Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-24

voice in behalf of the people, who were
suffering, and becoming more miserable
each day, he and his friends were de-
nounced as great disrupters. All the men,
except Col. HAYNES and Mr.. Oyerton,
were elected on the independent ticket.
To their eternal honor be it said that they
all ten (Overton and Haynes included(
voted against the funding bill. He heard
Governor Brown say, in his speech az
Dresden, a few days ago, that the Supreme
Court had decided that the coupons which
they funded bore interest. He deemed Il
unfair to make bondholders favorites, and
to make the people pay debts created by
the war, which to the political and social
world is precisely what storm or the
flames would be to this city. Peace reigned
now, but nothing save the wreck and ruin
Of the war were TO be seen. At the close
Of the war the Federal government asked
the people of the South to accept the stu
alton, and recognize the success Of the
conqueror. The people hesitated to do
this. The bondholder at the close of the
war should have been treated exactly as
the people were. George Washington, OF
Robertson county, one of the wealthiest
men in the State, it was said, represented
in the last Legislature $500, 0O0-lS700, 900,
cried out Governor Jesse Brown.l He was
one of the men who wanted the bonds
raised in value. But it was not right that
those who lost all by the war should be
made TO pay the deficit in the value of the
bonds. Mr.. Etheridge then referred to
Col. Finlay's speech the evening before,
when he said that little orphans and
widows were crying for justice to the Legis-
lot h. IL. l.
ten thousand orphans and widows of men
who sleep in unknown graves, where they
were sent by men who caused this debt.
The widows and orphans he represented
looked to the people he was addressing for
justice and help. There was talk of repu-
diation and dishonOr, but he defed the
gentlemen to show where funding debt
was ever paid. The people of Tennessee
could be masters of the situation, for the
constitution prevented the State from being
sued without her consent, ard this consent
was withheld by the same power. Repu-
diations were as numerous as independ-
ent movements. As early as Henry
VIII, England had repudiated. France
had rPpUdiated also. George Wash
ington, who was a Caesar without
his ambition, and Cromwell without his
crimes, issued money for the payment Of
his soldiers. This had never been paid.
The speaker next used the argument made
by Andy johnson upon the reputation of |
Virginia and Massachusetts, which, he |
said, in the former case, had funded not |
q Ia John Brown, but a thousand for one |
dollar. Mississippi when a young State, |
The FL Dorado of the cottonwood, with |
ali her prosperity, had repudiated $1,000
BOO. The Wings tried 10 bring the people /
10 an account for il, and hence il was that |
all governments were provisional. The /
people, when the war broke out, allied |
themselves to the Democratic party, and
placed at the head of the Confederate
Government the greatest of regulators,
Mr.. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi. Mr..
Davis protracted the war lOI ger than any
,ther man could have dOne-its fall was
lot due to Mr.. Davis. When it was re-
,Orted that Ben Buffers son-in-law, Gov.
Ames, of Mississippi, was going to
wipe out the debt of that State, the
NASHVILLE UNION AND AMERICAN and
'aper of Memphis-he could not remember
he name-raised hue and cry against
Sutler and Ames. He was told by Mr.
1atham that it was the appeal. Why is
t, that in the whole State of Tennessee,
he lOw-tax people haven't a single organ?
FELL me. Oh, must make one exception.
there is one in this city. That one news
aper in this city is the only one in the
tate of. Tennessee that does not maintain
nd sustain this funding ring. Why is
his? The reasOni is obvious. These fund
rs have 81, SOC, 900 annually of your money,
nd suppose they spend quarter of a mil
on of that TO beat the low-tax men, why,
hey have S1,250,O00 left. But suppose
hey spend 100000 to your newspapers,
nd don't object to newspapers receiving
ay, as well as lawyers, for work done
ell, suppose they have 100000 to con-
'Ol your newspapers. WHY, ladies and
they have SI.500, O0O-that is a |
retty good thing, is it not? This will
e the last layout, or it Is said,
lie measles have broken out in the
unity. [Great iaughter.] He thought I
wrong to raise such a howl
bout Ben Butler aud Ames. Because the
eOple endeavored to elect men who would
sduce their burdens, and promote their az
cultural and industrial interests, they did
OF become Radicals or Democrats. He had
cen called a Radical, and a gentleman, I
nd great many good and bad names. He $
I'D been a Radical, and was still Radical i
advocating measures for the relief of !
S country. They could call him what
ley would, but whenever they called him I
z would be ready to appear in the desire t
do all he could for the good of his eoun-
y. He had given his views, not tO,wOund a
e feelings of any political sensibility, but a
: thought the people would respect him a
ore for saying what he believed right,
IAN REFRESHING anything for the sake of !
'pular favor. He paid a compliment to
e ladies, and then ended his speech.
COLONEL TOPP.
Col. Robertson TOpp next mounted the
age, and read list of names to the doc
nent Mir. Etheridge referred to in the
st part of his speech. This docu-
nent was signed last May by citizens who
vOred the election of men that would ad-
cate low taxation. Col. Topp tried to h
axe the audience believe that this was Z
e origin of the dark-lantern club, which :,
as called together a week or so ago, by
en-. W. j. Smith, as chairman of the Re I,
lblican Committee, and nominated can
dates, but he did not, as We believe, sue u
ed. With this the meeting adjourned.