Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-04-04

THE FUNDING BILL.-Our read
crs will remember that the WING
AND TRIBUNE opposed the Fund
ing bill, from first to last, so long
as it was an open quc stion. We
were satisfied that the credit of the
State had been used to cover up
Radical robberies under the general
debt, and we were also opposed to
the payment of interest upon the in
tcrest already accrued. But theIbill
became law and the Seal of Ten
nessee has been affixed to the bonds.
For this reason we respect ii, and
not because we preferred it to any
other bill that might have been
framed. At the same time, howev-
or, we have no sympathy with those
who arc endeavoring to bring this
distracting issue into the canvass
in Tennessee during the coming
summer. While We fully under
stand the just indignation felt by
those who honestly believed that
they had been plundered by igno-
rantand reckless Radical legislation,
and who thought that the funding
bill did not sift the debt with suffi-
cicnt closeness, we also fully under
stand the difficulty that met those
who endeavored to separate the
claims that were just, from those
that were unjust. But as the mat
ter now stands, what remedy is to
be found outside OF repudiation?-
Is there party of this kind in Ten
nessee? Is there any one who thinks
that it would not damage the State
infinitely more to dishonor her pa
per, than to pay it, even if we be-
licve the Cunders drove n hard bar
gain with us? The Democratic par
ty is the party of financial integrity
and honor, and we cannot enter in
to any combination that would rob
ii of this claim. The funding bill
was not. party measure. 1t was
passed by the votes of men of both
parties, and was principally oppos-
ed by Democrats. 1t paid too little |
respect, in our opinion, 10 an ex-
hausted treasury, and the claims of
a people struggling with the bur-
dens of taxation. But, as we have
said, it is a law, and how is it to be |
cvaded? Is thero any alternative |
but reputation? Ifnct, our path is |
plain. Is the spirit of our people so
utterly broken that we cannot pay |
our debt? We think not 1t is true |
that large amount of money will |
be paid out as interest upon the fun
ded debt, and That posterity will af-
ter all be confronted by the debit
This is true, but posterity will be
far better able to pay it than we
are, and there is comfort to be
found in this.
At any rate this question ought
not to be permitted to enter into
the canvass as party measure.-
The whole matter can be discussed
freely after the November election.
The party in different localities can
do rs it secs fit In selecting candi-
dates for the legislature, but let us
not seek deliverance from taxation,
or from any danger, in the embrace
of Radicalism. Let us remember |
how rich we are, even under our
funding bill, in comparison with |
those who dwell below the Tennes-
sec line, all the way to the Gulf
Let our Memphis friends remember
that every man from the southern
Shelby border, to where the Missis-
sippi pours its floods into the sea, is
taxed five per cent on all he owns,
and that this tax has been imposed |
by a mob of plantation freedmen,
and their thieving allies from a.
broad, and we think that they win |
be content TO fight for low taxes in
side of the Democratic party.