The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-01-23
SCHEDULE.
a. CD. & C. s. R R., Decatur Dlvls'r
The Governors Message.

view of the question, and whether
right or wrong, it Will interest our
readers more than anything else we
could possibly give just now. for
the subject itself is paramount TO
all others in interest. Besides, it is
and has been always the purpose OF
the CITIZEN TO give all sides as far
as possible of every important ques
ton like this. The views enter
tanned by Gov Marks are doubtless
sincere, and are uttered of course
after due deiiberatIon, thorough il
Vestigation and an honest desire %
do Justice TO all concerned, and ad
vance the best interests of thu State
and people. The character and
standing aud talents, and antece-
dents Of the man justify us IN this
conclusion and no other And
though we have entertained differ
ent views, and have regarded the
State debt as honorable, just and
binding. we do not hesitate to say
that if Gov. Marks can and does sus-
tain the premises he has assumed,
and IL should he conclusive!y es-
tablished that there has been such
fraud in the creation of a large por
tion of the debt as he maintains, II
should by all means be thrown out
and repudiated as an honest banker
would repudiate counterfeit bank
bill. If these alleged frauds in the
issuance of the bonds were peTpe-
trated by agents of the State "out-
side of the scope of their authority"
as the law books have it, then the
State is not bound; but if done
within such scope, however traudu-
lently, and innocent purchasers hold
the bonds, then the State is bound
in law and morals t. stand by the
acts of its authorized agents. This
is the question ioT the bitratlon TO
decide, nr' .,lthuu h the Governor
showing clearly exhibits irregular
ity, we doubt whether it was ''out
side the scope" aforesaid. If so,
fraud of this kind should not be
permitted to rob the over-burdened
people of their hard earnings. 1t
would be shrmefuL The CITIZEN
and its hundreds of honest readers
are not in favor of paying fraudu-
lent bonds. They have heretofore
presumed that former Legislative
committees were honest and had
acted IN good faith in the investiga-
ton of these bonds, and had thrown
out he spurious aud recommended
the funding only of the lawfully is
sued and binding bonds. Let the
Legislature and Gov. Marks, if they
believe otherwise, adopt the sug-
gestioR OF the American and submit
this investigation to a committee,
the judges of the Supreme Court,
for instau ce, who would he compe-
tent and unbiased in determining
both Tire questions of law and equi-
W involved, and not to a committee
of politicians. As for the CITIZEN,
though classed as a high tax State
credit paper, it is bitterly opposed
to the payment of any and all lille
gally and fraudulenuy issued bonds.
If Gov. Marks can find them, we
unhesitatin9ly say throw them out.
Will the other side meet us here?
Will they agree to pay the debt
when ascertained by such a high
tribunal? II so, there is light
ahead, and we shall thank Gov.
Marks at least for suggesting a way
out of this night of gloom which
overshadows our State AMI para
lyzes our energies. But the Gov
ernor antagonizes every democratic
governor, convention and legisla
ture in the history of Tennessee on
this question. True, if he is right
and they wrong there can be no
honest objection to his position
On the contrary all honest men will
approve IL. But may we not serl-
Ously inquire if he alone is honest
1t he alone of all the wise men OF
the State is astute enough to un
earth and upright enough to expose
the frauds which according to his
charges have been perpetrated with
q high hand in Tennessee? If his
premises are true, there has been a
mighty loose screw somewhere, and
it is little strange that 1t has
never before been discovered by the
democratic Governors, Legislators,
statesmen and politicians, nor by
any of the cunning foxes on the
other side, and exposed either for
patriotic motives or personal prefer
ment. BIT the gravity of the charges
and the high source from which
they emanate demand imperatively
that the Legislature again investi-
gate. However, i; would be moth
ing more nor less than u farce for
another Legislative committee to
undertake ii made up as IL must be
of partisans and politicians In due
time any decision they might render
would be assailed and denounced as
corrupt even as former investiga
tions are now assailed by Governor
Marks himself. The only just and
honorable and decisive plan to pur
sue is for the Legislature to agree
by Joint resolution to submit the
whole question to the arbitrament
OF a committee entirely removed
from politics and parties, and if
possible from personal interest, |
TO settle all the ques-
tions involved, and then carry out /
the verdict in good faith TO the PEG
pie and to the creditors of the State. |
Such n committee we believe could 4
be found in the Supreme Bench of
Tennessee. The bondholders and !
the people will ratify a verdict from
such a source Let the Legislature /
and the Governor invite the cred
itors g. & settlement Of this charac-
ter. The remainder OF the message
is devoted 10 brief economical sug
gestiCns and recommendations,
which show him TO he iD sympathy
with the people IN their cry for re-
trench ment and reform.
1t is understood that Gen. Butler
will present two or three hundred
cases OF Republican bulldozing in
tor the careful scru-
tiny OF Mr. Teller's committee.
The new McKendree Church in
Nashville builI AT "A cost Of S36