The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-09-18
HOUK AND WATKINS.
Opening of the Campaign in the
Second Congressional District
at White Pine.

at White Pine.
On Monday last the campaign in
the Second Congressional District
was opened, so far as the two can
didates now before the people are con
cerned. Some three hundred people
IA large spriBkling from Hamblen
and Cooke counties. which are out
side the District--were present.
1t fell to Mr.. Houk to open the
discussion, which he did BY going
back and reviewing the history of
parties for twenty-five years. the
war, and the doings of recent years.
He said that while he was a Repub-
lican he was not In full accord with
that party, and specially that he did
not agree with Secretary Sherman in
all things. He opposed the Democ-
raey, yet he avowed himself opposed
to the National Banks as they now
exist, to State banks and free bank
ing by individuals on the old system.
He would not compel bondholders to
give up their bonds for Treasury
notes except at their option. He
gave the history Of the greenback
issue. asserted that the Democrats
opposed them as unconstitutional
and eontrasted them with the worth
less Confederate paper money.While
the Republicans made the green
backs they promised to redeem dol
lar for dollar in gold. They were
about ready TO make that promise
good. OF course, we cannot follow
either speaker fully for want of space.
MR.. WATKINS REPLY.
Fellow citizens: l am before you to-
day for the purpose of discussing nation
al questions which are likely to come
before the next Congress and to reply to
Judge Houk. viii say to you that 1
am an Independent candidate for that Of
fee by invitation from many Republi-
cans as we'll as Democrats, and also of
the third or Greenback party. In this
capacity l expect to continue the can
vass to the end, am not the prosecu-
ting attorney OF the Republican or Dem
ocratic parties, nor yet of the Green
back party. I do not belong to the lat
ter party, though 1 am in accord with
their general principles, and expect its
support.
Mr.. Watkins then read an extract
from George Washington's farewell adj
dress concerning parties in a republican
government Washington deprecated
strong partisan feeling as injurious to
our country, and he (Watkins) wanted
to lessen and assuage party strife.
1 propose to take up the speech of my
opponent and answer it.
He cannot speak without talking of
war; can. Why? Because of the
advice of Washington. 1 do not pro-
pose to hold up either the Republican
or Democratic bloody shirt, as Houk
has.
Why are not Republicans willing to
make the greenback the money of all
classes / am. They have withdrawn
this legal money and vested it to the
advantage of the millionaires They
have burned greenbacks. In proof, are
greenbacks in the hands of laborers and
mechanics now as in years since
Houk says the people of both parties
are honest. This proposition seems to
answer much that he has said. l am
here to defend all three parties. had
no hand in making Confederate money.
Houk says he cannot get greenbacks,
nor can you or l. 1t is because two
billions were Withdrawn from circula-
ton and burned, and cannot be gotten
back without honest legislation. l will
not dodge this question. l am in favor
of renewing this greenback money. If
two billions is not enough then let us
issue ten billions. am not a member
of the Greenback party, but it expects
me TO carry out its principles as well as
the Democrats and Republicans. 1 IN
derstand that the Democrats and Green
hackers are united on the money ques-
ton. am for what they are. Judge
HOuk will find large number of Re
publicans who are of the same opinion.
1 have shown you the affinity between
the parties.
Houk asks, suppose you issue green
backs nd La6ittnS-without limit. If done
by authority 5of the government, they
will be worth dollar for dollar in gold.
There is really no intrinsic value in gold
and silver, but the stamp of the govern
ment makes money. Here the speaker
elaborated this assertion by Illustrations
of the various coins-some containing
little silver, while others contained more
and yet passed at less price, owing to
the fat of the law. He said he was OPP
posed to the mongrel system of Nation
al and free banks. He proposed to hold
to the constitution of the United States
He would like to go to Congress, and
would go, with the assent of the people,
when he would endeavor to enforce
those ideas by law.
he urged that if States could not tax
U. s. bonds that Congress could. The
confers this power. He re-
ferred to the 9th clause of section s of
the constitution of the United States;
article 1, section 10; and also the 10th
amendment, as the only provisions bear
ing upon this question.
He had no faith in banks; in any bank.
Never knew banks that stood up to their
obligations. State banks ran into wild
cat" issues. Here he went into an arg
ument concerning the mode of operating
banks. In times of panic and distress
the banks shut down, and the people
loose their hard earnings.
Judge Houk rejoined, but before he
had touched only two points his so min-
ltes expired, and Mr.. Watkins closed
with thirty minutes rejoinder.
The speakers were on the stand four
hours, and while eurreporter took rather
full notes, our limits are so small we