The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-06-11
SENTIMENTS OF THE PEOPLE.

SENTIMENTS OF THE PEOPLb'
Previous to the meeting o. the
Forly-Seeond General Assembly
tAe people Of the State had definite
lysetslcl four distinct propositions
First. they demanded a reduction
in the principal as well as the in
terest: second, that 4 settlement
embracing terms higher than fifty
and four. would not bc satisfactory;
third. that any settlement made
sy the Legislature, was to be sub
nitte,l 20 the people in a conStitu-
tional way, for ratification before
ii became binding. Lastly, that
in no event were coupons 10 b"
made receivable for taxes.
The first proposition was under
stood by the bondholder as well As
the people, because all their offers
Of compromise provided for this
reduction. The second was settled
by the people at the ballot box,
August 1879, when they said by
an overwhelming majority, that
they would not pay as much as
fifty and tour. But we believe
they had re-considercd that vote
and the general understanding be
fore the election of 1880 was, that
settlement on that basis would
be satisfactory. The third was
recognized by Judge Wrightas the
Democratic candidate for Cover
nor and by nearly every senatorial
and representative convention,
which met after his nomination
The fourth is cOnclusively proved
by the fact that every gubernato-
rial convention since 1874 had de
clarcd against it.
These principles Of settlement
were understood by both the poo
nle and the candidates; 10 one an
ticipated their violation. No
Democrat who opposed them could
have heen elected. But every oneof
thcsepr;nciples wereviolated in the
settlement that was made. Ought
the people to submit to this out
rage? The representatives are
nothing more than the agents Of
the people and like other agents
are bound TO obey the instruction
of their principals. If they cx-
coed tn, bounds o. their instruc-
tions, they are not acting for the
people but Independent of them.
All power emanatcs from the pee
ple and an exercise of power,
which does notcmanatc from them |
is usurpa.ion andshould be resisted
1t is the right of the people to in
struct and is therefore the duty of
the repre- ontatives to carry out
those instructions, The Legisla-
ture had the right to settle the
debt. but they had no authority to
mortgage the property to pay it. If
YOU give an agent the authority
to sell your horse he has no right
Ia warrant him, or If YOU give him |
a RICH. 10 settle yoIr debt he has
no right to mortgage your proper
~ to pay the debt. The reason Of
this rule applies to State, to say
the least, of it, as well as to an
individual A State is but col
lection Of individuals. But it is
said that the settlement is just and
right and ought therefore to stand
The will of the people make a
thing right and anything in oppo-
sition to their will is wrong, cor
,,oln,li; uO1 del, and should not
stand.
Out OF the six hundred votes of
this district, we do not believe
there are twenty-five who are in
favor of submitting to the settle
mtent, and this is the sentiment
all over the State with all par
ties. 1t would be degrading TO
submit. The spirit of our govern
ment would be violated. Sover-
eighty is inherent in the people
and does not belong to the repre-
character and when as
sumed by the representative it
ought to be resisted and in this
ease will be. We believe we have
given the sentimentsof the people
in this community on the debt
bill.