Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-02-12
WHAT WILL THEY no wTTH Grq
And Other Questions Over Which
the sovereign People are
Exercised.

Exercised.
The legislature of Tennessee has
now been in session over a month,
and the great questions for which
the members of that body were
elected by the people, and sent to
legislate upon, are as yet unnoticed
and untouched. They are now taking
a recess, and meet again next Tues
day. "What are they going to do
upon the important questionable
imperative and paramount interests
of the state and the peoples" we
hear asked every day.
1t would require the divinations
of a greater oracle than we claim to
be to solve this mooted problem, but
we know what the people do aCant,
and what they viii hold them to
strict account for If they fail to per-
form. That is prompt and speedy
settlement of the state debt, upon a
basis equitable, fair and just alike
to the state and its creditors
proper and lawful assessment of
taxes upon the railroads whose
charters have expired, and calm,
dignitied and practical legislation
upon a few other questions of press
ing need and immediate interests to
the people of Tennessee. For over
four weeks past they have fretted
and fumed and procrastinated over
the election of a u. s. senator and
the choice of few state officials
the latter Of which, by bribery and
corruption, chicanery, fraud and
treachery Ito their shame be 1t said)
has at last fallen into the hands of
our political enemies-until the peO-
pie to whom they made so many
fair promises, and whose interests
they pledged themselves, upon the
stump, to protect and defend, have
become tired and worn out, and are
now anxiousIy and earnestly en-
quiring If they are not going to set
tie down to work and perform some
of the duties for which they were
elected.
We know that this mighty body
of Solons felt wearied and exhausted
after the herculean struggles through
which they have lately passed, and
we are not surprised or vexed that
they should wish to adjourn for a
week or two, and be permitted to
return to their admiring and we'll
pleased constituents, where each one
could recount in person the brave
and valiant deeds of which he him
self was the hero; but this sort of
herOics, after awhile, grow stale and
pail upon the appetites of a people
who are care-wOrn and burdened
with the weight of heavy debt,
which broOds like nightmare upon
their minds and clogs the prosperity
of their state.
They look for practical results
from a congress of their representa-
tives, and nothing short of plain,
practical, commOn-sense legislation
upon these paramount questions of
the hour will satisfy them and wiring
from them that coveted plaudit,
swell done, thou good and faithful
servant"
AS we stated, the legislature con-
venes again next Tuesday, and now
that the election for state officers is
over, and the disappointed office
seekers have packed their carpet
sacks and hied themselves home
ward to chew the bitter cud of
blighted hope, we confidently ex-
pect some practical and sensible
legislation. There is not much gen.
eral legislation needed.
We have spoken of the main
questions that are to be considered
the state debt and the assessment of
the railroads. The whole country
expects and demands that some
thing shall be done, and as most of
the members were elected for this
especial purpose, we can look for no
hesitation upon the part of the legis-
lature. We cannot think that the
low-tax democrats will offer any
serious opposition to fair and just
settlement, and while it is to be set
tied, we desire and sincerely hope
that it will be settled ny the demo-
cratic majority in the legislature.
We want the settlement to be a
democratic measure, and carried
through by democrats.
But if the lOw-taX democrats
choose to prove fOolhardy and OBJ
stinate in the matter, why then, let
the state-credit men and the repub-
licans, as they have pledged their
constituents to do, agree upon a
basis of settlement. They have a
grand opportunity to unite upon a
subject which is not, and ought not
to be partisan, and to honor and
distinguish themselves, and it is Il
great responsibility which they can
not shirk. They cannot shift the re-
spOnsibility on to a minority of
obstinate and willful low-tax demo-
Gratis. 1t is a question of such vital
interest to the state Of Tennessee
that it rises above mere partisan
consideration, and every man in the
= legislature, without regard to his
political opinions, ought to do all in
his power to have the matter set
tied.
Furthermore, we would suggest
that it be taken up and acted upon
without delay and without a pro-
longed, heated discussion, which is
apt to engender bitter feelings.
These can do no good. 1t has been
abundantly discussed before the
people, and no man can immOrtalize
himself or make a reputation as a
gifted orator by rehashing it in the
halls of the legislature. There is
nothing new or left unsaid upon the