The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-08-07
1AwRENcEsuRa LETTER.
Discussion Of the 5o-4 Compromise by
Dr.. Harvey, Col. Sowell and
S. a. Carroll. j.

II
EDITOR CITIZEN :-There was quite
a crowd in town Monday anxious
to hear the State debt discussed.
The speaking took place IN the
court room and was listened to with
marked attention by all present.
S. A. Carroll, Jr., opened the argu-
ment in favor of the 50-4 and 1
must do him the justice co say it
was one of the ablest arguments 1t
has been my pleasure to hear upon
the subject. 1t was clear and log
zeal; real legal argument not
political harangue.
He commenced by saying that it
was an undeniable fact that the
debt was upon us, and that it was
duty we owed ourselves TO make
some disposition of the same. He
then gave a brief history of our
State bonds, giving the laws under
which they were issued, and for
what purpose. He showed conclu-
sively that the bonds were issued in
accordance with a provision of the
constitution of the State. He also
showed that all the bonds were is
sued under and by virtue of acts of
the Legislature of the State, and
that in passing such laws the repre-
sentatives were obeying the instruc
tions of their constituents. He as
serted that the same rules of law
which apply to the contracts of an
individual apply to those of a sover-
eign state. That being the case the
State of Tennessee was estopped
from denying the validity of her
bonds. He cited authorities to sub
stantiate his positions all the way
through and demonstrated beyond
doubt to any unprejudiced mind
that in law and equity the State
owes every dollar of the debt, and
that favorite cry of X road stump.
ers in this part of the moral vine
yard) Of f-r-a-u-d-was all the mer-
est bosh, designed by politicians to
array the masses not only against |
the compromise but against every |
public man Of any note in the State.
He made many points that space |
will not allow me to give, showing
the evil effects of the spirit of repu-
diation, paid glowing tribute to |
Tennessee's ability to pay and |
closed.
DIR. R. H. Harvey spoke at the
conclusion of Mr.. CarrelPs speech |
as the champion of the opponents
of the compromise. He spoke
about two hours and while his
speech was not wanting in feryor,
he certainly labored under some
kind of difficulty for it was certain
ly without system or order. ex-
pected to hear sound argument,
sound logic and a close adherance
to the all important question that
the people are so anxious to be /
posted upon. But ] listened in
vain! for it was scattering and COM
posed largely of filings and abuse of |
Gov. Marks and many of our pub
lie men, as well as all the friends of |
the funding bill. While talking of
public men he took occasion and |
wide latitude to make an onslaught |
and give his opinion of that Prince |
among gentlemen, the Hon. Jno. G. !
Brown. He charged that Gov. B.
had gone to Nashville some time |
after the war in company with Mr.. |
Jno. Ballanfant of Maury and drew
100000 of the peoples money and
invested it in a railroad; now Mr..
Ballanfant had turned honest and
wanted the r. r. to pay this back,
while Gov. Brown was still in favor
of robbing the State and asking the
people to pay; that he was now en-
gagged in one of the greatest swim
dies the world has ever known-try-
ing to get the Congress of the Uni
ted States to endorse the bonds to
build the Texas and Pacific r. r.
He said it was no wonder that /
Brown had left the Pacific and come
to Pulaski, for he was anxious that
the people should endorse his &C
tons by voting the so 4. His
speech just amounted to this; that
the debt was fraud and a cheat,
and all the honesty was in those
men who were patiently waiting
their turn to serve the d-e-a peo-
pie. After DR.. Harvey closed Col.
Sowell made Q telling speech of an
hours length. He is one of the
best posted men in the state on the
1ebt, having been in the Legislature
.ong before the war. While there
be voted against every proposition
20 issue bonds, or lend State aid in
any way. He met the Hon. iona
han Morris of Wayne at Way
ahds' Springs few days ago. They
we're in the Legislature together (
and Morris voted for great many
Of the bonds that are now outstapd {
ing, and is now an out and out re-
They had good
crowd and Col. Sowell completely {
pinned the old mans buster up and
started him back to Snake coInty
q sadder but wiser man. don't
know how the vote will go in this I
but we intend to get every {
vote we can for the honor and dig
nifty of the State.
l am glad to see your excellent
paper taking such firm stand, but
It is just like you, always on the
side of justice aud fairdealing.
Yours is the most popular weekly
and is more sought after than any
other that comes to this Office.
Aug. 4th. SINE CURA.
---ss-
Come to the new stove q tin store,
Osborn block LIST Main street.
Well, Well, are you selling stoves and
tin-ware again? Well, bless my life, we
are all Coming. for Won alMaYs have