The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-01-09

cotton crop, but who cannot buy at
any price, and no one else is in the
market to invest. Taxes are very
heavy and the collection of them is
greatly hindered by laws that are I'M
equal to the task. The city has debt
of four or five millions OF, dollars, and
part of the interest is unpaid, and there
is litigation between the city and hold
ers Of bonds and other Obligations.
The idea has been started of surrender
ing or repeating the act of incorpora-
ton, which, if it did not relieve the
city Of the obligation, would at least
! deprieve the Auditor of the legal RENE
dy for enforcement. A meeting of
citizens was held on last Tuesday even
ing, and, after considerable discussion
Of the subject, resolutions III support of
such a measure were adopted. The
Legislature, which will sit next week g,
will no doubt be applied to take that
step. This step Of course would result
in nothing but loss in every way to
the city. But it is an indication of
the extremity to which those people
feel themselves reduced: The feeling
in the State in reference to the State
debt is similar, there being 4 strong
party in favor Of what amounts to
actual reputation. They are unwilling
to compromise at even fifty cents on
the dollar. You mus. Eear in min /.
thar ,nere are many who are opposed
to this course.
ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION.
Reporter What do you think is
the political feeling?
Senator Matthews-So lar as [ OBJ
serve it in Tennessee, [ noticed, first,
a very general and warm appreciation
of the spirit and results of President
Hayes administration, particularly his
treatment of what is called his South
ern policy. He was very generally
spoken of, but in terms Of warm regard;
and if those expressions are an indica-
ton of the real feeling of the people, as
[ believe they are, he would be the
strongest and most available candidate
for the Presidency that could be nom
mated by the Republicans. And if the
question could be put to the people
directly and distinctly, as between him
and Mr.. Tilden, have not the least
doubt that he would carry the State
against Mr.. Tilden two to one.
AS TO FRAUDS AND INTIMIDATION.
Reporter-What do the Tennessee
people say about election frauds?
Senator Matthews-WeII, upon the
subject of the alleged frauds and in
timidation in the elections throughout
the South, whereby the separate, in
dependent vote of the colored people,
as against the Democratic organization,
is nulifed, the facts are not at all con-
cealed, and in private conversation the
main fact is generally admitted and
justified. The politicians and active
men of the Democrative party do not
hesitate to say that that is the only
way at present in which they can Sc
cure to themselves any of the results
of resi- ectabie government that the
separate organization Of the main body
of the black vote is an end so distruc-
tive Of anything like a possibility of
good government that they feel justi-
fed in suppressing it by force or fraud
or any other means. They admit, at
the same time, that it is not the best
state Of things, and profess that they
would be glad to be relieved from the
necessity. They say that if they could
be free from the apprehension Of Iegis-
Iation on the part Of the Republican
party, backed by its majorities in the
Northern States, they would be glad
to see the white vote in the Southern
States divided on questions of politics
as a means of dividing the black vste.
They think that the sectional question
beng now settled beyond probability
Of any serious revival, that will be the
course of affairs, determined by in
fuCnces that can not be resisted by
any individual body or by any party,
and that upon local questions arising
from time to time, parties will group
themselves without reference to the
past, and new parry organizations will
grow up out Of the disintegrations Of
the old ones.