Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-27

1Oper cent is deducted out Of the price Of
the staple The. bank thai Bought gold III
Europe to pay the goTernnient's debt, takes
bis currency in payment of said debt at the
difference between gold and currency.
Now, sir, If you borrow or get this money
out Of savings bank, 1Sper cent is on it;
you pay ten more and that money costs you
% per cent, you take this money, pay liz
terest on your bonded debt of
the State, which is worth only
45 cents on the dollar, that is 49,
centSiOn the amount; the holder of Tennes-
see bonds collects for one dollar invested
in the same; add this to your money and
you find that you have to pay 41A cents in
terest on money for the privilege of being a
laborer or producer. Add the other tariffs
upon you, directly, end yOa pay out OF
your actual products S2R cents. That
leaves to the productive labor of this coun-
try out Of each dollarit produces, III cents;
the balance goes TO mOnopOlists of the
country for the crumbs that fall from their
tables. And when the lsboring classes
complain about the sweat and blood wrIing
from their hands and feet by toll, their
masters say-"Begone. you are reputation
lists, you disgrace the. faith and credit of
gOlu gNeAtSa MI udhC Illlo
long ago. And, sir, we few to the res
cue; the young, the ardent and the
honest flew to arms to defend ti4e honor
Of the State. Some wore the blue,
some wore the gray, some followed the
stars and stripes in triumph over the State
to the sea; sO-te followed the stars and
bars in triumph and misfortune until they
tTailed in the dust to rise no more. The
81 - -eA
and shook hands with the victOrs over the
graves Of the slain. Tennesseeans' blood
flowed like rivers of wafer upon every bat
tle-field Of the South-for what? The faith
andhOnOr Ofthe State. Theywent to war to
restore war-ridden and devastated couns
try, asking a reward TO labor to pay their
debts, raiment and food for them and theirs,
for the few days left TO them here below,
and to leaTe free and prosperous country
to their children; but how is It today
More slavery, more poverty, poorer from
year to year, abiect poverty to them the ball
snce Of their life and hopeless future to
their pOsteritg.
Then, Mr.. Speaker, is there no power to
dispel the mantle of gloom and despair that
now OVerhangs the spirit Of our country,
that would let in one ray Of hope and in
spire the dying spirit Of our people? Mr..
Speaker, we believe the passage of this bill
will inspire more hope, more confidence
in the future than all the legislation
since the war. Why? By the passage of
this bill and proper revenue laws, the peo-
pie can, in fifteen years, pay their present
Indebtedness and save twenty millions TO
the tax payers of the State. Let this be-
come a law, and the glad tidings viii be
heralded from city to city, from town to
town, from hill to hill, from valley to valley;
the country will be free again; it will give
a new song to the mechanics hammer;
you shall hear the ploWman whistle again;
children will resume their WOnted gaiety as
they will be freed from the mortgages that
now cOagulate the life-giving blood along
their youthful veins.
1t will not only do this, but more; it
will harness every available stream in our
State with machinery; it will open mines
Of coal and minerals in our mountains, that
are now grOaning to be delivered; it will
give employment to the idle, education to
the illiterate, clothes to the naked, bread to
the hungry, cOntentment and happiness to
all. Then, sir, who is the man and where
is the man that would vote to withhold so
great blessing from his people? l hope,
sir, no man in Tennessee.