Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-10-17
McMISNyILLE LEFTER-NO. 2.

What a glorious pleasure It IS to stanc
here and quaf the pure mountain breeze
and look across the Barren Fork bluff
at the bold front Of Ben LonOnd anG
Cardwells mountains in the distance,
Such scenery aud Influences naturally
make men strong, and women as beautiful
aud pure rs the atmosphere around them
Mountaineers are proverbially robust,
honest and fearless. Nature has been
generous with them, and so they are with
their fellow men. The strong features Of
the landscape are often reproduced in
the points Of character Of those who con
stantly behold them. Barron plains and
sterile wastes never produce great poets or
philosophers. Rugged hills and deep val
leys produce their counterpart in hardy,
vigorous minded people. The history Of
the world s~ustains this theory, though 1
shall not insist on the converse PROPOSE
ton, for the greatest efforts Of the hu-
man a C have been put forth on great
plains. These thoughts are naturally
suggested by the self.reliant manner, the
independence and the pride of locality
manifested by people always met in
broken, billy or mountainous regions. If
politicians wonder why East Ten
nessee has usually gained advan-
tagesi ia the division Of public honors and
emoluments, perhaps they might account
for it by climatic and physical causes.
Where there is a will there is a way.
East Tennessee has produced a good
many vigorous men: Upton, Jno. Sewer,
the Blounts, Andrew Jackson, Davy
Crockett, Hugh L. White, Andrew john
son, W. G. Brownlow, John NetherIand,
Horace Maynard, John Baxter, John NJ.
Fleming, Albert G. Watkins, N. G. Tay.
lor, Llndon c, Haynes, I. A, R, Nelson,
VIM G. Swan, Judge Deaderick, General
W. Y. c. Hume, G. NJ. McGhee and
several others that might be men
tioued, either as native or adopted
citizens. Who can say that the noun
tains, torrents, cliffs end winds did
not do something toward forming the
large ideas and educating the brain of
those men.
But coming down to practical ques.
tons of the day, l find that the State
debt question is likely to enter rather
largely into next years avs 1t is
already discussed with great interest.
Colonel John Il. Savage is looked to in va
riOus parts of the State as the leader and
exponent Of low tax ideas and Of some
kind Of q process or arrangement where.
by the State debt may be greatly scaled
down or entirely abolished. he is a
prominent man in the State by reason
Of his services in three wars, and eight
years in Congress, and in various
other positions, and his well.known
honesty Of views, fearlessness Of
purpose aud aggressive style. The
people have perfect confidence in
his sincerity aud courage. He is not the
man to be fattered or driven into the
support Of any public measure that be
does net think is right and just. From
what | can learn, he is not so much a
candidate for governor as suggested in
the papers, but that ne will take a hand
in the next canvass / feel assured. He
has already taken his position and
charged his guns. In fact, be fred the
opening gun here the other day when the
Circuit Court opened. The town was
full Of people, and be was called upon to
make a speech, which be did, occupying
about thfee.quafters OF an hour. But in
that short time he said q great deal, which
will yet have a bearing on the settlement
Of the vexed State debt question. Col.
Savage said be had not sought an oppor.
tunity to address his constituents at an
earlier day because he preferred that
they shonld think for themselves and
make up their verdict; neither led nor
misled by him or any one else. He
should speak very briefly. he should
present only the A B of the argument
which at some time hereafter may follow.
he should only notice a few acts of the
last general assembly and present the
o~uilines.of his plan for the settlement OF
all disputes between the people and the
%bondholders concerning the State bonds.
BE then referred to the passage Of his
resolution suspeoding all further pay.
ments to bondholders until otherwise
ordered; also the act suspeuding the
collection Of taxes from the lst Of jan
uary, 1877, 10 the 10th Of October; the
assessment law, requiring that property
hereafter should be assessed at its cash
value as required by the constitution
the repeal Of the 40 cents tax aud the
levy Of 10 cents passed over the govern.
or's veto-the latter amply sufficient to
pay current expenses, but bitterly op
posed by the ~bondholders and the lobby
The bearing and effect Of these act,
and others we're explained and illustra
ted By Argument.
de then passed to a consideration o
the State debt, aud his plan for it's settle
, ment. he had no personal kuowledg,
as to whether or not there would be al
extra session of the present legislature
nor was it. il hit oninion -