The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-09-16
HAWKINS AND sHEAFE.
The Republican Standard Bearer
Badly Demolished by
Gallant Democrat.

I
ly composed of town people. Our
country friends find the cotton
patch more congenial to their tastes
Just now than the rhetoric of The
hastings. hence very few of them
put in an appearance.
Judge Hawkins opened with the
discussion of national issues, re-
peatIng the stereoLyped assertion
that the republican party saved the
Union, and arguing, In substance,
that for the merit OF that action it
should be allowed to plumber the
American people for all the years
to come. He eulogized Garfield,
dwelling with JUNCTION on the fact
that he was born a poor boy and
had risen to the sublime heights of
Credit Mobilier spoculations and
De GOlyer pavement contracts,
solely by his own eXertions. He
was very careful not to enter into
an,explanation OF Garfield's connec-
tion with those swiDdles, but eased
the matter down by saying that oil
great men were slaAdered by their
opponents. While on this topic he
hoisted friendly signals to the old
line wings by asking them if they
did not recollect how bitterly Hen
ry Clay was traduced; but he en-
tirely forgot Henry Clay was never
condemned out of the mouth of his
own party or found guilty of bribe-
taking by a tribunal composed Of
his political friends.
So far as Judge Hawkins dis
cussion of the attitudes of the two
great parties on national issues was
concerned, it was not equal to his
capacity, but when he touched the
state debt he illuminated the whole
subject. His argument blazed with
indisputable facts and we only re-
GREETED that 1t was reserved for
republican, the representative of a
party which we cordially despise
and shall forever oppose, to make
the most searching argument we
have heard on this question. He
showed that $I7,000,O00 of the
bonds, seven-eig hths of the princi
pal of the present debt, were issued
before the war, that their validity
had been repeatedly admitted by
both parties, that there was no con
stitutional prohibition against those
issued for internal improvements,
but rather a constitutional mandate
in their favor; that no legislature,
however often it might refuse to
admit the validity of this debt could
remove it; that it would hang over
the heads of the people as long as
the bonds bearing the great seal Of
the state were outstanding; that
nothing short of a settlement of
some sort would remove the burden.
He appealed to all Tennesseeans
to meet the question like men and
those who haven't the courage to
sustain an honorable adjustment
should doff their breeches, turn
them over to their wives and let
them settle it. Although his speech
was long he received close atten-
ton, but towards the last the larg-
er part of the crowd began to sus-
pect that he was prolonging it for
the purpose of preventing Capt
Sheafe from obtaining a hearing,
and they became decidedly restless.
At the close of his remarks, Mr.. j.
l.. Pearcy, chairman of the County
Democratic Executive COMMITTEE,
came forward and introduced the
gallant Capt. Sheafe, observing that
while Brownlow's supreme court,
con sistin9 of Hawkins and others,
were DISTINGUISHING the people Of
Tennessee Capt. Sheafe was nobly
battling for their rights. Judge
Hawkins, who was gathering up
his papers, became greatly excited |
at this remark and Immediately |
launched into an explanation of his
record on the Franchise act. He |
said the validity of the Franchise
statute was the only question before
the court at the time mentioned |
and he had cOncurred in the opin-
ion that it was constitutional, but
he phatically denied that he was
the author of the opinion, a charge,
by the way, which Mr.. Pearcy had
not made. He said further that
about that time he had signed a
memorial to the legislature asking
that the right of suffrage be restored
to the rebel element. Mr.. Pearcy
replied by re introducing Capt.
Sheafe observing that Hawkins had
lodged the question but if he felt
to defend his record Capt.
s. was man that would keep him
it. The Judge then sub
sided and left the hall.
Capt. Sheafe was greeted with
deafening applause. He said that
twelve years ago he appeared be-
fore our people when they were dis
franchised and undergoing the rig
orous ordeal of reconstruction, but
he was rejoiced to know that the
heel of the oppressor was off their
necks now. 1t was a source of in
tense satisfaction to him to know
that he had battled for their rights
in the dark days of the past, for
they were worthy of all the bless
ings to be derived from free govern
ment. He then discussed national
issues with tremendous force, as
sailing Garfeld's record with con
facts and lauding the states
and patriotism of Han
cock. He repealed the assertion
that the republican party had saved
the union, but proved, GA the con-
trary, that the democrats of the
north outnumbered the republicans
in the Federal army. He reviewed
the legislation Of the republican
party with scorching effect and
showed how it had enriched corpor
atoms, monOpolies and holders of
government securities and impover-
ed the people.
His treatment of the financial /
question was strong and he com ,
pletel y demolished Judge Hawkins |
claim that the republicans had re-
stored financial prosperity to the >
country. He said we were 'wrang-
ing In Tennessee over a pitiful
isbt of S27,O0O,O0O when the ma
.ional debt of two thousand mil
L 4