Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-07-18
APPROVED BYTHE PEOPLE.

APPROVED BY THE PEOPLE.
L happen to know something as to the
| creation of this debt. In 1854 was 8
member Of the legislature from Maury
county. At that session the general in.
ternaI improvement bill, granting 8 ate
sid to railroads, was passed. Against
that bill my vote was recorded; but /
was not given because doubted the au
thOrity of the legislature to contract 8
debt and issue bonds TO build railroads
or make other improvements. No man
in either branch Of that general assem-
bly, EXPRESSED such an opinion. In the
year IS49 the legislature refused to pass
an internal Improvement bill; but after
the matter was discussed before the peo-
pie, the legislature, in 1851, passed a bill
granting some aid to railroads. With a
knowledge OF this fact the people elected
a legislature in 1858 which increased this
aid to a large extent. 1t was neither q
party nor q sectional question. The
house of representatives was Wing, and
the senate was Democratic, and the
governor, Andrew Johnson, was Dem.
OcrRt, He recommended these measures
first in his inaugural address in the fol-
lowing words: "The subject Of internal
improvements by our local authorities
has also excited deep and lively inter-
est among our people in many portions
of the State. A weIl-regulated system
of internal Improvements, intended and
calculated to give all reasonable facilt-
ties 10 the mechanical, agricultural and
CON mercial pursuits Of the country,
eught to receive such aid as will come
clearly within the financial ability of
the people. II such aid has to be given
by the creation of State indebtedness,
the legislature which creates the debt
should never fail to provide the means
to meet the annually accTuing interest
and principal SIS they fall due" After
ward, during the same session,
in his first message, he said:
ga well-regulated system Of internal
improvements would seem to indicate
that the leading and most prominent
roads intended and calculated to con-
meet the three grand divisions of the
State, should first be selected and COM
pleted. Such other works should then
be undertaken as experience and the in
terests of the country mirht suggest. 1t
should be the primary object of the gen.
eral assembly to bind the State together,
from Garter TO Shelby, by railroads and
other Improvements which would secure
the great end ia making US one and the
same people in agriculture, commerce
and mechanics. A system like Thu,
connecting with other roads beyond the
limits of the State, would seem to &C.
complish the object of the constitution.
All of the members from East Tennes-
gee, and large majority of those from
West Tennessee, including the members
from Shelby, Fayette, Upton, Harde-
man, Madison, Gibson, and from nearly
ali the other counties, voted for the gem
eTal internal improvement bill, at the
session of 1854, After this bill became
a law, the people, with q knowledge of
this fact, elected a legislature in 1855
which increased State aid to large ex-
tent. In his message 10 the legislature,
in 1856, Governor johnson said: "Our
various works OF internal improvement
are steadily and constantly advancing
by the timely and judicious aid of the
State, developing our richest and hid.
den latent resources, and bearing off to
the markets of the world, at high rates,
the mechanical, agricultural, and other
products 1.-THE country.n In 1857 Isham
g. Harris was elected governor, and the
legislature at that session, instead of re.
pealing the laws giving State aid, gave
some additional aid to railroads. The
number of bonds issued by Andrew
Johnson amounted to 1920, 900, and
by Isham @. Harris to 81, SAC, 900. These
facts are mentioned 70 show that the
people, in their election of representa-
tives, year after year, sanctioned the
policy OF Issuing bonds to railroad
The governors merely
executed the laws passed by |
h.. 70, A.,kf- -
and are not responsible for the |
creation OF the debt any more than o her |
citizens. l cannot believe that such |
men as Andrew johnson and Isham q, |
Harris would issue bonds Illegally, or |
permit them to be sold improperly. |
These bonds were sold in accordance /
With law, and brought nearly par, and |
q some instances more than par. II |
he bonds had been illegally issued or |
sold, the remedy was in the |
hands Of the legislature, who would have
Gpealed these laws, or would have /
adopted such legislation as would have
ut stop to the illegal Issuance and
ale of the bonds. This Yves not done,
lut, on the contrary, they cont inued to |
Increase State aid. This shows that
.othing wrong wss done. We may well
ay that the issuance and sale of the
Onds were
RATIFIED BY THE PEOPLE,
nd the debt created by their authority
nd ia accordance with their wishes.
he amount of bonds in 1861 was $780,
J5, sos. This was for turnpikes, rail-
pads, State bank, capitol and hermit
lge, and all Of 1t vas approved by the
eople. These are the bonds that are
Ow outstanding, except 81, 157 200, and
this amount s., ga, 900 are due by SOL
ent railroads, leaving only 81, 534 900
bout which there is any DOUBT, and
ven these were recognized by the con-
rvstive legislature Of lS69-70. There
no reason to question the validity Of [
lie ( ate debt. Our own supreme court,