Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-03-20
LETTER FROM COLUMBIA.
The State Debt-Ihe Presidential
Contest in lS80--Democratic Office
HoldeIs.
: CoTrespo dent.

From our Regular Correspo dent.
COLUMBIA, TENN March II, '79.
Mr.. EDITOR: The one great ques-
ton which nov engages the attention
of the people of this section to the ex-
clusion Of almost every other is the
States Indebtedness. A few months
ago the people were apsthetic, and in
different to this question which effects
their material prosperity more than
all Others, and the result was that in
this part Of the State, the elections
were permitted TO go by default, and a
class OF "pigmies" got into the Legis-
lature As Representatives of whom the
inhabitants of the Dark Continent"
would even feel ashamed. But it
affords me pleasure to note the fact
that q most wonderful change has
come over the spirit of the dreams OF
the people who have been SO long led
astray by Democratic demagOgery, and
q great reaction has takeu place
within the last few weeks. The people
are at last becoming aroused to a sense
OF the impei ding danger. Men who
have heretofore uniformly voted the
Democratic ticket now assert their un-
alterable determination to do SO no
more, and will hereafter be found act
ing with the Republicans, and those
who are opposed To the dIshUnolable
and disgrAceful programme of Marks,
Savage Il Co; and next year will wit
ness the complete aud final overthrow
Of the repudiationists in Tennessee.
Notwithstanding the Overshadow-
ing importance of the State debt the
people are beginning to discuss warm
ly the Presidential contest OF 1880.
The Democrats are dependent because
they know that Tilden will be nomi-
mated and will be easily beaten. The
Republicans are unanimous for Grant;
and Judge Key will dOub tess receive
the vote of this district ia the Conven-
ton for the second place on the ticket.
While / am not usually very san
guine individual, yet l am one of
very large number who believe and are
becoming more settled In that
opinion, rs developments occur every
day at Nashville, that we can not only
defeat Marks next year with a good
candidate, but if we had q strong man
like Key (whO was among the nrst 10
take n decided stand for an honest sete
Element of the debt, and warned tue
people against the crime OF fePuuIa'
tion) on the ticket for Vice Pfesident'
L
licans. This is not OytrdraWu- ILe
State debt question can not be separG-
ted fro M National politics, BECAUSE the
people know that il is not only Inc lu'
tention of the ID mOcTatic leaders 10
repudiate oar states OblIgatiOhT, out
the National debt also, II tney ever get
control Of the Government. III r.
fore, believe, rs L said before, Ihat
this foretaste of Democratic rule ia
Tennessee will serve as warming 10
the people, and VIII result la tFansfeT-
ring the STATE To the REPUBLICAN, col
umn, il W. csu have The TICKET above
mentioned.
ITscentIy returned from Washing
.OD, and while TIA re Witnessed the
struggle IF the REPUBLICAN, minority
with the RevcluiIOBis =" who have
forced upon The a. unity an extra
session. TueIs eau be usI GOuUi bat
ever but that he ID -IuO, rats u lievtd
up TO the yesy iast u,, meat lnat he
Republicans would 3l,ld- Is CT the
chairman of one at the mneg mpOr
tant committees of The II u, said to
me the m DTning VI d. ,uIn-i-viI' that
there would be- 10 extra session H. The
r puulicsus " untouh e'iIy yIeio;
am tbs the DemUCTailc e 4.it - fully
belle we'd and Therein uIade d tata!
bun IsT. There ca b nD mIsgiNings
as 40 Tue future if The President will
but 4 main firm.
| ~as greatly surprised 10 fnd SO
mamy Democrats holding positions
in Use departments at Washington.
A majority of the clerkships
held by TenBe seeans, are filled 10y
Democrats, some of whom to the
writers own knowledge while holding
positions under q Republican admin
istration, are ceaselessly working to
get better offices under a Democratic
Senate, while others find time, %
write articles for Democratic newspa-
pers, in which they take occasion, to
denounce the " Radicals" in unmeas-
ured terms. or the positions held by
persons from Middle Tennessee in the
Departments, only two are filed by
and they are in the Treas
uFy. No Democrat holds office under
John Sherman If be knows it. More
upon this subj ct hereafter.
REPUBLICAN.