Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-10-05

make MIN ub lnsLIuiA6Ht " uekti iLtht
what belongs to the public and what TO
belive that none Of the political parties
If our State have, in their platforms, adgo-
Gated reputation. We have had some
very shabby and rickety platform build
ing on the subject, which allowed great
elasticity of conscience and contrariety of
opinion, but on its face it professed TO de.
clare for the good name of the State. In
our next election it should be made the !
test of an orthodox political faith. Itrises
far above the usual party issues Of the day. |
What shall be done with our State debt is |
a subject of great interest and higher i'm |
portance to Tennessee and Tennesseans
than one which simply affects the choice
of Governor or President. On it depends
our future Repudiate this debt, and
though prosperity may be all around Us, ii
will not be in our midst. Capital and en-
terprise will leave Us, never to return.
Healthful immigration will avoid US, and
want of confdenc which, like the curse
of heaven, "blights all it breathes upon"
energies. My own opinion and my own
course may have, and perhaps willshave,
little or no influence upon your action, but
permit me to say that hope no political
party in Tennessee will be allowed to
speak in an uncertain sound on this ques-
ton. For myself, am free TO say that in
future elections l shall not act with any
party in this State which shall not in its
declaration of principles, in clear, unmis-
taxable and unequivocal terms
take ground in favor of such policy,
and measures as shall maintain the good
party has the courage and patriotism nee
essary TO wage q contest in favor Of such
policy and measures. then it seems to me
that the men Of all parties opposed TO re-
pudiation, opposed to any policy which
shall give aid and comfort to reputation
should bank together and make this the
paramount issue until its final settlement
shall be accomplished. l hope there may
be 40 necessity for such a course. No one
will be more grstifed than I, if all parties
shall unite and cooperate in the honorable
settlement Of this vexed question, but /
fear there is little ground to expect so de-
sirable result. My friends, the tine has
come when it boots US to infuse a little Of
Andrew Jackson's spirit into Tennessee
politics; the time has come when our farm
era and business men must take an interest
in politics if they do not wish TO see the
fountains Of our prosperity dried up,
Already has our State suffered much in
public estimation by the course Of the dis
cussions and legislation on tbs State debt.
The country knows that we have a great
State, Or one that may be made so. Il
knows that we have good SOIL g superb
climate, numberless fountains and streams
of pure water. navigablo rivers, &n ample
| supply Of timber, and inezhsustible re.
sources. We have wonderfu! possibilities
| if we would properly labor for their deyel-
opment. and yet we are held up to this in
credulous world as pauper Stato-as one
too poor to pay her obligations.
Nominal taxes are imposed by the Leg
islature and assessed by its authority anC
their time of payment from time to timt
extended, as though it were duty 4
teach the people that they are unable t.
bear the lightest burden, and that prompt
ness and punetuality are 30 Ions er virtue:
that indebtedness is our normal condition
and that there is no need Of economy an
industry since our prosperity arises fror
always having the balance Of trade agains
US. We are no 10 niger proud TennesseaDG
We have become beggars. and to-day GU
people are in the marts Of commerce reach
ing out their hands to the bondhOlde
whom so many of Us denounce and Tefus
. to pay, for charities to feed our poor an
minister to our sick, AID Wall street
pouring out of its abused Golfers thol
. sands for the purpose. We greedily q
cept of its benevolence but refuse to ps
) it one dollar that we owe. Ours has b
come beggar State and to-day she hant
her head in disgrace and shame. M
countrymen, let US, on this Ccntennl
: day, swear by the graves of our father
by the sacred affairs they erected, that v
will never relax our best efforts until v
strike from her limbs the chains whiC
bind her, ard bid her stand forth ia b
: former glory redeemed from the cur
which now rests upon her.
s But it is urged that Tennessee is uaab
> to pay her debt. This is SANDER up,
IL the State and its resources. The most I
9 liable statistics of our productions a
Il found in the United States census rep0r
% Of the eleven seeding States the report
10 1870 shows that our agricultural produ
20 tons, including animals slaughtered
Is food, and home manufactures, were CO
l. siderably greater in Tennessee than in a
/ other. Tennessee produced in val
v $106, 31l, 507. Georgia was next, havi
u produced SCOOPS, sos. Virginia produc
81 S62,790, 293. This takes no account
% what was produced by our mines 8
10 manufactures, but l think l am safe
N stating this was greater in Tennessee til
: in any one of those States. The popu
e. ton of Tennessee, Georgia and Virgin
at was nearly the same. Tennessee
OF about 100000; vi ginia, 1925, 900, q
us Georgia, 100000. The agricultural p,
Ut auctions of Tennessee were in excess of tn
Ne of Georgia by SIG 266, COZ, and of those
s. Virginia by Sl3, 52l, PA, so that, by
ne agriculture, Tennessee, with but Ii
3 greater population, produces annua
Is SIG, 286. o02 more than Georgia and 5.
OF 521. PA more than Virginia. This grea
production was at less cost. The co8t
rs, labor and its board in Tennessee
he S7,11s. COS: in Georgia, $40, 787, O86, and
al Virginia, So. ,O41. Our labor cost