Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-04-22

THERE are few individuals IN po-
sition more or less public, scattered
happily at large intervals oEero our State,
who hold Que code of ethics in Fed
eraI and an opposite one in. State af-
fairs. They point to the fall of the
impecunious aud uxorious Belknap,
to the unctuous and rosy Robson now
Squeezing upon the bed Of thorne pro-
vided by the memorable OLD WHIT Of
Tennessee, to the sficial pluralist,
Babcock, ruined by the dashed news
papers," to the unclean host of party
obstetricians Of the press of the Fed
eral kingdom, who assisted at the ter
rife parturition at st. Louis, in fran
tic efforts, after losing mother and
child, to save the old man r
We have read some very pretty writ
ing upon the general steal all round of
the Federal officials, and then we have
read from the same writer's, illusions
on State credit exciting wonder, wholly
unmixed with admiration. Honesty
inculcated in Federal affairs aud ras-
cality condemned Scaling Of bonds,
principal and interest, commended IN
State affairs and payment of the State
debt condemned Your repudiator at
the mere mention of State honor turns
up his nose in the air like an amorous
bull. When you call him by his right
name he paws the ground, envelops
himself in a cloud of dust, and in low
muttering thunder tones, emulating
the Juror if not the photography
of the famous western advocate, he
bellows out, F-R-o-A-Di He initiates
Patrick Henry's famous climax-"and
if this be treason make the most of i"
by telling the ''bloated" that his
bonds we're conceived in iniquity and
brought forth In fraud, that if he will
agree to surrender half his bonds, why,
perhaps, he may possibly pay the other
half; but if he refuses why he'll take
all, and if this be republication, make
the most of it ~
How brave What unselfish mar
tyrdom! How even BELKNAPERY
fades in the sunlight Of this brilliant
anti-climax After such display of
public virtue the severe confluence of
BEEcHER, and the memorable chastity
of Elizabeth, seem no longer worthy
of our admiration But a word on
fraudulent bonds. Where are they :?
We have read Governors messages,
Comptroller's and Treasurer's reports,
and reports from legislative committees
specially instructed to hunt fraudu-
lent bonds, but neither State officer or
Legislature has unearthed such bonds.
What bonds were issued in fraud of
the law? Name them, the corporation
OF invidual to whom issued Wewont
trouble you to give the numbers or
series. Were the bonds issued to build
our State capitol, our railroads, and
turnpikes. fraudulent? Speak out.
You need not tell us of "Brownlow
bonds, lying cancelled in the State
Treasurer's safe, OF Mineral railroad"
repudiated by legislature long ago.
As well republish the Pope's bull
against the comet, or sing psalms over
defunct cavalry. But we desire to
know what bonds were fraudulently
issued. Tell us. You alone possess
the secret. Concealmeut on so vital
matter is criminal. How can faith
full journalist withhold such knowledge
from the people? You are for paying
all the debt that Tennessee honestly
owes. So are we. You are opposed
only to paying bonds fraudulently is
sued. So are we. Now trot out your
fraudulent bonds, and we'll help you
mark them. ..--.