Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-07-22
For fhe Fayetteville Observer.
"A PLATFORM
Of Principles Upon Which the Dem
ocratic Party can Nominate
and Succeed in
1880 in
Tennessee.

Whereas, since our organiza-
ton, she has, by the sovereign
will Of the people, three times
changed her constitution or fun
damental law; said changes be-
Ing made by the demands of the
times to meet the wants of the
people; the advancement of sci
ence, the progress of the peo-'
pie in general intelligence and
political independence fully YER.
flied the correctness Of the teach
ings of the great political philos-
opher, Thomas Jefferson, "that
public debt of long standing was
dangerous to democratic institu-
tons" and unsafe to the parties
making investments in such OBJ
legations.
Therefore, be it resolved, That
we, the Democratic party in con-
vention assembled, being alike
jealous of the peoples political
freedom and our honor as a
State, feel called upon to make
positive declarations upon all
questions in which man is inter-
ested. And as our State Legis-
lature at different times and I'M
der different surroundings, as in
Dictated in the preamble, au-
thorized the sale Of the States
credit to raise money to enable
herself to raise public buildings
and to aid her citizens to pros
ecute with success such enter
prises in internal improvements
as was demanded by the people
at the time. Whether or not the
legalized authorities were too
lavish or not in negotiating such
sales is no remedy for the pres
ent. An honest and honorable
people must rely upon honest eff
forts and honorable means to at
tain honest and honorable ends.
Therefore, as our State has I'M
dergone great political changes
which resulted in a revolution
Of our labor system, we are fore
ed to a change of our system of
contracts to preserve our hberty,
and keep our good name from
dishonor and shame. AS these
contracts were made under a
slave labor system and the mu-
tual action of our creditors and
ourselves abolished our labor
system, and in the abolition of
the system a large portion of our
taxable property was forever de-
stroyed, and as labor is the
creator of all wealth except the
natural, that is, such as land, wa
ter, air, ETC., free labor cannot
} pay the high rate Of interest that
slave pays and remain free.
Resolved, That however will
ling or anxious we may or might
be to pay, we cannot in justice
! to ourselves and all our obliga-
tons to others as well as State
creditors pay over fifty cents il
: the dollar and a higher rate of
interest than two per cent. pei
annum.
Let this idea be adopted in the
platform Of the Democratic con
!, vention that meets at Nashville
the 10th of August. Elect ;
Governor and Legislature rea
/, sonably honest, such a one tina
will not assume to itself the EN-.
bodiment of all the virtue anC
wisdom of the past present ant
future; such a Legislature al
, will meet the demands of thu
: times, will appoint COMMITTEES
= and ask our creditors to appoin
a committee to confer with them
: The Legislative committee vii
make a proposition to our cred
itors, in good faith, what we cal
S pay and the rate of interest, ant
!. if accepted let it be enacted int
. a law, then let us meet it lik,
l Tennesseeans have always dom
!. before when called upon to d
our duty. We then silence thu
tongue of the foul mouthed Sian
!. derer that calls us reputation
X lists. The hypocritical dema
gogue that has cried himself
hoarse with "Nii Debit" viii eli
n Their hide his face in shame o
: turn honest. We owe twenty
odd millions or we owe nothing
if we owe nothing pay nothing
ID II NOBIITT.