Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-03-22
MEMPHIs'S sFNIOR SENATOR.
Mr. Clapp's Efforts To Preserve the
Credit of hts rtate-OnIy Ten DAYS
More in which the Tennessee
Legislature Can Act-Dau-
ger or "A Fusion with the
Republicans

Nashville letter TO the Louisville Courier
Journal, 18th: The saying Is as Old as
Socrates, that although no man undertakes q
trade he has not learned. even the reanesf.
yet every one thinks himself sufficiently Quail
lied for the hardest OF all trades, that of gov
eminent. The truth of this assertion Is
demonstrated by study OF the individual
members composing the legislature Of this
State. Borne into office by caprice or acct
dent IN many Instances, their Ignorance and
folly at this particular iuncture amount to
pubic misfortune. Ii men OF genius.
knowledge and experience COMPOSED the
present Legislature, and we're TO pursue the
same Course, by misapplying their talents. a
great and lrrepsrable injury would result To
the State. Not so with Il ese Harm they have
already accomplished, and the end is not
yet. But the injury accomplished. and that
to follow, will not long survive. They have
as little ability to do lasting harms as thew
have Inclination to do good. They 90 through
the daily drudgery OF explaining nonsense,
Disgusting folly and jushtying a spirit of re-
pudiatlon.- Tpey represent constituencies
temporarily demoralz3d by the teach nc,s of
the representative. They are fit only to make
premedltated harangues, for their stock of in.
formation Is insufficient to meet inpromptu
drafts Men there are in Tennessee who Ger
talnly have the good Of the State at heart
but-as it is too often the case-these men OF
modesty, ability and experience entertain a
dislike to Office seeking, and will put up any
excuse or yield to any pretence TO keen ont.
1t is clearly the duty Of these mea to arouse
themselves and wrest their State from the
grasp OF those who seek to cast leprOaCh us-
on her fair name.
SENATOR CLAPP's SPEECH.
The State lit men, hitherto sour. sui
len and inactive, are awakening to the peris
OF the disoracetul issue. and already a now
erful reaction Is palpable to the most unob-
servant. This reaction dates from the publ
cation of Senator Clapp's minority report on
the State debt question Senator Ciapp IS
the patriotic Messiah whom the State credit
men have long expected. HIS lofty princj-
Piles, personal aud political, are oct of fash
ION In the assembly of which he is 2 member.
They were formed before tue war, uGd its
demoralIzing influence left no faint upon his
blameless character. His presence, mieu
and bearing dwarf all his associates in the
legislative halls. About sixty, tail, spare and
dark; his locks are thin; MS appearance in
dicates delicate constitution, vet there are
no signs OF senIity in voice or gesture. When
speaking he mounts to higher aad uurer
atmosphere than il attainabla by his asso-
ciates, and his elCqnence floTs ike a pure
stream that Is fed by an abundant soriBo.
HIS language IS at all times clear, sIuo.e
and ldiomatic in the highest degree, and
invariably addresses Itself to the
understanding rather THAI the
passions. His op mons and argu-
ments are stamped with sincerity, orig
inality and force. He appeals to good sense
aud common honesty, and is perfectly under
stood by uneultivated minds A days notice
that the st Nor senatortrom Memphis is gong
to speak, and the senate chamber is crowded.
And Is subject of general regret that he
speaks SO rarely. Such was the MAGNITUDE
of the subject discussed to-day and snch the
public expectation that Senator Clamp con-
l,IDo 30, = IA
His plea for State credit, his review Of fiaan-
cal statistics, his historical illusions and legal
arguments, are PRONOUNCED by those compe-
Is 10 Judge Incompatible aud uuanswega.-
bic. He favored the Submission Of the gen
erous proposition OF The bouChOders to the
people; but, de5p8irIa.s of that he urged
that proposition Of fifty cents on the dollar.
with four per cent interest for blank years,
Eve per cent. fer blank years, and SIX per |
cent. thereafter untiltne debt should be paid;
together with a proposition in the alternative /
the same as the above.
THE SITUATION.
Ohy tea days remain wherein to formulate /
a proposition Tor submission 10 tue ueople. /
The low tax men must act or violate their /
promises 10 their Constituents. The people /
are tired and WORKOUT with usUraGfzhle dis /
cussion and inexcusable delay Go under .
the low-tax faction of the Democrats parsv
most certainly will, should they be unable /
20 20 reconcile their differences within the next
zen days, and they'll carry GnEas.a, = =; ANS
credit Democrats and the Republican parfv
8 next in order, when men OF the Senator
Jilapp strlpe will step to the front. It IS told
d city in the Old Testament that would
nave escaped divine vengeance i Eve righteous
men might be found therein. The righteous
men OF the iow-tax faction must be discov-
red In the next ten days, or that Wing of the
'arty will be visited by the vengeance OF the
people. Your correspondent will be much
mistaken II Governor Marks does not b,irp
bout the salvation OF the Tennessee DeDloc-
acy. None so potent with the mai5rity as
e: none more Interested individually and
thcially, and, | may add, none more dss,rons
an equitable settlement. He can coDfroi
ne n,lpaGt faction, and | predict dis ipGu.
nee will be thrown on tue right side. {