The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-10-14

ny which penetrates your county from
its northern to its southern border. An
honored democrat of Giles county,
Thomas Buford, was then your repre-
sentative in the legislature. The ques-
ton of obtaining loan of bonds from
the state for building this road was dis
cussed In the canvass and there was a
universal sentiment in favor of it. Mai.
Buford and his whig competitor both
advocated the policy Of the road. All
leading men Of Giles county, of both
political parties, were earnest in their
advocacy OF obtaining this aid from the
state. Previous to that time such men
as Thomas Martin, Andrew NJ. Ballen-
tine, Nicholas Bu!ord, James Patterson,
Mel Patterson, Charles c. Alternately,
Thomas NJ. Jones, James McCallum and
a host Of others obtained a large num-
Der OF bonds from the state to build a
turnpike from Columbia to Elk river in
this county, and when the scheme was
presented of building the Nashville and
Decatur railroad these gentlemen, to-
gether with other and younger men,
took prominent part to secure a loan
of bonds from the state to aid in the
construction of the railroad. 1 remem-
Der well the earnest speeches 1 heard
made In its behalf by Thomas NJ. Jones,
Thomas Buford, Thomas Martin, An
drew NJ. Ballentine and others. These
gentlemen, and the others whose names
have mentioned above, were always
foremost among the men OF Giles cOun-
ty in promoting works of public i'm
provement. Those who have survived
are to-day the friends of the states
credit, and IL those who are dead (and
whose names are revered amongst us)
could be with us to-day they would re-
ceive with scorn and contempt any
proposition looking to a reputation of
any part of the debt or obligations OF
Tennessee.
But, gentlemen, when they admit the
validity of the bonds issued to build the
capitol, and to sustain the bank of Ten
nessee, and for the Union bank, and for
turnpike roads, they must swell their
figures, for more than one million of
these bonds Ito say nothing of interest.
matured and were funded during the
Brownlow administration. More than
3 million of them were funded under
the act of 1873.
But, sirs, if the state is bound for one
of her bonds, she is bound alike for all.
They are all legal obligations and must
and will be settled fairly and honestly.
And just here 1 hope 1 may be par
doned for adverting to part of the his
tory of the state, with which my name
is associated. refer to the funding
under the act of 1873.
When nominated for governor in $40
l. canVassed the state, and in every adj
dress to the people referred to the i'm
mense debt, and especially to the fact
that there were many millions OF it
due, and the state was in no condition
to pay this immense amount of past due
bonds and coupons. recommended
that the due bonds and due interest be
taken up and cancelled by issuing the
new 8 per cent. bonds of the state. In
no part OF the state was an adverse SEN
timent expressed / WAS elected by
more than 10000 majority. When the
general assembly met in October, 1871,
in my first message 1 said:
"But the people are determined to
preserve the honor of the state by meet
ing fairly all her obligations and pay
ing all her necessary expenses. This is
their first desire, and secondary and
subordinate to this is their wisls to re-
duce the rate of taxation. This Qpes-
ton was fully discussed in the canvass
throughout the state, which resulted in
our election, and the declaration that
the whole debt must be paid met with
the unqualified Endorsement of the peo-
pie.
81, therefore, recommend that you
provide for the funding of all coupons
matured or maturing to the first of
July, 1873, as well as all bonds due or
maturing, by authorizing the issuance
OF bonds with coupons attached at a
rate of interest not greater than per
cent, to mature twenty years after
date, and that they commence to bear
interest from or after the first day OF
July, 1873, and provide that funding
commence at once"
This message was published in every
newspaper in the state, and in pamphlet
form.
In May, 1879, the democratic conven-
ton met in Nashville and unanimously