Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-01-22
Nashville Letter.
NAsHvILL, Jan. 90,


Since the appearance of Gov. Marks
stump speech, mis-called message,
the State debt question is almost the
sole topic of conversation. Upon
closer investigation, / find that it is
not so satisfactory to the most ex-
treme repudiationists as was first sup
posed. They are satisfied with its
tendencies and utterances, only it does
not urge prompt action. They prefer
to do what they are going to do right
away. L asked one of the leaders of
this element what he thought of the
message. He remarked that it was
"a good stump speech, but as State
paper he had no opinion TO give on
it." Looking at it from a purely par
tisan standpoint, Republicans might
be we'll satisfied with it. No paper
has emanated from Southern official
for years that is so well calculated to
strengthen Republicanism ia the
North as this. The House provided
for printing $500 copies of il, which
will give 100 copies to each men,
Der. A prominent Republican of
the House told me to-day that he
proposes to send a large part of his TO
prominent Republicans in Congress.
Another said he would send his 10
prominent Republicans in the State of
New York. Such trifling with an inn
pOrtant question and such a pander-
ing to dishonesty in business matters
by prominent Democratic officials,
strengthens the Republicans and in
cTeases the demand for a strong, cOuTs-
geOus President in 1880, like General
Grant. II Gov. Marks had deliberate
Iy planned to come out for Grant, anu
work for his nomination and election,
we know of no more effective way in
which he could have done it than to
do just what he has done in writing
this message.
One encouraging sign of the times
Is the stand being taken by State
credit Democrats. Senators Clapp, of
Memphis, and Ewing, of Giles
county, have expressed themselves
in condemnation of the message.
In former letter L have already spo-
ken of the bold stand taken by Col.
II. x. Byrd. Others in both Houses
are equally outspOken. And the
american OF yesterday, the leading
Democratic paper in the State, takes
direct issue with Gov. Marks. 1 am
assured that other Democratic papers
in the State will do likewise
Whether this opposition will gain
sufficient strength 10 make itself felt,
remains to be seen.
The great mischief was done in the
Democratic Convention last August,
when Judge Marks Jesuitical plat
form was adopted. The cOwaTdIy
policy of submitting the question OF
the State debt TO the people was then
adopted, and there are a number of
the members of the Legislature who
would willingly vote to accept the
compromise of the bOnUbh Olders, but
for the plank in that platform
which says the question shall
be submitted for ratification
or rejection at the ballOt-box. But for
this feeling, | believe that a majority
might be secured in favor OF accepting
the liberal compromise which has
been offered. But they cling to that
plank in their platform a. if il were a
part of the Constitution which they
have sworn to support. 1t is a piece
of strange infatustIOD, but neverthe-
less many OF them are honest in their
motives and intentions.
A word from Gov. Marks would cut
this gOrdian knot and silence lie mis-
giviDgs of many, but his matchlce9
message has had the opposite effect.
Instead Of enlighteniDg, it has misled.
Instead of making clear, it has Ten-
dered the way darker than ever. In
stead of a help in the settlement of the
great question it is an obstruction. The |
opinion OF the most intelligent men and |
the closest observers about Nashville |
is, that nothing at all will be done. |
This is evidently Gov. Marks policy |
deliberately decided upon. Indeed, a |
prominent slow tax man told me |
yesterday, that before Gov. Marks was /
nominated last Summer, he passed by /
one day where he and another gentle
man were discussing this question.
Our informant remarked that he was
In favor of paying thirty-thTee and
one-thlrd per cent of the debt. Gov
ernor, then Judge Marks remaTsed in
substance, Oh no, let US not settle
any OF IL now, just let it run along
twenty thirty or forty years until we
get able to pay it," This is evidently
his policy. he did not so ayOW it in
his canvass, in so many words, but he
evidently meant ii aud means il now.
This, of course, means ahso.
lutte repudiatiOn. The debt is
increasing at the rate of four thousand
collars per day, and if it runs on the
half of twenty years reputation will
become inevitable. This the Governor
must well know, but wouldn't il be
more manly to repudiate outright and
At once, rather than in this dilatory
sorl OF way? w.R.