Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-05-25

stufing. l feel from the bottom O
my heart the Importance of the pro,
ceedings of this convention. 1t il
true there is not such a gathering oil
a representation as | would like tC
have seen. On the other hand, there
is a much larger representation than
you or | had expected. Among us
can be seen men of intelligence, gray
hairs, fathers who are tottering upon
the borders of the grave, and pioneers
of east, middle and west Tennessee
who deadened the timber, who estab-
hshed your state government, who
paid for the railroads which have been
stolen from the people Of Tennessee.
He said so far as the railroad debt
is concerned, it is a part Of our public
history, certified by the democratic
party, that it was conceived in fraud.
reared in corruption, fostered and le-
galized by tho funding acts, which
were the fruits of bad faith and
bribery, and every man who aided
these fraudulent acts is either dead
or doomed at an early day to a politi-
cal grave. The great difficulty with
the democratic party upon this vital
question is, their press and leaders
advocate one idea, while the body of
their party favor another. The one,
knowing the debt to be a fraud and
wrong,still advocate its payment while
the other, the people, deny their obi
cation either in law or equity, to meet
it. Representing as we do, the peo-
pie Of Tennessee in this great issue, it
behooves us asfaithful representatives
to lay aside generalities, and settle
the question in plain language. Lam
guage, gentlemen of the convention,
that will bear but one construction:
language that the most humble and
illiterate may easily comprehend. |
know not what the democratic con-
vention may do; ifthe future is to be
judged by the past they will endeavor
to dodge the issue, or favor a compro-
mise. In either event, you may rest
assured that the people, standingupon
your platform Of principles, with the
honest, brave and eloquent Edwards
as their leader, will settle the question
forever. They will bury it so deep
that nothing will ever again disturb
its repose. You will be bounded as
regulators and denounced as thieves;
but let these things deter you not;
with democratic evidence in one hand
and the flag ofthe people in the other,
let us go into the conflict with the
maxim that fright makes might" and
by it stand or fall. Applause.
Mr.. Hill spoke for nearly an hour.
the chief argument being directed
against the railroad debt. lie con-
his speech by recognizing the
Hermitage bonds, and said: Let us
not fail to pay for the graveo of Andrew
Jackson, for that debt is not oaly Just
but sacred. Let US cast no slur upon
the grave and memory of this, our
greatest statesman; the man who By
valor at New Orleans, Horse Shoe and
Emucfau; who by his answering
integrity and patriotism as the chief
executive of thenation, made for him
self a Judgment in the hearts and
gratitude Of the American people that
even time will not efface.
The following committee on resolu-
lions and platform was appointed
First district-Robert Mckee.
Second district-Not represented.
Third district-Col. r.. NJ. Edwards.
Fourth district-Not represented.
Fifth district-Col. Lewis Tillman,
Felix Minis.
Sixth district Mack Fuqua, DR.. A.
A, East,
Seventh district-O. A. Nixon.
James League.
Eighth district-James Warren, G..
Walters.
Ninth district-C. c. Moss, ]. B.
Phillips.
Tenth district-A. J. Kellar, G. B.
During the absence of the commit
zee, speeches we're made BY A. b.
of Davidson; w. w. Gates. of.
Madison; John l.. Harris, T. p.
chambers and Madison Vernon. of.
and Judge G.. H. Black, Of.
Haywood. All advocated the pay
nent of 81, 100000, and the repudia-
ion of the rest of the state debt.
The chair appointed the following
delegates to the Chicago convention
rom the state-a large.
West Teunessee-A. j. Kellar: al
ernates, H. NJ. Rankin and j. b.
Middle Tennessee-S. H. Bell, Writ
alternate, b. Il. G. Brooks.
East Tennessee-R. NJ. Edwards:
.lternate, Robert Mckee.
Col. David G. Nelson. of Bradley.
vas called upon to make a speech. In
which he said he was in favor of paw.
ng the Legitimate debt" which he
aid was $4,000, 900, and of wiping out
he balance.
S. A. Taylor, bookkeeper in the
State national bank of Memphis. fay.
red the payment of the capitol and
lermitaee bonds, dollar for dollar,
md said the legitimate debt of the
tate was about S2,500,000. The rest
# the debt was between the bond
and the railroad.
r. N. McKee secretary of the com
on platform and resolutions.
exported the following:
To the president of the national
greenback labor convention.
Your committee to whom was re-
the matter Of recommending a
platform of principles beg leave to
the following report
Resolved, we adopt the following as
our platform of principles:
|. We oppose all banks of issue.
2. We are in favor ofthe general
government furnishing the currency
Of the country.
- III