The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-10-09
Ex.President johnson.

l1x-I Tcciueut OOuusun.
The venerable ex President made
talk TO the people OF Knoxville one
night last week, the substance OF which
was reported IN the city papers OF FRI
day morning. We quote him as fol-
lows rs reported by the Chronicle:
lie referred at lensth TO the public
debt of the State aud OF tile nation aud
thought they could not be paid. Non-
payment did not mean population.
There had been a State Convention,
which passed resolution 10 The effect
that the party was not in favor of in
creasln Z taxes, all of which was very
pleasant but platforms were siren
songs. The high taxes were pleasant
for the office holders, but death TO the
Taxpayers. The talk about cutting
down salaries and dispensing with SUI
perHumerary officers. all meant nothing
and was intended only for deception.
! lie discussed the manner in which
bonds ofthe State had been issued and
sold, abiding 10 the funding bonds
about which SO much corruption has
been inferred. He would now pay the
bondholder the interest on what the
bonds cost him, and nothing more.
| BY the adoption OF such a policy as
ltat, the interest account on the State
debt would be reduced one half The
ibondholdcr ought TO be satisfied with
this. Funding means permanent debt,
aud a permanent debt means slavery.
Where is the nation that has ever paid
a national debt except In one way and
that is 10 say they couldn't pay II.
Mr.. johnson referred TO the civil rights
bill which he vetoed while President,
said II would be seen on examination
that il was the same as the one now be-
fore the country, and continued:
lie vetoed it then, and were he Prcsi-
dent would do so again. Some men
were attempting to mystify the people
by saving that Mr. Frclinghyscn meant
so-and.so, aud Mr.. Somebody else
something else, but when the bill pass
ed, if it should be, 1t would be found
that the provisions Of it meant just
what they protested, and one Of those
provisions meant mixed schools. "''i
IN illustrating the course o!ithose
gentlemen who were afraid 10 come be-
fore the people on the merits Of tho Civil
Rights Bill, Mr.. Johnson related the
popularity of the cutie fish, which
When pursued by its aquatic foes and
In danger OF destruction, emitted n Wis
cid coloring matter which dyed the wa
ter in its vicinity. aud thus enabled il
to escape. So it was with ihcm-ihey
depended, on berogging the minds of
their hearers BY raising side issues and
avoiding the main question. Address
Ling The c0lorcd meE, considerable
number Of whom were present, he said
the bill, If passed, would be the worst
thing that could happen 10 them. They
should be glad Of the schools rs they
were, as nineteen-twcntieths Of the cost
Of them were borne by their ncighbsrs,
and |! an intelligent colorcd man were
asked to express his preference he
should declare in favor Of separate
schools. He would not indulge in the nd
captdndum slang Of some, Of the danger
of children's counting, &c, but passed on
TO the more immediate questions now
lexisting. The "war OF races" feared
by some. would never come il. instead
OF banding together in opposition 10 The
: whites, they would use their individual
| preferences and divide their votes
some vote for one and some another OF
The candidates. rs the whites did.