Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-11
The Ball Set iH Motion by a kePubIi.
cana Democrat After Him With a
Sharp SficA.

GOIlC 4GuALLs lLC llIllNo VI ltGlSllllNG
bodies to tax the people, took position
against the right of one generation to
contract a debt, the payment of which
must be imposed upon a future one,
principally in the abstract. Reclaimed
that the public debt of Tennessee was
within his definitions improperly, and
to pOsterity unjustly imposed, and that
the legal and moral obligation to pay
it did not exist. He claimed thatth
was as little or less obligation to pay
the national debt, and that the pay
ment of both would re-ensldre the col
ored race quoted largely Gen. Banks
speech in Congress) and enslave the
whites. All of his positions and argu-
ments were a fearful comment upon
the Radical party, and although de did
this by implication freely, he was care
full not to do 50 directly and openly.
Col. II. devoted much time to the ex-
animation Of the numerous cases of
Reputation of public debts of other
countries, beginning with that of Mas
sachusetts, the old Continental debt,
England, France, Spain and MISSISSIPPI
pi, all of which were justified upon his
general grounds. The audience were
somewhat surprised when he lugged in
Washington, Jefferson and other Faith
ers Of our country as favoring his
views, and this he did in real good law
yer-ike, special pleading style.
Upon the whole, Col. Hawkins used
ali the legitimate arguments of which
We can conceive, and many, we think,
iUegitirldte, IN order to render the pub
lie debts of the country odious and OPP
pressive, and, We think, appealed to the
weak side Of humanity most earnestly
in order 10 infuse Reputation into the
crowd. The speech was Reputation
unmixed, repudiationfrom centre to cir
conference, Reputation and nothing
else.
Both gentlemen made speeches and
replied at length. Mai. Sykes made a
most pointed reply sfrom the stand
point of a Southern reconstructed DEM
OerGt and pdroled soldier. He first con-
graduated the audience that Southern
Democrats had no hand In piling up
this mountain Of debt upon the op-
pressed people. As to the State debt,
he laid It at the door Of Radical rule,
which increased 1t from sixteen to
forty-two millions, while Democrats
and Conservatives were DISTINGUISHED.
He drew the distinction between the
bogus debts Of the Radical Legisla-
lures and the original and later Just
obligations Of Tennessee. He showed
that the bogus debt had been paid by
the railroads IN settlement of their in
debtedness TO the State, (although
q fraud upon the people, and
was beyond the reach of any
legislation. He also showed that
the present bonded debt Of Tennessee
now undergoing refunding and regis
tration, was a Just debt, for which the
people Of the State had received valu-
able consideration, and much of it full
value, and that every legal and moral
obligation bound the people to its pay
ment. The principle of TefundIng the
debt lie endorsed, but made objections
10 some features IN the present fund
ing law, which he thought might have
been made more Just and fullyas equit-
able. He was in favor of sustaining
the honor and credit Of the State, as
well rs her good name and past honor
able record. At the same time he was
IN favor Of extending every relief pOss:-
bic TO the taxpayers, and insisted on
the most rigid economy and retrench.
ment, and the very lowest rate of taxa
ton compatible with necessities Of
Ike State government. When he came
to speak Of the national debt, Mai.
Sykes acknowledged 1t was enormous
and oppressive, and had been made the
more SO by the conversion Of a paper
debt into a gold debt, by the party of
which Mr. Hawkins was a member,
with which he had uniformly acted,
and by a Congress OF which Mr.. Hawk
ms was a member. He alluded to the
fearful increase of the national debt
under both Lincoln and johnson, when
the latter was a good whole-souled
Radical. But while Sykes acknOwl-
edged the national debt was a very
gIievous burden upon the country, Mr..
Hawkins party had by constitutional
amendments and reconstruction fast
ened 1t 50 securely upon the country
that it could not be repealed.
Sykes boldly told the crowd that
it could not be gotten rid of, but
was a fixture. As a paroled sol
der. he would be charged with treason
should he do sos OF Southern Demo-
Gratis attempting 1t would be charged
by Mr. Hawkins party with disloyalty.
He SAW no hope Of escape from the
crushing burden OF the national debt,
unless the Northern people and the
Radical party who made the debt and
chained it fast upon the country, should
lift It off OF this we had no hope or
expectation, and the South was utterly
powerless in the matter, while any at
tempt to do so would react upon the
South, and uniting every element at
the North against the South, Danish
the last hope Of ever obtaining a fair
recognition in the national govern
ment, and would fasten Grant upon
the country for the third and
fourth term. Many strong points
were made by Maj. Sykes, based upon
statistical tables, which We were una
bic to obtain. A comparative state
ment Of Tennessee and other States,
according to productions, showed that
nearly every State N the Union was
more heavily taxed than Tennessee, yet
they were prosperous and did not think
of Reputation.
We have not the space to give a full
er report of the speeches of these dis
tinguished gentlemen. and as We intend
to obtain a quantity offactS and figures
on these questions, and to publish in
our columns the arguments pro and
con. and to discuss these matters fully,
we hope our readers viii be content
with what we have been able to report
at present.