The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-10-21
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
BOLIVAR, Tenn, !
October Is. 1880.


Mr.. EDITOR: You propose ia your paper
to grant to both sides OF the Estate deb,
question" an opportunity of discussing the
issue In your last there is an article
signed al" which for force of argument
and clearncss of perception on this subject
is unparalleled i'll obtuseness. The writer
says, "Who, Of all the candidates and the
platforms upon which they stand foi gov
ernor is in the best attitude to compromise
on behalf Of the State with the bondhold-
crs?" and then adds, 81 say Wilson and
legislature elected on his platform stand in
better attitude to make a favorable con
promise for the State than Hawkins or
Wright, and why? Because Wilson's plat
form denies the validity OF the railroad
debt and can dictate mark the word terms
to the bondholders. Hawkins and Wright
say the bonds are the valid, legal and Juet
debts Of the State, and they, if elected, will
settle the debt with The bondholders, ON the
best terms that can be had" Now, Mr..
Editor, there is a specimen of logic and
craftsmanship worthy Of Talleyrand. l
ask your readers to read that over again.
Il is saving that man who absolutely de-
MES the validity OF debt and refuses to
pay it is in a better attitude to make COM
promise aud effect 4 fair settlement than
one who, eonceding the validity, yet sets
up equitable considerations why it should
5e abated in the settlement. But, Mr.. Edi-
tor, we hope to have some proposition OF
compromise from the bondholders. Is it
likely that they will make such a PROPOSE
ton to Il legislature or governor VINO de
MES the validity OF the debt, who refuses to
submit the question OF validity to legal
tribunal, who were elected upon denuncia-
tons and curses OF these same bondholders?
Are two such antagonistic clements Gin the
best attitude to make a favorable compro-
mise?" But the writer speaks Of debating
terms to the bondholdeTs?" Is that the
spirit of Favorable compromise" What
would a private creditor think of his debtor
who talks to him about debating" terms
of settlement? How Will our public credi-
tors receive OBLIGATIONS" from Il Legislature
and governor. when the settlement is I'M
dertaken by Mr.. Wilson. viii they not
Indignantly say to him, 'wc have no com
promise TO make, where we have no equal
voice in the compromise" IS it not far
better, more honorable and more certain TO
settle this vexed question according 10 the
provision in the democratic platform (5):.
1--WE recognize disposition upon the part
of the creditors OF the State, in view OF the
great losses entailed by the late war, the
great depression OF business and the general
shrinkage in values, to make a "liberai re-
duction" in both the principal and interest
of our bonded indebtedness, and we de-
clare that we favor prompt settlement by
/ the legislature with our creditors upon the
"best terms" that can be agreed" upon as
| the result of negotiation" l ask the peo-
pie TO read that over calmly and impar-
TALLY, as honest men, and then to ask
! themselves if il is not fair and honest way
Of compromising our public debt. Is it not
infinitely superior to the "dictation" plan
OF Wilson and his followers? Does 1t not
read more like true craftsmanship and hon
esty? 1t is one Of the strange things that
has come to pass, that democrats should be
willing to bolt their party and give over
their government to the republicans, with
! this proposition 20 harmonic upon before
them. But, Mr.. Editor, your correspond
ent, al :" SAYS this is question OF dollars
and cents" only, and not a question OF
| shOror." One would naturally suppose the
writer really believes it is not question OF
honor, whether a debtor pays his debts or
not. 1t seems that this correspondent ig-
norcs and rejects all sense of honor in debt
paying, and only looks to the main chance
as to how many dollars and cents debtor
can defraud his creditors of in settlement.
What undue and dishonOrable stratagems
can be interposed to avoid debt-hOw
easily one can thwart 4 creditor and defend
it on the idea that sit Is question Of dol
lars and cents and not question of honor"
Such is the morality Of the system enun-
ciatcd in this correspondents communica-
ton. Mr. Editor, can this sentiment find a
home in the breast OF an honest man?
Are there not hundreds OF Wilson men in
our county who scorn and spurn such an
argument? 1 know there are. They may
differ from the Wright men upon the sub
mission plank, but they do not adhere to
a dishokorable sentiment about their honor
and integrity.
Your correspondent says, too, that Mr..
Keith has been fighting for a year to saddle
the Torhit issue on the State. This is an
other legal question which ought 10 be
submitted to the people? The Torbit issue
is Tennessee State money, and is either
. legal or illegal II it be legal it Is receiva-
BILE for taxes. 1t is held by hundreds OF
our citizens, and it is eminently proper to
have the question of legality determined by
the courts Mr. Keith submitted thai
question to the courts and the courts have
sustained him in the question submitted
Mess Wilson and Savage contended agains
its legality, and The courts decided agains
them. Mr. Wilson admitted, before he in
troduced the ffty-and-four resolution in hi
] report on the Torbit issue, that all lega
remedies against it had been exhausted
J bat yet was willing to take fee from tn,
Z State in a lawsuit which he had admitte,
e was against his client. If Gil" had Torbi
issue, and the courts said he could pay h;
p taxes with the money, would lac use It 70
. taxes or not? WonId it be to him mer
= Question Of dollars and cents" or woul
: his piCus soul, stung with sense Of honor
= east the iilthy money into the fire, and pa
E his t2xe- in gold and silver, from patri
etc sense OF honor? think / sec hiia now