Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-02

HOW OUR RAILROADS WERE SOLD.
When the Republicans went out ofpower
in 1869. and the State went into the hands
of our opponents, the bonded debt was Sc
cured by lien upon the railroads of the
State. The inheritance Republicans left
in 1869 to their opponents, Improperly man.
aged, would have paid our public debt to
within about S6,OOO,000. What did our
East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Rail-
road do9 1t has paid every dollar of the
debt she owed the State by honest manage
ment. And You, men, who own stock in
the road have it safe. If the roads of Mid
die and West Tennessee, had acted on the
same high policy, our debt would be so
much smaller, we would not talk obout it.
But what did they do? They appointed
three commissioners, all excellent men,
but not in the habit of dealing
in railroads. They employed three
Democratic lawyers to help these
men to sell them. The law allowed them
| &, 600 each, but when they brought in their
bill they asked $4,000 each, or $4,000.
What's the answer? Niger equality, South
| Carolina, Louisiana, mixed schools. (Great
laughter.) To whom did they sell? The
Memphis and GAINESVILLE Road was sold, l
am told, if not correctly my competitor can
correct it, in this way: Parties were ready
TO give 100000, but obstacles were
thrown in the way. 1t went into court to
be sold. The Louisville and Nashville
Road was ready to buy it at S2,500,000,
But it was sold for S1,700,000. The State
lost SSO0,OOO. 1t was bought by parties
who closed it out at large profit TO them
selves.
OUR PUBLIC DEBT.
Our debt in 1871 was s3S,OO0,000. Our
assets were SD 600, 900, so our State Comp
troller shows the State bound for 6,000,-
600 The next report shows our debt in
creased to S44,0O0,0O0. This was under
Mr.. Browns beautiful Democratic Admin
istration. Now, Gov. Brown claims the
debt reduced to S2S,000,0O0, and our assets
reduced to 100000. Our debt, then,
April last, was S20,9SO,000. An increase of
S5,0O0,000 while Brown was in Office.
These are things that effect you personally
your home affairs. The Comptroller is
chief financial officer of State. Nobody to
audit or oversee his operations. The
Legislature can, but now it meets but sew
enty-fve days.
You might as well send a boy ten
years old to the merchant books, as
this committee of the Legislature. We
rave generally had good men for
Comptroller, but we have had scandals in
that office. Had scandal before the war
and street fight in my town. lin 1878 they
had a great struggle for Comptroller.
Among other candidates, there was one
House. They elected Hobbs Comptroller.
All at once he resigned, and Gov. Brown
appointed John c. Burch, who had received
several ballots, one vote each from the peo-
pie. The people talked about it. Hobbs
went home, and it was said that he had re-
ceived. some say 81, 900, some say more.
When it was proved that Hobbs admitted
he Rad sold out, he came back, and, like
Gov. Brown, said it was a s:jOke.r This is
joking party.
THAT PETITION To GEN. BUTLER's COM
MTTEE.
He then referred to Judge Porter's charge
that he had presented a petition to Con-
greSs for Federal interference. In defence,
Mr.. Maynard read from Gov. Senter's mes
sage to the Legislature, reciting outrages
and lawlesSneSs. Turning TO Porter, May
nard said: Yes, sir, we did ask for Federal
interference, but was it not time that some
power interfered to protect the defenceleSs
and helpless and, sir, we got il Congress
passed the Ku-Klux acts, and under It a
tale of horror was unfolded of which you
ought 10 be ashamed. And now, under
Gov. Browns administration, again help
less men are shot down and Republicans
exposed to the violence of Democratic
hatred. Gov. Brown goes to Trenton, to a
Democratic county, to a Democratic court,
and what does he do? He has forty-one
indicted, not for murder, but for wearing
masks. 4 lieutenant arrests so more, and
Gov. Brown, instead Of aiding him and
Gen. Grant to punish the guilty wretches,
sends protest. julia Hayden is shot
down in cold blood for teaching a school
Of her own race. What is the reason9
Why, il IS said that the Civil Rights bill
did it all, and that | am in favor of it.
say here, as l have said elsewhere, that this
bill does not meet my approval, and l op-
pose il as It stands. He says that | said
this bill does not mean mixed schools. He
then tries to show it does. | read from
NJ. Boutwell's speech TO show he did not
50 understand it. He read the extract. l
voted to send this bill to a committee to
amend H. But he says | voted for Sum-
ner's bill. The Democracy, in bidding for
the cOlored vote in 1872, took up Mr.. Sum-
ner and Mr.. Greeley. He then read from
the Tribune an editorial endorsing Sum-
ner's Civil Rights bill, for mixed schools,
mixed cars, etc. He further read extracts
from Greeley's speeches and paper, declar-
in in favor of mixed schools. etc. and
asked with what consistency men who vO-
TED for Greeley could now aSsail us for vo-
ting for the very thing he favored?