Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-10-22

he (TnOmas) had endeavOred to secure
money twice for the same services, Gov
ernOr Porter, when asking the question,
z1ew ne Vas making q false impression.
He (thOmRs) wss allowed one thou
sand six hundred dollars for his
services ~ congress, but refused it. Two
years afteTwaFd he met B congressman
from Kentucky, who urged him to sp.
ply far the money. He sent letter to
MT. Caldwell, q member OF cor gress
from Tennessee, Mr.. Caldwell replied
that his (ThOmas's) receipt for the
money wss on file in Washington. This
was true. He had sent his receipt there
with the pspers, but never received the
money. He doesn't know who got the
money, whether it was Mr.. OidWay or
the sergeant alarms who disbursed sthe
money, Governor Porter knew this
when he made the charge here that he
(TlOmas) had endeavOred to receive
money twice for the same services per-
formed. Why, then, this unkindness,
this positive Injustice, this infamous
faisshocd? It is to cover
10 the system Of funding.
Would they, then, vote for q man (G ".
ernOr Porter who sought to disgrace q
man because he differed from him, by
people" stopped the outrage upon tier
rights, and put an end to the evils he
had alluded TO, they would lose their
freedO u and liberties. He called stten-
tion to the national debt and colossal
fortunes OF private individuals. He said
as the mountains tower above the de.
pTessiOns in the valleys, so these colo,-
sal fortunes stand to the condition of the
people. The spirit Of this government
was not to permit the wealth of the
country to be merged into
the hands of the few but
for it to be diffused among the citizens
Mr.. Thomas argued that q dollar is
worth three times as much now as it
was ten years ago, and will buy three
times as much. Now then, If these
bonds were bought then, why shouli
they not be paid in proportion tn the de.
creased valuation Of property and money |
-thirty-three and a third cent?. There |
IS no wrong in making c0mpro- |
mise upon these bonds, AS tx payer |
and land-holder, he would Rli;iugly
give q warranty for his share ia pay
ment of the public debt, provided they |
would release him and his children |
from future obligations. Let them take |
the land at its assesst d valuation az pay |
ment for the debt. THESE bondhOlders, |
however, don't want this land, for it is |
OF no value unless it is worked, and they |
don't want to work. He would endeavor |
to lessen the expenses of the gov.
ernment, and reduce the taxes to the |
lowest possible rates, and whenever
aOle he favored the payment Of the pub
lie debt. II they continue the present
set of officers nominated upon the du-
bions Democratic platform as n sshville,
the State aud people would soon be at
The mercy Of the speculators. He fiHds
that "the people" in the State want low
taxes, but feel obligated to support the
nominees. Others believe their first
duty is to protect the rights Of ''the peo.
pie" and subserve public interest by a
low tax. However, this latter senti.
ment, he believed, would fin1 express
sion and form and power in "the peo-
p!e." Nc. Thomas concluded his speech
by thanking the suiience for the re.
specttul attention they had given him,