Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-07-23
PUBLIC SPEAKING.
Judge Hawkins and Col. Ed
wards at the Opera House.

The opera house was we'll filled last
night, notwithstanding the rain and the
short notice that had been given of the
time and place of-speaking by Judge
Alvin Haw kins, of Huntingdon, re-
publican candidate for governor, and
Col r. NJ Ed yards. of Cleveland,
his competitor.
Col. Edwards was first introduced
by Hon. David Richards.
He began by stating that he did not
willingly thrust himself before the
people, but was here at the request of
the convention of the national green.
back labor party that had met at Nash
| Vile on the oh Of May last. The
| laboring classes ha4 been lcng op-
pressed and neither the republican nor
| democratic party had given
relief. The holders OF the
two billions of bonds due
do not want them paid; they wanted to
hand them down to their children
and thus form bonded aristocracy
like that of England. The result OF
this class legislation for number Of
years past has been to make the rich
richer and the poor poorer. The gov-
ernment has paid 1909 millions to the
bondholders. This beautiful land of
ours is fast becoming a land of aristo-
cratic snobs and servile lab0rers.
The speaker was very severe on ma
tional banks, and condemned the
sourse of the government In not paying
out its money and taking up the bonds.
He quoted from Jefferson, and claimed
that he was greenbacker.
The speaker appealed to the audi
ence not to follow the back and nod of
party leaders, but to actindependently
on the views he expressed.
On the question OF the state debt
Col Edwards talked at some length
and got off some excellent things on
Gov. Marks; was opposed to payment
of the railroad bonds, they are not our
bonds.
JUDGE HAWKINS SPEECH.
At the conclusion of Col. Edwards
speech, Judge Hswkins gave an ad'
dress of an hours length. in clear
ringing manner, that convinced all
/. that he is not only a republican of the
stalwart kind but an able and telling
stump speaker. The Judge expressed
bis pleasure at meeting so many o.
the citizens of Knoxville and of ad-
dressing them upon the questions thai
now agitate the public mind. He
reviewed briefly the careeI
, of each of the candidates fol
, the presidency, and their respective
claims upon the support of the people,
N liking macy fOrcible hits, which were
, loudly appiauded.
- The speaker then turned his atten-
ton to the state debt, and reviewed its
hist ry from the issuing Of the first
= bonds in 1858, for the payment oI
! stock iu the Union bank OF Tennessee
and for Internal Improvements up tC
the present time, when there remain
} about twenty millions out
standing. On these bonds i:
i, the whole broadside of the statt
) of Tennessee, and they bear the sigma
: lures of our honored governors. Nei
{ 8. Brown, Andrew Johnson, Ishan
&. Harris, VIM. G.. Brownlow ant
others. About seventeen Of thj
e twenty millions were issued prior t.
= the war, and little over three mil
q lions since the war, and known as til
BrownIow bonds. What do the peOpl
: propose to do with them? Upon the
: face they pledge the honor, faith anC
credit OF the state Of Tennessee TO
their payment. They are our bonds
TIE people of the state, almost unani
\ mousIy indorsed the action Of th
a. legislature in the iss uing Of thes
bonds in aid of internal improvements
We have been disappointed In our cal
9 culation, but II We had had no war
!. perhaps we never would heard wor
] about the question as to vine her W,
would have to pay these railroa
S bonds. for the companies would hav
g been able to pay their obligations. A
the close Of the war, the people said
- without regard to party, let US re
To-. construct these railroads; le
j. US build up the country again
!. Tennessee is interested Ia these roads
They are necessary to develop the re
q sources of our state, aud the peOpl
l. came without regard to party and O.
x fered petitions TO the Legislature askiD
the issuance of more bonds In orde
that these roads might be reconstruct
Is and put on foot sgain, and accOrdlDgI
:. additional bonds were issued and To
, roads were put in operation agsir
= We are told that we are too poor to pa
- our debts. We are poor. We are to
+ poor to repudiate our debt
, We afe not so poor but that We ca
acknowledge our inde btedness. 1 al
- proud that I am privileged to stand u
d and appeal to your sense OF honor /
this matter / was never 1ntereete
in a bond; never belonged to a rim
- or corporation in my life. as my frien'
Col. Edwards, sometimes Intimate
,f and I am not one OF those men th,
- he aliudes to who carry passes in the
IS pockets. How did he find OF
= SO much about the passes
" 1 know nothing about them, and tL
: pass I have I obtained in exchange Il
greenbacks.
es Those bonds were issued for pu
j. pose. We have accomplished that pul
pose, and now we are told that "
-. should keep those advantages, but "
oI should not pay for them. l submit th.
le it is in accordaI cs with the teaching
of your fathers. whose rule was ths
when q note WAS not paid before
IS was worn olI to come back an
e. get new ne. They will tell |
that We are too poor to pay our-deb
9 and yet our personal property is wort
t, more by forty millions than it WI
\. when much of this debt was col
T tracted, Notwithstanding the loss
- slave property. Republicans AMI den
ef ocrats, call upon you all to come
IN the rescue OF your proud statei Il hi
=, been in the hands Of the democrat
~ partv fr 10, these many year
but instead of being built up, as tt
.. nation has been built up under ii
=. control of the republican party,
has sunk down deeper and lower. ar
q