Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-07-29


of Tennessee.
And here we intended an argument
to show that never was an action of
the legislature so completely the result
of the vor popaH as the measures now
in question. But this arguments is not
needed, as we have only to refer to the
admirable speech Of Major Sykes,
given ON another page of this paper.
1t will there be seen that from 1851 to
the outbreak of the war, the aid thus
given to the railroads was made the
main issue of FIVE successive State
elections, and in all, the people voted
for the measures proposed by large
msjorities, given without distinction of
party, and this releases us from the
necessity of discussing the pettyfogging
flaws which Col. Savage picks in the
validity of the bonds; they ali admit
of simple answer, but We have no
further space here for it. The broad
fact is sufficient for our purpose, that
the will of the people again and again
expressed in their votes, sanctioned in
the most solemn manner the debts
which are in question. and a great
people cannot descend to the r-parte
bubbles and subterfuges which dex-
ferrous lawyer might interpose in pri-
vate litigation. This is not a case
tried in a aisi priWs eOurt-as is so
often said sovereign State can only
be sued IN foro conscientie, and by the
most momentous considerations is
bound to decide al such questions on
broad principles of right and wrong;
it is at the peril of all which conduces
to the honor or prosperity of nation
thatshe does otherwise--the conscience
of nation is something very far be-
yond the comprehension of the con-
science of pettyfogging attorney
they are altogether incommensurable
quantities.
The speech exercised, we believe,
no influence whatever upon the people
who heard it-that is in the direction
which was intended by the speaker.
In another point of view it did,
we are convinced, exert really salu-
tary inhuence-it realized to the per-
ception of its hearers what fepudia-
ton really meant, and many we're ar
rested in their tendency towards loose
opinions on State credit by hearing the
doctrine in Its naked ugliness, and men
realized for the first time that it is a
much more serious matter than at first
appeared. At least this is certain, that
we have never seen the people so pen
etrated with a sense of responsibility
in talking and thinking of the State
Indebtedness and the measures it calls
for as now.
THE MASS MEETING
was now in order, but unfortunately
the mass was not there; Col. Savage S
speech did not seem successfulin keep
ing together crowd which had never
been large one, and another little
event tended to reduce it still further.
This event stepped forward in the
person of
MR.. BERRY LYLE.
Mr.. Lyle was once rather cOnspicu-
Gus as radical member of our State
legislature, by some maneuvre he had
managed to obtain the consent of the
temporary chairman, Mr.. Charles
Stuart, to have the floor for quarter
of an hour, and, against the repeated
protests of that gentleman, who was
visibly annoyed by the matter, he man,
aged to appropriate the other thret
quarters.
We will not attempt to give the sub
stance of this speech-we couldn't il
we would:and.we wouldn't if we could
it seems to be devoted to the demon
stration of some miraculous way OF
paying the debt in ten years without
anybody feeling it; but it had on us
much the same effect as it seemed to
have on the crowd, that of making us
scarce for a while.
All things however must end and sc
did. this Grafton and the massmeeting
what was left of it, proceeded to bust
ness:
DIR. IT. Darden called to preside
over the meeting, returned his thanks
for the compliment, and announced
that the meeting vas held to further
favor of reducing taxes to a bare sufii
cheney for paying the current expenses
of the State.
Mr.. c. NJ. Stuart then spoke as
follows:
| Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen -
There are but two parties in Tennessee
and there must be but two parties in
Montgomery county. The two partie;
now in this State and county are the
Democratic and Radical parties. In
/ this contest we must be united anC
make common cause against the com
mon enemy. We now have a candi-
date for the Legislature in the person
of Judge Smith, who is high toned,
/ honorable gentleman, and L think We
ought to wait before taking any action
until after the State convention, which
| 10 70 naat at Nashvilla on tho 9th M
August, and see if we cannot agree
without any division in our ranks.
am a low tax man and in favor of d
low tax platform, and am, therefore
in favor of waiting until the State con.
vention meets at Nashville and see il
the assembled wisdom of the Demo,
cratic party will not adjust the whole
matter for US. We ought not to have
split in the party and | am in favor
of waiting so as to see if we all can
agree and unite on the regular nomi-
nee now before the people.
We wish here to say that Mr.. Stu.
arts speech was most refreshing to us
as introducing into the meeting an ele
ment of plain manly common sense
which had been very sparingly mani.
tested down to that stage in the pro
ceedings. We print it as we find i
reported in the Tobacco Leaf but no
tice the omission of one important
point; after speaking of the necessity
of union in the Democratic party hC
said that two Democratic nominees