Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-14

nessee to-day? Does any one OF
you say that S400,000,000 OF property
cannot be so managed, and ought not TO
be so managed as to pay the interest on
S25, 000,0O0? Six per cent upon the estate
is S24,000,0O0-while six per cent upon the
debt Is S1,50O,eo0
What ueinipn would the world have
of the financial skill-to use no harsher
word-of one of you, Nay? what would you
think of yourself If, with assets amounting
to $4,000, You should declare yourself
unable and unwilling Is arrange sixty dol
lars interest upon a debt for $1,000; and
the only debt YOU owe in the world?
What would more certainly be the judg-
ment, if it were ascertained that your cur
rent expenses were not a charge upon yotir
sixteen thousand dollar estate, and that
you drew your support froih your priyile-
gesF The plea of inability is most en-
phatically denied.
1t has been intimated that we have some
e'bears'' in Tennessee Tennessee had her
share of lions before, during and since the
Har-but the shear is a financial AMI
NAL that owes his introduction into the
State to the unfortunately deprecated and
~fluctuating condition of State credit, Can
il be true that there are any parties In Ten
nessee now Interested in the depreciation
OF Tennessee bonds? Are there any spec
ulators in State creditor individuals or
railway companies =lh heed of
TENNESSEE bonds for any pur-
pose, and does this clamor owe its pater-
nifty in whole or in part TO them? Are
there those who have been for years past
specializing in State bends, and making
rof1 Rnt ~ fAa,r 4trrofnoffpn x-a1rnnc that
see a prospect of losing their occupation in
the permanent appreciation of State credit?
How this is, We 20 not certainly know. l
acquit you, gentlemen, who have been
named, Of any suspicion Of any improper
purpose of that sort. but yeu are respect
fully asked to pause and consider whether
sot will continue for all time a policy
which is no policy, but may be only alegis-
lative tinkering from time to time at the
behest of interested parties. Shall Ten
neSsee credit remain IS that Of the
Federal Government has been andtlireatens
to ranain-the plaything Of inscriptions
gamblers,to be banded from one 10 another
legislature? l have seen twenty-centers
beforehand at the meeting Of the next
Legislature after the adoption Of the twen-
ty-cent policy | have seen the same men rise
to the dignity Of so, 60, 20, and even 100
cenis-as clamerous for high as a little
while before they had been for low taxes.
1t has been and must continue to be-if
you succeed in impressing your views
upon the popular mind-a most democrat
izing ard pernicious question, productive
OF vastly greater evils to the State han
any of the requirements of a direct, manly
Independent and honest policy, that would
put the subject and les misehieFots agita-
tiOn forever at rest.
Thus, gentlemen, have l looked your
'igift horse in the mouth" and am not yet
ready to accept him. Unlike the tabled
horse of the "~gift-besring Qreeks," he MAY
not be full Of armed men, but to my weak
understanding, he has within his hollow
body many of the worst mischiefs that
ever escaped from the box of Pandora.
Poverty, financial distress, u-nremunerated
labor and un~productive estates, wherever
found, should be visited lightly by the bur
dens Of government: bit one OF the earliest
lessons of my youth-taught me as a car
dinal principle Of our GOvernment-was,
in the language of Mr.. Jefferson, "Honest
payment of debt and sacred preservation
of the public faith"
One other effect Of this mischievOus agi-
tatiOn not yet alluded TO demands some
notice.
The people do not desire TO see the Re
publican party in Tennessee restored TO
power. Dessensions in the ranks of the
Democracy will inevitably lead to that dis
aStrous result. Union is indispensable to
success. But how sincerely do you gen.
tleman, desire that Union-when the only
~evidenceyou give us isaprematurethrusting
forward Of an expost facto test that must
result inevitably, if insis'ed upon, in a dis
ruption of the party-and That has led
some persons to the uncliaritable conclu-
sion that they can see through the thin dis
guise of loudly prOfeSSed sympathy for
pretended public distress-the evil ma
chinations of a disappointed ambition.
Such an ambition has been equal to
bN even of nations. speak
plainly and .truthfully when / say that
some of YOU were entitled TO better treat
ment than was awarded you at the hands
Of the Democracy. 1t was a mistake@it
may have been more, for il was what in
gratitude in parties and nations always is.
But the dead past should inter its dead.
We should be pleased to see you acting to-
day with a view TO a friendly and harmoni-
Gus union of discOrdant elements; that
might yet afford the party an opportunity
to make amends for its omissions OF the
past; for some Of you have great talents and
records not barren of eminent public ser
vice, far, far above this twenty cent bust
Less, that is distinguished neither by dig
nifty Of subject nor elevation Of purpose.
NNDEX.