subscribed. Yet the Radical officials issu-
ed 100000 bonds of the State to that COM
pauy. When in the country two years ago,
| urged that this debt should be funded.
am no repudiator. and hope that the State
will not repudiate any Of her liabilities, but
pay the last dollar with interest. l charge
the Republican party with reckless ex.
penditure Of public money unprecedented
In the annals of any State, If may except
some Of our sister Southern States who
hauebesn equally oppressed. There we're
bonds issued 10 the Knoxville and Charles
ton Railroad to the amount 81 100000. 1t
is little road only Is miles long, ends in
the woods, and sold to the highest bidder
for $40 500. So with the Cumberland Gap
RAilroad, which ends nowhere and COM
mences nowhere; yet this cost the State
SI80J.0G0. Let US not, however, talk of
reputation. The people of Tennessee are
too proud and honest to say that this debt
shall not be paid, and it is question that
ought 10 be decided by your next Legisla-
ture. You have right now to demand Of
your candidates whether or not they are
willing to meet these obligations.
STATE POLICY.
When before the people two years ago, l
announced my views upon State policy
without reserve. In my messages to the
Legislature which are before the country,
l expressed myself decidedly upon all the
leading questions that had agitated the pub
lie MUD. In the main my views met the
appreciation of the General Assembly.
None Of them were rejected, while some
have not been acted upon. Ny opinion
upon these leading questions have under
gone 10 material change. While l am still
more impressed with the Importance of
providing for our past due debt by jHdi-
cious funding system, l would not Op-
press the people with heavy taxation
and there is no necessity that it should be
done. A wise improvement of our assess
ment laws so as to insure uniformity In the
assessment of all property subject to taxa
ton under the constitution and laws of the
State, and the enactment of more stringent
provisions against revenue collectors, would
insure revenue sufficient at very moder-
ate rate of taxation to defray the expenses
of the State government and at the same
time to pay the accrueing interest on the
public debt after funding the past due in
terest and overdue bonds. Aud l propose
to show you how this can be done. The
bonded debt with interest to the 1st
of January, 1878, which must be paid
independent of the railroads, 10 other
words, that must be paid out of the reve-
nue. alone, will amount to about 5000, 900.
Let this debt be funded in the per cent.
bonds of the State payable forty years after
date. Let the act provide that the State
will resume the payment Of interest COM
mencing with day 10 be specified in the
act as early as possible; and provide also at
the end of ten years from the date of the
L. l. I'll al 4. E.