Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-05
COLYAR'S MEN.
A Council OF War at the Maxwell
House Last Night.
The Reputation Leaders Showing
Bolder Front.
Jesse X. Brown, Of shelby, Gets OF
a Violent Speech.
Ex.President Johnson Declines [
Take a Hand.

A dozen or fifteen politicians who ar,
interested in what is known as the Colya
movement, assembled in the ladies' Ordi
nary of the Maxwell last night for the pur
pose of consulting with each other upoI
the best plan to be pursued by the conven
ton which meets to-day. Among those
present were Col. Colyar, M. NJ. BrieD, jr.
Col. L. S. Boyers, of the GGtldtin En-
GmiHer; Jesse X. Brown, of Shelby; G. w
Stubblefeld, Mai. Y. S. Patton, Gen. j. b
Clemens, Wallace Colyar, Geo. W. White
John White, j. o. Griffith and several
Others who requested that their names be
not published.
Col. Colyar was called to the chair, and
after stating the object of the meeting, pre-
scented a rough draft of basis of compro-
mise to be adopted, if those present thought
desirable, by such voters of Tennessee as
were dissatisfied with the present policy OF
both the Democratic and Republican
paties.
Speeches were made by several of those
present. Referring to the funding bill,
Col. Boyers said that it was but little dis
cusSed in his county, to which Col. Colyar
responded that the press of the State would
not discuss the measure for obvious
reasons.
Jesse K. Brown, Of Shelby, made the
most noticeable speech of the evening. He
said that the party attempting to endorse
the past financial policy of the Democratic
party would be beaten ten to one in West
Tennessee. The people of that portion of
the State were looking to this meeting to-
night for some sound financial policy TO be
adopted. The policy at present was to pay
very fttle attention to anything outside of
Tennessee. 1t required all their skill to
eXtricate themselves from their present
dilemma, without paying any attention to
Washington. They must plant themselves
firmly upon the twenty cent clause, calling
themselves CONSERVATIVES" Democrats
or what they would, or the Radicals would
beat them badly.
As party, the great question with them
was either TO absorb or to be absorbed, and
he preferred 10 absorb-mOst decidedly.
If they planted themselves upon the right
State policy-a policy that meant some
thing, policy that led to something, re
gardless of party lines and party promotions
they would accomplish something. He
preferred 10 ignore men and party, taking
up present, living issues that involved the
intei ests of the people. He would vote for
no man who would not vote strongly in
favor Of repudiating that internal clause in
the funding bill which provided for setting
apart the revenue of the ate to pay the
interest on the bonded debt, letting the
current expenses of the State 90, and if it
caihe TO the test, he icds IN .fdUOr of repU-
dating The achOle dirty thing. He held
that instead of being S30,0O0,0 900, the pre-
sent and prospective debt of the State was
Sl00,000,OO0.
Since the administration of the affairs of
this State passed out of the hands of
Brownlow into those of Senter and then
Brown and others, the financial policy pur-
sued had been a complete failure. As for
be, | would vote for BrownlOw in preference
to having the present administration of
State affairs, and this is the sentiment of
all the people of West Tennessee. He
wanted to ignore the fact that there was a
party organization in the State to-day.
On motion of Gen. Clemens, the paper
read by Col. Colyar was referred 10 COM
mittee, consisting of Col. Colyan @. w.
Col. Boyers, and Geo. W.
White. for purposes of amendment, and the
agreed to meet at the Maxwell
House ar s A. NJ. to-day.
On motion Of Col. COlyar, it was decided
% ask ex-President johnson (who is now
At the MaXwelD to address the people al
he Capitol tonight, upon the financial
of the State, and at the close of
ais address to submit the paper, after hav-
M been amended by the committee, for
he ratification or rejection Of those present
It the meeting.
Ex-PTesident johnson was then waited
Ipon in order to learn whether or not be
would address the people at the time and
place and upon the subject named. He de-
lined, on the ground that his arrangements
would not permit him to comply with the
cqueSt.