The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-08-26
An 'edr"ss the People Of Tennessee.


prominent reasons, which induce the I
low tax delegates, in justice to j
themselves and the producing fax
PAYERS Of this state, to Withdraw from |
the high tax wing Of the state demo-
cratic convention, which convened at
! Nashville on the 10;h inst, to adopt
! platform of principles and nominate
; candidate for governor. On reaching
the capital it was early discovered til. t
through the means of proxies and 9th
GER devices not in harmony with the
spirit of free government, as taught
! by the founders of the democratic
parry in this country, that controlling
majority in the convention was COM
posed Of high tax delegates, claiming
10 represent the constituents of sever
al counties and towns, who, III their
! primary elections, had appointed a
large number, and in many instances,
nearly their entire delegation in favor
of low taxes and the submission
Of any settlement Of the so called state
debt to vote of the people who will
have lis hur,iens to bear. But not
withstanding the hopeless attitude of
the low tax delegation, they entered
the convention and took part in its
organization, hoping that i'll the adop-
ton Of platform, they would
be able to 50 modify the
extreme views and demands of the
high tax wing Of the party, IT'S to pre-
serve unity and harmony throughout
the state i'll the approaching state and
federal elections, and ultimately unite
the party III the bonds Of traternal
brotherhood throughout the common
wealth of Tennessee. Having made
every concession except surrendering
the birthright of every freeman i'll the
state, which was embodied III the SIM
pie request, that without regard to the
amount or terms Of any settlement
that should be made Of the sO-called
bonded debt by the legislature, it
should he submitted to Il vote of the
people ut seperItc election, for rati-
tcation or rejection as Il finality. This
last hope for reconciliation and a rec
Ognition of the sovereignty of the
. people WAS unceFemOniOuSIy kicked
out Of the convention. Finding no
hope of longer maintaining the cardi-
nal principles of free government and
the protection of the masses of our
people from the unwarranted ell
2 crUachments Of monOpolies and the
heartless demands Of the money power,
by combining with the high tax wing
of the arty about 800 low tax dele
[ gates withdrew from the convention
4 and organized THE democratic cOnven-
d ton, adopted a platform Of principles,
embOdying the germ of Jeffers0nian
democracy, which declares THAT
L government being instituted for the
e common benefit, the doctrine of non.
It resistance against arbitrary power and
oppression is absurd, slavish and
destructive of the good and happi
ness IF mankind" Upon this plat.
l. form the true democracy of Tennes
c see have placed the Hon. S. f. vii
q son, of Sumner, as their candidate fOI
, governor, and appeal to the sovereign
:, people of Tennessee for an endorse.
q ment of their action. They insist
Is that it is time-hUneFed principle ot
: the democratic party, that the people
r. shall rule; and whether acting di
rectly or through representatives., the
" popular will must prevail, or the free
st dom of the masses will be destroyed
e We insist that the voice of the PEG
is pie at the ballot-bOX is supreme, and
must be respected. 1t is the cOnsti
+ tutional and inalicnable right of the
le people to instruct their representa-.
d tives, who are bound To obey. We
pronounce the attempt of the high taX
Of tho HnVaannr.n mn m,
ride the will of the people, and moi
lie allow them a voice i'll final settle
$ ment of the bond controversy, as un
,e democratic, and should be condemned
D.. not only by democrats, but by homes
men of all parties in Tennessee. We
u declare it as our deliberate judgment
Il that the platform of the high tax
d party, upon which the Hon. John
i V. Wright stands, was formed in the
interest of railroads, and for the pur
pose alone Of forcing the people to as
% sumo the entire bonded de5t in adj
$ vance of IL decision of suits now pend
Ut ing in the United States courts agains
IN railroads, for payment of bonds whicl
:. they borrowed from the state and sold
Is to the bondholdcrs; for we assert thai
n the bona fide bondhOlders are not max
4 ing ally proposition of settlement witt
l. the people, but are now suing rail
- roads tor payment of most CT the bond:
" outstanding. We assert that the so
&c called state credit platform was so un
Sc wise and undemOcratic that one O
" Tcnnessee's noblest and best mcr
NJ would not accept the nomination fol
governor upon it, as seen by the fol
IL lowing letter:
le Captain T. y. Gregory-My Dear Sir
&c While l shall continue to struggle for
y, fair. honest and equitable settlement of tn,
> State debt, and resist Republication in ever,
" form, vet / cannot surrender my cOnvic
NJ tiOns that upon e matter of such vas
moment, the people of Tennessee, to whom
its government belongs, ought to- have IL
opportunity in some mode, at the ballO
box, to pass upon any settlement of thci
is debt which may be made before il be
l. comes effectual.
,s As the convention in It's wisdom ha
- adopted a different principle, prophet,
% dictates the nomination of a candidate
Il whose convictions are in harmony witt
q the principle declared. l therefore re
al quest YOU to- signify TO the convention
r that while / intend to stand by tn
:, Democratic party first, last and all thu
- time, cannot accept it's nomination
y rendered me. To the Democratic part,
1T of Tennessee which has raised me I,
honOrs 80 high, to my friends from ever.
county in the State who have stood by III
so faithfully and earnestly, L ask you t