Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-02-12
Tolley's Reply.

Capt. Tolley to publish the fol.
; lowing reply to an article thai
: appeared in the MurfreesborC
, -Neacs, several weeks ago, and
! was copied in the OBSERVER:
! That part of your article, how
ever, | wish to note particularly,
is your assumption that what
you term my recent overtures
are based upon the mere '.ground
of expediency, and are hardly
calculated to inspire the conf
dence Of either wing of the Dem
ocratic party" So far as inspi-
ring the confidence of either
flcing in me personally is con-
cerned, | am az Indifferent as
lit is possible for any man to
be. Far more Indifferent per-
haps than it is possible for one to
conceive, who is as ready as you
seem to be, to ascribe interested
motives to others. Such an one
is likely to know so little, by ex-
perience, of a disinterested mo-
tive that he can neither conceive
it possible in others nor appreci-
ate it when it is exhibited.
But if an "overture" to pre-
serve the Democratic party of
Tennessee intact, proceeding
from whatever source, even
from an Individual so humble
as myself, is not calculated
to inspire some confidence in ei-
ther faction" can awaken no re-
sponse from either, then is not
the breach already irreparable.
But you object to my Overture"
to harmonize the Democratic
party because it is. based upon
the ''ground of expediency." Let
us see if it does not rest also on
principle; principle as abiding
as our republican institutions;
principle, the very essence of
democracy itself. For what else
can be the meaning Of democra-
cy than that the will of the peo-
pie shall prevail in all cases when
it is authoritatively expressed. 1t
is upon this fundamental princi-
pie, underlying the very system
of. our government and upon
which the Democratic party has
already stood in its efforts to-
perpetuate the liberties of the
people, that | would hope to hold
the factions together and prevent
division and disaster. The ver-
dict of the people at the August
election, III voting down the 50-4
proposition, | accept as the SUI
preme law that should govern
the whole question of our State
debt. A verdict that must abide
so long as the conditions attend
ing it shall obtain.
1t is a principle of infinitely
superior Importance to what ei-
ther faction may conceive to be
its own principles. The difficult
ty experienced all the while in
dealing with this State debt ques-
ton has been that the inherent
consciousness of the people in
creating the debt has never been
regarded. And now it seems
both factions are determined to
keep up the old line of policy, of
overriding the will of the people.
No settlement can ever be per-
manent that does not rest upon
the conscious will OF the people
authoritatiyely expressed. No
manipulation of the politics of
the State will suffice to settle it
on a permanent basis, though the
credit and honor of the State is
what you would establish by such
manipulation. Your argument,
"that if a principle is correct a
popular vote against it cannot
alter its quality" will avail moth
ing. t hough the popu-
lar will may be in error, it is
nevertheless the tribunal Of last
resort; it is the court of final ar
bitrana.nt, according to our sys-
tenn Of government. If it is in
error we can but bide our time
to correct it. Until it is correct
ed or altered by the people them
selves no other tribunal, and GER
tainly no individual though he
be newspaper editor or politi-
clan, even an Ex-Governor or u
nited States Senator or member
of Congress, can gainsay the
principle set up in the verdict of
the people. Then since there is
so much at stake by standing by
the will of the people in this in
stance why not let us do it.
One word more, i'll relation to
the consistency of my present
"overtures" with my advocacy
of the 50-4 proposition, and l
shall have done with this article,
the chief purpose of which is to
make my plea for the Democratic
party, rather than attend to any
personal interest may have in
the premises. For you are right
when you say my "status is of
little Importance to the public"
Any mans status is Of little im-
portance in this matter, mine per-