Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-03-08
THE REIGN OF DEFAMATION.
The Legislative Reputation Rings
Wholesale attack upon the Best
ana the Purest Hen of the
state. from 1S5e TO 1879.

Nashville american: Colonel john C.
| Burch S frank and satisfactory card completely
dIspCSeS Of the testimony affecting him, and
Illustrates the nature OF &c parte and secret
testimony. After it had gone forth, after
garbled and unfair statement had been tele-
graphed abroad as a special dispatch, de-
signed to work personal injury, the gentle
| man affected Is able to make a tardy de-
tense, which, had he been summoned, or had
the proceedings been open, would have dis
posed Of 1t at once. This procedure is of
piece with the policy of the party which has
been menacing the credit of the State,
attacking It Obligations, and declaring
upon the stump, III their press, and
everywhere, 70 seek, by every means,
TO b.acEen the character of every man
who has stood 10y the credit of the State, and
urged manly and straightforward policy,
dictated by foresight, progressive ideas and
craftsmanship. hIngs, combination and COR
rnptlou, loosely, generally and vaguely
charged, have been the stock in trade. From
Governor Brown down, every man or news
paper engaged II steadily advocating this
wise policy has been denounced as the advo-
cate or organ Of bondhoders, rings and COM
blnatIons. No proof is ever advanced, and
no such rings are shown by investigation, ex-
cept II the corrupt days of IS65-6S. They
seem to forget that steady advocacy of a
sound policy precludes ali idea Of such COM
blnatiOD. Speculation demands alternate de.
preston and elevation, and yet, in the face of
alt fact and logic, they do not hesitate to at
tempt to blacken all who have been the steady |
advocates OF II measures to strengthen the pub
lie credit. The proof taken as to Colonel |
Burch, and fully replied to in his card. was |
lmmaterlal II It had been true. Speculation |
IN bonds issued has nothing to do with their |
validity. Sucn speculation is incident tn |
AL debts where default is made
The only way to stop it IS to stop the occasion
for 1t and to maintain the credit Of the State
II it had been true it would have been DRAG
gIng private parties before the public without
notice or defense, and without reason in anv
hight thrown upon the question involved |
Since 1t Is not true, 1t illustrates the enorn1tv
of secret ec-paTte Investigations, and serves |
to show to all intelligent men that there ia |
wrong IN a policy which has to he |
by a kind of investigation which
even the Republicans have abandoned under |
The pressure OF enlightened public opinion |
and the waning of war passion. That such
5hings have occurred Is not surprising in a
party which has perslstently Ia its press and
IN the stump made the basis of its argument
lenunclatlon OF all State-credit advocates as
agents or organs. 1t Is NOT sur-
1rls1ng when we see the same party going
pack into the past and raking up the hon.
,red memory OF a reVered and noble an
,estry to dlshonor with the CHARGE
u having DSSA parry 10 q vicious |
md corrupt policy. To show that the gov
rnors and State officers before the war are
involved in tins backing process, we nunte
he language from which the committee car
lot escape. They say of these bonds.
eleven thousand two hundred and twenty,'
ne were Issued to railroads under the intey.
al Improvement law of 1872 and The
mendments thereto, and then thew saw.
The Lat08 under which these eleven tbo5-
and two hundred and twenty-one bonds
7ere issued required certain specific things to
e done, and certain specified evidence to he
led before they were authorized to be Issued. 1 z