The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1874-07-18
reply 10 Col. turner's letter.


Enron GAZETTE have carefully read
md considered Col Turner letter Of
date June s. as published in the Gazette
ana republisied in the kentuckian, and
have delayed a reply this long for the
purpose Of fully investigating the qncs
ton, that | might avoid even any posi-
HE error arising from defect of memory
or otherwise.
Having concluded my investigation,
nov send Yum the result. which l hope
YOU will give place in your columns, and
TO which | ask The thoughtful considera-
zion Of the people of the First Congress
sional District.
Z The uucstion at Issue between Col. Tur-
j ner and your CORES pondent, lie relative
I to an act of the Kentucky Legislature OF
+ 1871 ordei Nlg the sale OF the bank stocks
and other assets held by the sinking fund,
and the payment of the State debt with
the money thus realized. 1t WAS and IS
an act of the highest importance 20 The
peopIe. as it not oaly sGred fheH from aaah-
foHai taxation, but placed the state IN the
exaltcd attitude OF being free -froHt dsbc
!. The suggesting of IL 10 the Legislature,
aud The placing OF it intelligently before
the members of that body, with the cal
enlafions estimates. facts and figures re-
ouisite to eonyinee them OF its praetica
bility and e1pediency, was not only
work of financial skill and ability, but
one OF holiness of craftsmanship when
! il rarely Witnessed in our legislatures
and which deserves the highest applause
of the people.
Col. Turner has long been claiming the
credit Of this measure. aud when learn
ell from the spapers, that in his can
yass for n seat in Congress, he was claim
ing he honor of being its author and the
merit of passing Trough the Legisla-
ture, when,-fk no,c that Hor. Henry \
TYLER xTs entitled TO that honor and mer-
sa,sst4stf ACT OF JtiStneS TO
J Mr. Tyler and a. slsie the trus lyssF MS
tory that the matter should be placed IN
I its true light. and thar Col. Turner should
/ be stripped OF the borrowed plumes in
: which lac was parading himself before
the people of the district. IL this right
I eous act OF Justice be evidence of anal
ice az charged by Col. Turner, then am
guilty of malice, bat not otherwise.
With this view of the matter, ] stated
in my letter of May %, that Col. Turner
was not the author of the measure that
( although he offered the resolution raising
{ the committee TO enquire into AMI report
upon its expcdiency, yet IL was suggest
: ed BY MIR. Tyler; and that 1.-The effective
work of making report 10 the Senate
upon the subjcci aud of drafting il into
+ law, was done by Mr.. Tyler and others.
Efur;her stated that after Mr.. Tyler had
'shouldered the responsibility Of the
measure, and had done all the work OF
securing its passage, il was "tLch aud net
until then" that Col. Turner clalmeed the
credit OF it for himself.
+ la answer 10 this statement. Col. Tur-
ner, in his bad tempered letter Of June >.
saws: The Statement that was not the
author, and thar Capt. TyIerwas and that
he made the calculations referred to IN
: the resolution. aud that | was permitted
10 offer il matter of courtesy. being
the oldest senator from thc Purchase, H.
false And he further SAYS: i drew
the resolution without suggestion or die
tation FROM any one, aud placed Cape
Tyler name Erst, on account OF my high
consideration for him, which gave hIm
the craftsmanship under parliamentary
usage
In all this Col Turner gives no proof
whatever beyond his bald, naked usscr-
ton. That lac offered the resolution 10
raise the committee, was stated IN my
letter, and therefore there Is no issue be-
tween US upon that point. Iio.r he hap
pcncd to offer IL will be shown before
close. But that he WAS the author or
I -suggester OF the measure. or that he
did any of sthe effective work of pass
Ing il, he does not offer one particle OF
proof.
And now, with all the lights before me
on the subject | assert in even stronger
terms than ! stated in my first letter, and
without fear of successful contradiction.
that Col. Turner was neither the author
nor suqqester OF the measure; that ne made
none OF its calculations; and thai h dtd
none Of the eFecfire irork o. passing Il
through tie kcgIsiGt,fTe.
/ On the contrary, / am warranted by the
'5lifeetriI5gg aha elfrniiilssF Hi Hi liz
made the first speech in its favor, in which
+ the suggestion was first made 10 the Sen
/ ate; that he wrote aud made the report
upon il to the senate; and that he did
1.-THE effective work Of demonstrating it,
/ pracficabiliiy And expedieucy and of
I faslioning it into shape and securing It's
passage into II law.
\ plain statement from the record VIII
prove much of these assertions. and a
reference TO the members of the Lcgis la
ture OF that session, and especially to the
members of the Senate Committee. viii
place the truth of the whole OF my state
ment beyond doubt or controversy. -
Therefore J appeal TO the record, and "a
the history OF the measure, and here sub
init to the people.