Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-08-21
An Address to the People of
Tennessee

for Western Tennessee, deem it pro-
per to present, for your consideration
and final decision, some of the more
prominent reasons, which induce the
the low tax delegates, in justice to
themselves and the producing tax
payers Of this state, to withdraw from
the high tax wing of the state demo-
cratic convention, which convened at
on the 10th inst, to adopt
platform Of principles and nominate
for governor On reaching
the capital it was early discovered that
through the means Of proxies and 9th
er devices not in harmony with the
spirit of free government, as taught
by the founders Of the democratic
party in this country, that a,controlliug
in the convention was COM
posed of high tax delegates, claiming
to represent the constituents OF sever
al counties and towns, who, in their
primary elections, had appointed
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 a vote of the people who will
have its burdens to bear. But, not
withstanding the hopeless attitude of
the low taw delegs ton, they entered
the convention and took part in its
organization, hoping that in the adop.
ton Of platform, they would
be able to so modify the
extreme views and demands of the
high tax wing Of the party, as to pre-
serve unity aud harmony throughout
the state in the approaching state and
federal elections, and ultimately unite
the party in the bonds of fraternal
brotherhood throughout the common
wealth of Tennessee. Having made
every concession except suTrendering
the birthright Of every freeman in the
state, which was embodied in 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 be submitted to a vote of the
people at a separate election, for rati-
fcation or rejection as fnality. This
last hope for reconciliation and a rec
ognition of the sovereignty of the
people was unceremoniously kicked
out of the convention. Finding no
hope of longer maintaining the eardi-
nal principles Of free government and
the protection Of the masses Of our
people from the unwarranted en-
croachments Of monopolies and the
heartless demands of the money power,
by combining with the high tax wing
OF the party, aboat 300 low tax dele
gates withdrew from the convention
and organized THE democratic conven-
tion, adopted platform of principles,
embodying the germ Of JefieTsonian
democracy, which declares that
government being instituted for the
common benefit, the doctrine OF non
resistance against arbitrary power and
oppression is absurd, -slayish and
destructive of the good and happi.
ness of mankind" Upon this plat
form the true democracy Of Tennes-
see have placed the Hon. S. +. Will
son, of Sumner, as their candidate for
governor, and appeal to the sovereign
people Of Tennessee for an endorse
ment of their action. They insist
that it is a time-honored principle OF
the democratic party, that the people
shall rule; and whether acting di-
rectly or through representatives, the
popular will must prevail, or the free
dom Of the masses will be destroyed
We insist that the voice Of the peo.
pie at the ballot box is supreme, and
must be respected. Ii is the consti
tutional and inalienable right Of the
people to instruct their representa-
tives, who are bound to obey. We
pronounce the attempt Of the high tax
wing OF the democratic party to over
ride the will ef the people, and not
ALLOW them a voice IN final settle
ment of the bond controversy, as un-
democratic, and should be condemned;
not only by democrats, but by honest
men of all parties in Tennessee. We
declare 1t az our deliberate Judgment,
that the platform Of the high tax
party, upon which the Hon. John
Y. 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 debt IN ad-
vance of a decision of suits now pend
ing in the United States courts against
railroads, for payment Of bonds which
they borrowed from the state and sold
to the bondholders; for we assert that
the bona fide bondholders are not max
ing any proposition of settlement with
thepeople, butago now suelDg railroads
for payment Of most of the bonds out
standing. We assert that the so
called state credit platform was so un.
wise and updemocratic that one Of
Tennessces noblest and best mer
would not accept the nomination fol
governor upon it, as seen by the fol
lowing letter
ICapt. 7. ID. Gregory--Dear Sir Will,
| l shall continue to struggle for fair
honest and equitable settlement of tn,
State debt, and repudiation in every form
vet / cannot surrender my convictions
that upon matter of such vast moment
the people of Tennessee, to whom its gov
ernment belongs, ought to have an oppor
tunity, in some mode, at the ballot box
10 pass upon any settlement Of their deb