The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-06-01
TO THE VOTERS
And People of the Counties of
Giles, Lawrence, Wayne
and Lewis.

eral Assembly. Much business of
Importance will come before that
body; more, perhaps, than has come
before any Legislative body of the
State for many years. In view of
this fact, it may not be too early for
the people to begin to look around
for the purpose of selecting a suita-
BILE person TO represent them in that
body, nor too soon for a person to
announce his willingness or inten
tiOn to become a candidate By a
fair cumprOm{ss OF thR Dem moAratic
and Conservative party of the dis
trict, two years ago, through their
delegates in convention assembled,
it was mutually agreed by the dele
gates representing the several coun-
ties composing the district, that
Lawrence county should furnish the
candidate of the party at the next
election. And having been a lifelong
member Of tile party, and citizen Of the
cOatIaty for the last ttty gears, have
been persuaded, through the solici-
tatiOn of friends, and a desire to
serve my country, to present my
name before you as candidate for
that high position. II doing 50. 1
shall make no selfish or sympathetic
appeals, but will fairly present my
views on all the most important
measures which will engage the at
tentiOn of the next General Assem-
bly,; presenting myself as the advo
cate and representative of principles,
and submitting my views and claims
to the deliberate consideration OF
the people, and pledging myself
cheerfully to abide by any fair ex-
preston of the will of those who
agree with me iB my political views
and sentiments. Ihave long thought
that great many people take toe
| little interest in the affairs of the
government and are too ready to re.
sign the selection of candidates and
the control of the government to
hungry office seekers, and too often
| suffer themselves to be influenced by
their clamOrous and whining ap
peals. TIE right OF suffrage is q
sacred and Invaluable right, and il
the hands OF an intelligent and pat
riotic people is the surest defense
against wrong and oppression. On
| ly think how many wrongs and in
suits we had to submit to, a few
years ago, when we were depriv
ed of that right, and how soon oul
Oppressors were hurled from powe,
when that right was again restored
to the people.
An important crisis is now upOI
US, and it is time we should awak,
to a sense of the high and impor
tant duties and obligations resting
upon US, and show ourselves com
petent and worthy of exercising tn,
duties Of the high trust inherite,
by us from our fathers.
Among the many questions whicl
will come up for consideration be
fore the next General Assembly, tn
first in Importance is the question
of State credit, which involves th,
consideration of many other ques
tions; and first in magnitude is tn
question of the constitutionality an,
legality of the bonded debt of tn
State, and its binding obligations OF
J the people. Not being lawyer,
shall not undertake to argue tn
constitutional right of the Legisla
ture to authorize the issuance o
State bonds. But the Legislator
has been composed mainly of law
yers ever since the organization Q
the government, and has always ha,
a Judiciary Committee, composet
| of the best lawyers Of the body, +
which all questions Of doubtful con
stitutionality have always been re
ferred, and whose opinions have a.
ways had great weight in the Legis
lature, and l find from an examina
ton of the Comptroller report, tina
the Legislature has been authorizin
the issuance of State bonds eve
since 1882, and do not remembe
ever to have heard their right to d
so questioned, until very lately.
doubt not that the Legislature ha
authorized the issuance of Stat
, bonds in many cases where it wOul
have been much better for the pee
pie of the State for them not to hav
done so, and do not seriously dout
the fact that some State bonds hav
} been issued contrary to law, an
some, perhaps, fraudulently dispO!
ed of. And in all cases where
might be fully satisfied that tn
bonds were illegally issued, or frauC
ulently disposed of, with a know
edge of the purchaser, 1 would ol
iect to the payment of any sue
bonds by the State. The govern
,, ment is not bound for the torts {
its agents. But the right of tt
5 Legislature to authorize the issuanC
2 of State bonds, never having bee
seriously disputed or objected t
, l-but on the contrary insisted upO
and urged by so great a number 4
the people for so many years, ar
= the Legislature having been so lor
D engaged in that business, 1 feel tn
/ we are morally and honor bound
o pay all State bonds that were legs
" issued, and legally and fair
disposed of; provided we have u
: ability to do so. There is a gre
difference between refusing to pay
4 just debt, and refusing to pay /;
! unjust one. 1t could not be co
sidered wrong by any right thin
l. ing man to refuse to pay an unju
v debt, but how mean and contemp
o BILE it looks for a person to refuse
pay a just debt when he is able
. 20 so. Now this brings US to t
= next question, Is the State of TIE
/ nessee able to pay the debts NOR;
b ly and legally binding upon it, or
u the State hopelessly bankrupt? Al
if able to pay by making a reaso
able effort, or a reasonable sacrifiC
ought we not to do so? Are '
> willing to tarnish the fair fame
j Tennessee by trying to get out u
5. der some quibble? five are urat
e, to pay, let US, like honest men, Sc
, Your debt is just, but we are ban
= rupt and unable to pay you" HC
:, humiliating that confession wou
II be. and what a stinging reproach
a would be to those who have heret
fore been entrusted with the &C
troll of the affairs ofthe governmeI
20 and what a lasting admonition
ought to be to the people ney