Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-05-20
THE WANT OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR STATE
GOVERNMENT

lost all confidence in the " close corpora
ton at Nashville, which during the past
four or five years has had control OF the
State Government The members, bene-
ficiaries, apologists and defenders of the
" ring" recognize this fact, and for this
reason will move heaven and earth for the
purpose of diverting public attention from
the clan that gets rich at the expense OF
taxpayers. That the people have album
dant reasons for their want of confidence
in the "close corporation" aforesaid, no
one doubts.
When it came into power, the State had
a lien on the character of first mortgage
on delinquent railroads in the State,
amounting to S16S54,000. This property
was Sold without giving due notice of
thes and without any effort to obtain
more, for the sum of Sc, 200, 5OO-a loss to
the State of S10,65S, 100.
The first Democratic Legislature after
the war elected Public Printer. 1t was
looked upon as fat office, and for the
purpose of gaining control of it, and at the
same time silencing criticism upon eXor-
bitant accounts that were to be presented
against the State, nearly all the leading
Democratic papers were taken into and
made a part of the ring, while tit-bits "
were thrown to number of others of less
repute, to keep them silent. The ring sue
ceedcd, and in the first two years the State
was swindled out of about $4,000.
About the same time the penitentiary
was leased-we might say secretly-for
$50 900 year, while there were RESPONSE
BILE parties willing to pay more'
and in the face of an official
report from the inspectors for the pre-
ceding year that the nett earnings were
SO, 900 year.
These charges were all made during the
last State canvass. The rings and their
organs did not attempt to meet them and
defend their swindling operations, but re-
sorted to their usual tactics by raising a
great cry about the "horrors of the Brown
low administration " with its "disfran-
chisement of rebels," its terrible militia
&c. They succeeded, in some degree, in
auieting the public mind and in allaying
the fears of honest Democrats, but their
majority was reduced more than one-half
Since then, it is believed by a great many
people, that there is ring at Nashville
| specializing and getting rich at the public
expense. While the honest tax payers are
toiling and struggling to make living ant
to pay their high taxes, these cormorant'
are preying upon their substance, robbing
them of their hard earnings and making
merchandise ,of the credit Of their State
The masses are carrying heavy burden
while the members of the ring revel il
their ill-gotten gains. When it is to thei
interest they join the "bulls" and run vi
the price of State securities, cuc wheI
their interest leads them in another direc
ton they will join with the bears" ant
pull them down. We say this is believes
by not few tax payers in different portion
of the State. If it be true, it is fraud an,
a disgrace, and when the people ar
aroused they will rise in their might an
hurl these avaricious men from power
This thing of Safeguarding as practice
on Wall street is distasteful to the homes
masses any way, but when it comes
public officials making use of their pos
tions, and abusing their privileges by spec
ulating upon the honor and credit of thos
whom they profess to serve, it amounts t
little less than outright stealing.
} 1t is believed by some, that our preser
Comptroller, who, it has been charget
| paid, or that his friends paid for him, Il
sum of twelve thousand dollars for IL
Office he holds,was appointed in the int
est of this ring. Is it any wonder TIL
. the people lose confidence in their rulers
5 Is it any wonder that these rulers, aidC
by their henchmen, should be raising
o cry from one end of the State to the othe
8 attempting to confuse the masses and dra
public attention to something else thi
e their own crimes? They well know thu
= unless the masses are blinded, they al
!. their own deformities covered, their da
of power are numbered, and that tn,
vile purposes Of public plumber will be
lie feated.
30 These are some OF the reasons why [
re people of Tennessee are sick and tired
p, the close corporation" that sets itself
as guardian of their interests, but viii,
at instead Of protecting them, has plundel
=. them. Backed up by a prOsttuted pre-
te engaged constantly in binding voters
~. the corruption Of the leaders by rails
d. abstract issues, and by discussing questit
it. which appeal to mems preiudices, ii
~ will thrive and maintain their pow
Let the masses look at things az they
and consider that which is "a their inl