Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-08-19


nessee. but simply a:cry of encourage
ment TO the dispirited friends of Gov.
Harris. Mr.. James unfortunately
took it in the former sense.
AS the voting reached the Middle
and Western States many votes were
cast for Gov. Harris and as this went
on many East Tennessee votes were
changed in favor Of him and final
ly the vote was made unanimous
for him with loud acclamations.
Mr.. Hubbard of Jefferson county
here said that although much of the
opposition to Messrs. Bate and Har-
ris, had arisen in the East of the State
nevertheless when those gentlemen
came to East Tennessee they would be
received with open arms by the whole
community.
Gov. Harris was now called for vo-
eiferously and responded this time
very briefly with thanks for the honor
done him and pledge to bear the
banner aloft and to do all that was
in him towards achieving a tri-
umphant success for the noble princi-
Piles of the party.
Calls were now made from all parts
of the house for Mr.. James. We have
said that he spoke under feeling
of irritation occasioned by the little
incident above mentioned. We do not
doubt that he has by this time become
convinced that be Inexperienced the
matter and as some of the consequent
irritation manifested itself in his
speech, we deem it better to suppress
it, not doubling that we should have
his own concurrence in doing so, were
he sitting by US.
1t was now announced that the Plat
form was ready to be reported and the
convention gave itself up with intense
interest to the consideration of it. As
we have already last week given both
the adopted platform and the adverse
minority report, we will only now re-
peat the disputed clause with the
amendment proposed in the minority
report.
The disputed clause as it stands is
as follows:
For the present however, because
of depression in business shrinkage in
values, the prostration of all indus
tries, and impoverishment of our peo-
pie, we are unable to endure, and
are therefore opposed to any increase
of taxation and, in view of this con-
dition of the State, it behooves us as a
people to begin at once thorough sys-
tenn of the most rigid economy, re-
trenchment and reform in all the de-
partments of the State Government. "
The minority report proposed to
substitute for the portion between
brackets the following.
I'VE oppose the imposition upon the
people at this time of taxes exceeding
the amount necessary to carry on the
State Government economically adj
ministered and pay interest upon the
school fund and bonds actually held
by educational institutions throughout
the State.
Further, third clause of the same
section stands originally thus.
1--WE favor the abolition of all un-
necessary offices the proper reduction
of all excessive salaries, and all neces-
sary reforms in the law so as to make
its execution speedy just and certain. y
For this it was proposed to substi-
tute as follows:
THAT an equitable adjustment
ought to be made of the bonded debt
of the State, alike honorable to the
bondholders and the people, and that
the details of this question should be
referred to the next Legislature for con-
sideration and actor"
The original report was ably and
temporarily defended by Col Jas. +.
Bailey, the chairman of the committee,
and the minority report urged with
much eagerness, but with good temper
by Mr.. Jamison of Rutherford and
Col. Phelan of Shelby.
Finally Mr.. A. B. Martin of Will
son moved to lay the minority report
on the table, this was carried by 737 to
275. As soon as this was announced,
Col. Phelan rose and moved that the
majority report should be adopted by
reclamation. Carried with loud ap-
| plause.
Our narrative has been carried to
such an unusual length that we can only
repeat the announcement that Gov.
Porter was nominated the Democratic
Candidate for Governor by a unani-
nous vote which he accepted and ac-
knowledged in an able and well deliv-
cred speech.