The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-09-30

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low to fund the war interest. would Ike
to see man that is dishonest and black
enough 70 say that The Rail Roads ought to
ply ono cent q these bonds, or any bos'y
else. Our supreme court has never allowed
war interest on private claims where the liti-
gante levied under the two different Govern
ments ii our Late war. and I say the Tcnnes-
see bondholder ought not to have war inter
ct. When the Revolutionary war was ever
there was a stipulation in the treaty OF peace
with Great Britain that the courts Of the
United States were to be open to citizens Of
Great Britain to collect any debts that the
subjects Of Great Britain might. have against
the citizenso Of the United States. and in liti-
eating thofe claims. this subject of war inter
est caTae up ia the courts and WAS refused
and disaloud. Yet Capt Rosson says that a
payment made IN these bonds to the state
by the Rail Roads is a good payment and
on ,lit to be allowed. The r. lroals under
that rotten act of 1869 and 20 paid back to
the state according TO Mr.. Gains and Browns
statement two million seven hundred and
eighteen thousand dollars Of those bonds
issued for war interest which no honest man
would hold the Rail Roads or the state NOR
ally or legally bound to pay, Now fellow
citizens there are out standing of these bonds
according to Gains Statement 2224bonds"
Amounting to two million two hundred and
twenty four thousand dollars. And our lit
tie Capt-not OF the "Pinafore" But of the
rotten Rail Road Machine and clique of the
State led by the Hon John Y Wright as its
commanding officer; With the whole Rail
Road team of the state in the shape of big
and little Rail Road lawyers Agents and en-
ployes and the subsidized news papers all
over the state. Are now barking and howl
ing over the state at the honest and poor peo-
pie saying you are dishonest Reputation
list, and maliEing them with all the vile ep-
euuse forsooth they say, we wont pay these
bonds issued for war interest and wont class
them along with the honest debt of the state
portion Of which was created to build our
capital 0nd buy the hermitage where now
reposes the dust of Tennessee greatest he
row. Fellow citizens, II the voice of that
grand old man Andrew Jackson could be
heard coming up from the silent tomb of the
Hermitage 1t would proclame in thunder
tones to the honest yomanry Of the country.
As it did while living, And say to them,
DO right" "But die before you submit to
IL -
clique that has fastened it subtle chains
around that grind old party that honored
me when living and Respects me when
dead" kick them out of the state. The
traducers of public honesty and virtue"
Again fellow citizens. I quote Capt Res
son. he says.
81 undertake. to say that the solvent Rail
"Roads have complied strictly with the re-
"quirements of the state law not onlv in the
payment OF their interest, but in the final
payment of their debts to the state"
Now Capt why dident you refer us to the
state law that allowed your solvent Rail
Road along with the other seven solvent
Roads in the state. to take up the fourteen
thousand Lollars, fraudulent Brownlow aud
Senter bonds the largest portion of which
had been issued to solvent roads and which
the Roads were bound in good faith to take
up and return to the state under the law
which the Roads got the bonds, Were paid
to the state? and sswho passed the Jaw? and
when? As you did not cite the law I will
say fellow citizens it was that bloody and
base act passed Feb 1869, by the BrownIow
low legislature and amended BY Sentera crew
in 1859 and 70. and Capt Rosson uoted for
the amendment.
| Now fellow citizens I under take to say that
those two acts dont bind the state when you
come to dcale with the Road, and why. Bl-
cause the act OF 1869. was passed When a
majority of our state was disfranchised and
had no voice in the state government, I
further undertake to say, when I will prove
by competent proof. before l am done that
the legislature that passed the act of 1869.
did not represent the vieMs Of their constitu-
ents who were not disfranch;sed. But ma
| iority of them were the tools and dupes OF
the Rail roads and they passed. the act OF
1869 at the dictation Of the railroads and
for their express benefit, not for the people
whom thep represented. And the same thing
is true OF the act OF l669.ZO, which amcnda-
tory to the act of 1869. Now for the
proof. I viii only produce one witness who
is now living, and who is a railroad mar
now, and has been since the war, and is :
high tax man. 1 quote from 10. D. Lock
hart's deposition, taken y he committee
appointed by your last legislature to investi
gate the state debt. The questions are a
follows, put by the committee:
, Q. What was the general character of th'
Legislature Of 1866-7-S-9? And was it no
understood that men who had money anC
wanted anything could generally get wha
they wanted?
A. considered them very corrupt Sc
, OF men, and it was understood that none.
could be used to advantage in regard to tn
passage of bills and measures desired.
Q. The railroads were solicitous, wer
they not, to secure the passage Of the act
Q868, 1869 and 1870 allowing them to re
tire their indebtedness to the State il
bonds?
A. Yes, sir; most of the presidents repre-
senting the roads were here then, I thinl
Q. Do You know of any lobby ng to >,
cure the passage Of that act?
4. The representatives, Of the varioU
railroads were here, and used their il
J Auence in various ways TO secure the pa
[ sage of the bill. [see LucSharts dcpositie
t in report Of State debt, pages 1881.