Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-02-08
WHOLE NO. 2,255.
for one. / favor a compronlse al

5 for one, / favor compromise q
: that figure.
: We have in our power to do this
and in the name of honor and goo
: sense, let US do it, and take the sut
/ ject out of the politics of the State
J 1t hangs, sir, like milstone aroun,
our necks, and unless we do settl
! it now, and if we continue to pursu
the miserable non-action policy o
the past four years, 1t will result il
reputation, disgrace and ruin I,
the young and rising generation.
Not only is this so, but no steT
could be taken more disasterous e
the future of the Democratic party
than the continued postponemeni
of this question. 1t will result in 8
split in the Democratic party. The
1 State credit wing of the party will
join the Republican party TO put
down Reputation wing of the
I Democratic party, and this will ul-
tinIately make the people liable foi
| the whele debt. Added to this, this
course will tend to defeat the Ma
tional Democratic party. Already
it is whispered over the North that
Southern Democrats are repudi-
atOrs, and that the Democratic party
is repudiation party. Tennessee
is already pointed at to illustrate
the charge, and it is well known
that Tennessee is overwhelmingly
Democratic. Thequestion isasked,
If Southern Democrats repudiate
their own debts, contracted to build
up and develop their own resources,
how can they be expected to pro-
tect the national debt, which was
contracted to compel them to re-
turn to their national allegiance.
Democrats could not more effect
ually aid the continuanceOf Repub-
liCitn rule in the United States, than
by following the course they are
now pursuing. If they want to kill
the Democratic party, they have
only to remain in their present at
titude. The Republican party in
the North are going to make desc,
perate effort to keep in power, and
Grant is again to be their standard
bearer in 1890. The "man on horse
back" is the only man, they saw,
who can unite the foes of repudia-
tiOiig anu ONilhG .NtEdAtl-DAON 10
communism. The reputation
Democrats in Tennessee are giving
more encouragement to the Grant |
movement than if every leader |
among them were to stump the |
State in his behalf. The Republi- 1
cans are aware of this, and artfully !
foment the spirit Of repudiation in /
the Democratic ranks,
Let US beware of the insideOus foe. I
They mean us no good. Let us, 4
while we have the power TO do so,
adjust the State debt, and fund ID 4
into new bonds, at fifty cents on the 4
dollar, and remove the question
from the political field. We have
the power to do so. We, the au-
thOrized constitutional delegates Of
the people. am opposed to sub
our action to the people for
/ regard this as a most
precedent, and something
wholly new TO our constitution and
form OF government. Under our
there are three cO-ordi-
nate branches of the government
The Executive, Legislative and
Judiciary, and each of these depart
nents is supreme within the sphere
Of its lawful authorities. The Leg
has the lawful and consti-
tutional authority and power to adj
ust this debt, and the subsequent
or rejection of any set
.lement we may make, by the peo-
)le, would, in no manner, add to or
impair the validity of the settle
nent 80 made. To hold otherwise,
would be to maintain that our gov
srnment is not what our fathers in
ended it, and our constitution
makes it-a representative DEM
the pure Democracy OF
Athens, where the people were ae-
'ustOmed to assemble and make
avs in the market places, without
he intervention of delegates.
am not afraid Ofthe people. /
'elieve they want this debt settled
S propose to settle il. 1t is not
'ecause | apprehend their disap-
lroval of our action in making !
uch settlement, that, / oppose
it to them, but because
would be an uncOnstitutional and )
evolutionary proceeding, a bad pre-
edent, involving additional ex-
'ense, delay and suspense, hurtful
0 the government, and productive
f no good. We, sir, are the dele
ates of the people. Eet us do
fhat is right and proper for us, as
he dictates of duty and conscience
emand, and if the people should {
forwards disapproVe Of our con- {
uct while acting as their agents, {
hen they may repudiate us at the '
oils. That is the theory and prac- {
ce under our Democratic republi- [
an system of government, and for I
ne, | propose to abide by il. 5
a