The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-07-24
THE 50-4 PROPOSITION.
The Question Of Acceptance
Settled.
Discussion at McEWen Between Hon.
Dorsey Il. Thomas aud
i. 4. EnIOe.

b. 4. EnIOe.
Upon an invitation Of the citizens OF
Humphreys county, Col. Thomas Claiborne,
Hon. Dorsey B. Thomas, Hon B. A EnIoe
and Jno. NJ. Driver addressed large audi-
ence the 18th inst, ar a barbecue, near Nc
Even Station
After an able and thorough discussion Of
the question in an hours speech by Col.
Claiborne, Hon. Dorsey +. Thomas took
the stand. He commenced by claiming
that it was due to the peoples efforts,
through him, that so low compromise was
offered
But he argued that the people should not
do anything until the prosperity Of the
country was restored; that delay was not
republication, and that lac knew the people
were honest. lie said some Of the bonds
were fraudulent, and that Gov. Marks, in
his first message, pointed out the difference
in the bonds, bat he had gone square back
on his message. He said the question of
honesty had been raised by the other side,
that missionaries wcre -crl out to Hum
phreys county 10 j,li the peo-
pie how to vote, and that
good men all over the State wer. being used
That the settlement was wrong, the ,urding
bill advocates, from Jno. c. Brown down,
We're speaking for this settlement. lie
charged the press with being bought up.
public men with being used on
this question. Referring 10 the Immigrants
Col hillebrew was bringing from Massa-
chnsetts, he said We had plenty Of peopIe
without employment, and if Immigrants
stayed away because of our State debt. let
them stay. lie believed the prosperity Of
the country was better promoted by HON,
genelty OF population, and he was opposed
To heterogeneous population of all ma
tionaiities. He said his property was his
own and no power could deprive him of it,
People must he Tree before paying debts and
he would not pay these men one cent now,
and II would matter little If nearly all The
bonds were repudiated. He claimed that
there was not any acceptance Of the PROPOSE
ton and that the bOndholders would only
accept with coupons made receivable for
taxes. That they intended 10 buy the I,epis-
lature. lie appealed to the people to refuse
to settle, because their property had been
destroyed during the war. He thanked God
that the people were sending men 10 the
Legislature who could not be bought. MIR.
Thomas closed with another lick at the
missionaries.
MIR. Enloe, was introduced by DIR. Driver.
and said he thanked DR.. Driver for the
favorable introduction. That he came Ia
address them upon Invitation, and would
address himself 10 their reason and iudge-
nent The philosophers had agreed that il
was reason which distinguished t4e man
from the brute, and TO their manhood their
calm dispassionate judgment he wuuld adj
dress his arguments? He would deal in plain
r.
higher argument to offer than mean and
cowardly insinuations against the opposi-
ton, and baseles3 charges by indirectiOn
and inuendo did not deserve the respect Of
intelligent men. Such harangues appealed
to the lowest instincts of humanity and
were intended first to make them blind to
reason, and then to mislead and deceive
them.
He duly appreciated the aIlusions of Mr..
Thomas to the missionaries, but that policy
was in keeping with his ideas. He would
scorn TO seek to prejudice an audience
against an opponent by such means, but ii
he was disposed To ask impairment questions
he might ask whose missionary is Jno. II.
Savage, and who pays for the publication of
his tracts that are scattered broadcast over
the State.
Mr.. Thomas interrupted by saying that
Savage told him he paid for them out OF his
own pocket.
Ma j. Dick Mccain, standing near the
speakers stand arose, and said he supposed
h (Savage) paid for them out of that 81 900 |
which he lobbied through on the appropria-
tion bill and drew from the treasury in vio-
lation Of his oath to support the Constitu |
ton. /
Mr. Enloe, continuing, said, while he |
knew that Savage arrogated TO himself all |
the honesty in the State, and was leading in |
the work of defamation and detraction, that |
he did not propose to discuss his motives /
He charged that Mr.. Thomas voted for a /
for Governor in 1872 who openly /
advocated funding, and now had Joined in |
denouncing him because he could lead a /
crowd. An anecdOte brought Mr.. homas !
to his feet and down to the stand and he de-
MED voting for either Brown or Freeman,
because he was absent from the State, but
would not have voted for either If at
home.) Mr. Enloe replied that the people
did vote for them. He said, "ten years ago |
Mr.. Thomas was the hOnored Speaker Of the
Senate and ] was the youngest member of |
the House. He then voted for resolution
piedging the world that the people Of Ten
nesSee would not sign lie their return to
power by regulating any part of their pub
lie debt; he voted for the bill to sell out the
railroads: he voted TO allow the solvent rail-
roads 10 retire their debt in bonds; he voted
for an eighty cents tax, and was the highest
IF the high tax, State credit men. He was
4 proud and honorable Tennesseean then,
put now he wan to make the people be-
ieve that the State does not owe this debt
wants TO reject all offers Of compromise,
make the railroads pay it over again if he
AN, and If not, then lepudiate all he can.
was for low tax and relief frr the people
when he was for high tax and iull payment.
Mr. Thomas charges that the newspapers are
Fought up, and, being editor. have
light to call for the proof. When 4 man
makes an assertion, II he is an honorable
md truthful man, he IS prepared to prove
l. viii the gentleman name the ne&spa-
,ers that have been bought?
Mr.. Thomas-The Memphis dppsti sold
ut several years ago.
Mr. Enloe---W What has that to do with this
uestiOn? The Appeal was paid to do just
that you are doing now, and you were doing
hen what the Appeal is doing nov. The