Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-07-26
The speaking at woonIawn.

The Speaking at WOonIawn.
To the Chronicle To-day our
good people had the pleasure of be-
ing enlightened upon the question
of the State debt by the following
honorable gentlemen: G. G. Smith,
T. M. Reynolds, John F. House
and Col. T. l.. Yancey. There were
present about three hundred peo-
pie Ladies' with their beauty and
smiles graced the occasion, and,
upon inquiry, were found a unit for
the acceptance of the compromise.
Their presence here brought to
mind the custom of ante-bellum
days, when woman cared nearly as
much to hear the political thunder
as the head of the house. And then
it was quite pleasant to attend pub
lie speakings there was elegance
and refinement, the discussion was
orderly, due Difference was gen.
orally paid to the assertions of the
of the orators, and, upon the whole,
things passed off much more pleas
antly than nowadays. But we
do not so much deplore the past as
we see the old custom coming in
vogue.
At the. conclusion of the speeches,
a basket dinner was spread, which
was partaken of with hearty relish.
Miss Mallory's generous hospitality
eased the inner man of your report
er, for which we return many
thanks. Among the incidents of
the occasion was DIR. Chilton's "facts
for the people," which was sooth-
ing in high degree and superla-
lively convincing that if the "facts"
were given to the people they would
unanimously vote for the compro-
mise.
We give but a brief synopsis of
the speeches, on account of space,
and cannot hope to do the speakers
even meager justice. AT IL O'Clock
the speaking began. Judge Smith
led off. His first object was to ex-
plain Understandings the Act of
the Compromise which they were
to consider, the effect of its accep-
tance, and the probable result of its
rejection. He then told them how
the debt was created, and of the il
lustriOus men whose names were
linked inseparably with it. He eX-
planned how it was that the exigen-
cies of the State demanded internal
| Improvements, and the good results
which had flowed from them !;
| touched the constitutiOnality of the
! creation Of the debt in these words :
mo decent lawyer has yet been
| found, here or elsewhere, who de-
MES that the representative of the
State had the power under the con-
stitutiOn to create the present debt.
1t is the province of the lawyer to
study questions of this nature as it
is the province of the farmer to
study the science of agriculture
and it does seem from this unanim-
ity of sentiment of the legal pro-
fession, if from no other reason, the
constitutionality of the question
should be settled once and forever,
and quietus forever put upon the
clamorings made against it." He
was loudly applauded.
Col. Yancey's first duty was to
claim a victory for the Independ
ent party of the State. They had
certain principles and they demand
ed the adoption of them by the peo-
pie of the State, but they were re-
fused time and again. Yet to-day
what they had contended for had
been gained the debt was to be re-
duced one-half, and the interest one
third. He did not recede from his
original position. The principles
he once battIed for he would battle
for again. But the war was over,
peace had been declared, the indie
pendent party was left the victor and
as an humble member of that party
he was in favor now of reaping the
fruits of their victory. Being the
head and front of this party in
Montgomery county, these words
from him may be of some signifi-
canoe to the party. Here they are /:
"In advocating the acceptance of
this compromise, let no man say
I have entertained for so many
wears. There has been no recession
and there will be none. look upon
this settlement as the best possible
solution Of a vexatious question and
it would be wisdom in the people
of the State to accept it. / look
upon it as the fruition of the Inde-
pendent labors-the result of our
many hard-fought battles-and the
Independent who differs with me
upon this question must not say
that I have left him, but acknowl- |
edge the truth that he leaves me in |
going to an extreme which seems TO /
me to-day fraught with great prob |
able evil.n