The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-04-29

or unjust, there ought to be such an
investigation Of the bonded debt of
the state as would be satisfactory
to the people. If it is just it will
do no harm, and if any part of it is
unjust it ought to be thrown out.
But whether just or unjust, know
that the people in our portion of
the state lost nearly everything
they had during the war, that many
of the railroads for which most of
the state bonds were issued were
torn up, and that many OF our peo-
pie were deprived of suffrage and
representation for several years af-
ter the war, and during that time
great extravaganza and favoritism
was practiced, and many of our best
citizens deprived of their rights and
liberties and that our people are not
able to be taxed sufficiently high to
raise revenue enough to pay of the
bonded debt of the state, and that
large number of the bonds are now
held by parties who bought them
after the state became bankrupt,
and did not pay more than from 30
to 80 cents in the dollar for them,
and who can well afford to make a
very liberal compru mise with our
people. And as they did not con-
tract with the state or its officers or
agents, but bought them in the mar
ket after the state became bankrupt
at from 30 to 35 cents m the
dollar, / should feel no great COM
Functions OF conscience at compro.
missing with them at much less than
their face value, say at from 80 TO
40 cents in the dollar, or some
other fair and moderate rate such
as would not be too burdensome or
oppressive to the taxpayers of the
state. Such a compromise would
unite a large majority of the best
citizens of the state. A majority
of the federal office holders and
carpet-baggers and camp-followers
still seem to desire to wave the
bloody shirt, and keep up the strife
and bitter animosities engendered
during the late war, hoping thereby
to retain their positions, and be
supported at the expense of the
government. But large majority
of the southern unionists have act
ed with the democratic party nearly
ever since the southern people were
enfranchised, and will still continue
to do so, if the democratic party
will pursue wise and conservative
course. But some men, on both
sides of the state debt question,
who have heretofore acted with the
democratic party and claimed to DO
democrats, who are pursuing a very
reckless course, and seem deter
mined TO try to divide and break up
the party, and seem not to care IL
the government is again restored to
the control of the men who did all
in their power to deprive a largo
number of the best citizens of all
Of the rights and privileges OF free
men, and when they had the control
of the government had but little
use for a majority of the people
only to pay taxes to support gov
ernment TO be run in the interest OF
themselves and a few plant tools
and cudjo, many Of whom would no
doubt now be willing TO see any
man crowned king if they believed
he would retain them in office. Now
shall we suffer our party TO be split
up by our enemies and oiilce-seek-
ers and to be ingloriously defeated,
or shall we unite for the preserva.
ton of our rights and liberties, and
march under the flag Of that grand
old party to another great and glo-
rious victory? That is the ques-
tion now presented for the consid-
Grafton OF the democracy Of Tenn
essee. $. A. @.
Lawrenceburg, April l6.