Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-10
NASHVILLE.
Personal Explanation by Hon. ]. W.
Clapp.
NASHVILLE March 10

vioh Vi the Ctate deDt, ana especially
in the minority report which | had the
honor to present on the 9th as a mem
Der Of the joint committee appointed
to investigate this matter.
The LEDGER expresses for me a
personal regard, which / am sure is
sincere, and which is as sincerely re-
elprocated by me, and | am persuaded
| WILL not be denied an opportunity to
say Q, word in reply, which, appreciat-
ing the value Of space in the columns
OF the LEDGER, will be very brief
l was elected, as the LEDGER knows
without being a candidate and with
out my knowledge, and of course as
no pledges were exacted of me and no
expression of opinion required of me
on this or any other question
| cannot be charged with hay-
ing deceived any one or BETRAYED
any trust confded to me. | hone all
who know me know that it is nv habit
to pay my own debts, and that / think
all just debts should be paid to the
extent Of the ability of the debtor to
90 so without making him the victim
OF remerseless creditor: and. so far
from State being exempt from the
application of this rule, | think it in
cumbent upon her to set an example 70
the citizen by the observance of what
writers term uberrima fdes. (superla-
tive good faith) in the performance of
her contracts.
Now, the fair presumption is that
when | came here my constituents ex-
pected me, like an honest man, to act
according to the convictions of my
conscience and understanding under
the sOlemnities of the oath which |
was required to take. Apprehendinp
that | might not be able to concur
with a majority of tne committee an.
pointed to investigate the State debt.
| desired to avoid being placed upon
that committee, and would have de-
cllned had not my brother senators
who concurred with me in opinion.
insisted that | had no right to eyade
the responsibility incident to the posi-
ton, and not being in the habit of
Sinking duty that lies plainly across
my path, | waived my objections and
consented to be one Of the committee.
When the report of the majority
was read to me, | could not, without
perjurlng my conscience, have given
1t my assent. If there is any special
quality about the LEDGER that has
commanded my respect and admira.
ton, it is the candor and manliness
with which it expresses its opinions
and now | ask if it will deny me the
same privilege? | must either assent
to or dissent from the report. Which
under the circumstances, ought | tr
have done? And if | dissented wa,
1t not right and proper that l should
give my reasons for it on subject Of
such vital Importance IT, in assign
ing these reasons, | have not repre-.
sented the LEDGER, | can only ex.
press my regret that we disagree, but
1t 1 have, as you charge, misrepre.
sented my constituents. that
is what had neither the wish noi
the right to do, but what, under the
circumstances, | cannot be blamed
for. Had | known that | was expected
to act and vote as the LEDGER thinks
| should have done, would very
promptly have relieved myself from
censure, and my constituents from the
misfortune Of being misrepresentcd by
reslgning my position and giving them
an opportunity to send some one here
who more correctly reflected theil
views and if your charge is well
founded, | will most cheerfnlly and
promptly make all the reparation in
my power by resigning the very mo.
ment | am requested in any mode
representing the wishes of my many
constituents to do so.
AS long, however, as | remain here
| shall, as heretofore, be true to my
own honest convictions of right, and
will at least preserve my self-respect
whatever else ! may forfeit
My minority report was written in
great haste, and when my physicaI
strength was unequal to the task
and it would be a matter of surprise
it it did not contain error,
that exposed it to legitimate criticism
In reference, however, to the only
error to which you have referred. viz
to the payment of interest during
the war, the authorities to which YOU
refer | have not had time to examine
except as to the one in 4th Heisk. and
7th Wallace If the others are of a
similar character, you will find by
examination of my minority report
that the position | assume is not in
conflict with the cases referred to.
They simply recognize the we'll estab-
lished rule referred to by me. that
interest upon debts as between the
citizens or subjects of belliperent
nation is suspended during a war, but
do not touch the question of debt
due by one of the belligerant powers,
and to show the utter fallacy of the pos
ition assumed by the maiorityreportand
indorsed by the LEDGER, it is con-
oeded fact that many of the State
bonds whose validity is now assailed
were held during the war by residents
Of the Southern States, and some of
them by citizens aud institutions of
the State of Tennessee. | forbear.
however, to discuss the questions in.
volved in the two reports, and apollo
gizing for the length of this communi-
cation, trust you may find room for it
in the LEDGER.
j. w. CLApp.
It is related of Talleyrand that his
Dulse which rolled a stroam of onor