Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-08-28
Brownl0vv HOmds-Who are ne.
sensible?
From VIM. J. Sykes Speech at Franklin,
July 3lst.

I
In regard to the Brownlow bonds
permit me to state some plain facts
which may not be palatabIe, though
the truth should not be regretted be.
cause it is not always pleasing.
/ Who procured the issuance Of the
Brownlow Railroad Bonds, and who
used them, and for whose benefit
were they appropriated? Out Of $751;
$50, ,00c bonds issued during Brown
lows administration to rebuild and
refit railroads, four-fifths of them
were obtained at the instance of
Democrats, and issued to, and issued
by Democrats. A large amount
was issued to refit this railroad run
ming through your town and county,
and through Maury and Giles cOun-
ties. Who procured the Issuance of
these bonds Your then Representa-
tive, Mr.. Moss, can tell. Who then
objected to the issuance of them?
What man or what newspaper then
said it was fraud? While the bonds
were being issued and the money
being spent, no objection was made;
now they are fraudulent. Radical
railroad bonds. What a change.
AS here, so in other counties. In
Warren county, the home of John
III. Savage, they obtained from
BroWnlOw and the BrOwnlow Leg
islature, 500, 900 to refit their rail-
road from Tullahoma to McMinn-
vile. This was done at the special
instance and request of the people of
Warren county, including Demo
Gratis as well as Republicans. When !
the appropriation was obtained, the |
town of McMinville was illuminated |
so great was the rejoicing. Where |
was Savage then Why was his
voice not heard then denouncing the |
of issuing Brownlow railroad /
bonds? Whothen in all the county /
Of Warren, or in the county Of Cof- |
fee then objected to BrownlOw
bonds AS in Warren and Coffee,
80 in Franklin and Lincoln. Public |
meetings were held and prominent /
Democrats, some of them now in of
ice, were sent to Naihville to get
The Brownlow Legislature to issue
bonds to refit the railroad from
Decherd to Fayetteville. 1t was all
hen right and nobody objected that
ever heard of. So it was in all
parts of the State. Why did not
shese doughty champions Of the peO-
Die, when the bonds were being issu-
I'd, then stand upon the political
and spare not? If
hey said anything, they "cooed
gently as sucking doves"
Why did not these stalwart low
AK advocates who now denounce so
bitterly Radical corruption, then do
Their eloquent voices
we're still. Their tongues were ST.
ent. Where, then, were the peo-
)le's fTie1lCyss Having always been
IN opponent of the issuance ofbonds,
by johnson and Harris or
~ Brownlow and Senter, ,and hav-
ng strenuously opposed the act of
869-70, under which the railroad
paid their debts to the
Itate and which is even now the
aw of the land, these friends of the
eopLe never having repealed it, /
eel at liberty to speak plainly. I
how my confidence in the people by
airing to speak the truth. Had
hese men who are now clamoring
bout fraudulent bonds, dared to do
heir duty at the right time, the
tate would not be in the condition
hat it is. / do not believe in pro-
uring the Republicans to pass laws
nd then after they have gotten the
enefit of them, abuse these same
for doing what these
zen prevailed on them to do. If
ny man in the State objected to the
,suance of these railroad bonds at
ne time they were issued, let him
peak out and show how and when
e opposed the issuance of the bonds, g
The noble patriot, George w. {
ones, always opposed the creation 9
f debts and the Issuance OF bonds, {
ut as it was done with the consent
f the people, and an honest man,
lys we must pay them according {
, our ability. Many of those who
'ere clamorous for contracting the
ebt, are now equally clamorous
gainst paying it. And this is what (
ley call friendship TO the people! a