Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-20
THE FUNDING BILL.
Speech of w. L. Mcfarland, Repre-
sentative from Gibson, Carroll, Hem
ry and WeakIey, Delivered March
TX 1872

sentative from OlDsOu, carroll, Hen
ry and WeakIey, Delivered March
10, 1873.
Mr. Speaker: The question now before
US for final action has been discussed
through the country by candidates for Off
cisl position and the newspaper press for
some time past. II has been ably and well
ventilated here, pro and con, for the last
two days. Like all other subjects that in
volve money, it produces much excitement.
1t touches the pocket of somebody-either
the holders of our securities, or the ex-
pectant Speculator who desires above all
things to depreciate our State credit so as
to buy our bonds at half their value and en-
rich himself at the expense of the people.
This issue has to be met, and the rep
reseDtativeS of the people, them.
selves, ought to meet it
calmly, dispassion2tely and without excite
ment. 1t is unfortunate, Mr.. Speaker, and
marks an era of deprecated patriotism,
that question of dollars and cents, arouse
our statesmen and people more than ques-
tions directly involving the existence of
government and the life and liberties of its
subjects. Patriot sm in this country, fear,
viii cloud itself with an inordinate love for
"filthy lucre" and jeopaTdiZe the very life Of
American democratic republicanism. We
must maintain our governmental integrity,
we must tell the truth when we speak leg
islatively, we must do what we promise to
do. Governments should utter no mean
ingless words, but should, after mature de
liberation, say what they mean to say and
stick to it at all hazards, and TO the end.
Mr.. Speaker, gentlemen in discussion
here, have q great deal to say
about lobbyists, bloated bondholders,
and Rings and venal Press. The gentle
man from Upton (Mr. Cummings) drew
an awful picture of these gentlemen. 1t
was frightful. l had supposed that before
this time, if the gentleman really believed
he was surrounded by such an overwhelm
ing array of venality and corruption, that
he would have fed the capitol as the wicked
"flee the wrath to come" Lobbyists, Mr..
Speaker-why this horror of lobbyists; to
whom is the citizen on the one slider or the
other to appeal, if not to his Representative?
Where else can he go? Is it to be said
here, either directly or indirectly, that a
Representative, because be has become
leg slaJor, is so far lifted above hisown con-
stituency-the people-.hat he may not
listen to them, for or against a measure
DcUulllS DCtul0 JllS hosCuUll, UT SUdll We,
by word or deed, in debate or by vote, give
the world to understand that we are afraid
either of the logic o: the lobbyist or his
money, should he dare to offer it. Sir,
denounce the lobbyist ifhe attempts to bride
or corrupt. Spit in his face. Imprison
him. Hang him ifyou wish, but when the
citizen, rich or poor, comes here, to secure
or prevent legislation in an honest way, by
the power of reason, let him be heard, he
has a ght to be heard. We are but the
servants of men like him. There are lobs
byists here on both sides of the question,
and ! know of no corruption either way
that has grown out Of it. Why this "big
scare?n
But they say this bill looks to the inter-
est OF the northumberland bond-hold-
er, forsooth. That he is here asking his
debt to be paid. and, the very idea of pay
ing him seems to be secuted as absurd and
ridiculous. Who are the holders of Ten
nessee bonds! Capitalists that have furn-
ished us money to carry on the State Gov
eminent; to build our State CAPITOL,
our lunatic asylums, schools for
the deaf and dumb. our rail-
roads, etc; and guardians of minor chill
dren of the State that have, under our law,
invested in State bonds. These are the
"bloated bond-holders," so called in this
discussion, to drive Us from the discharge