Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-05-16
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
Sumner County Speaks Ont on
the 1903 Fraud.
High Tax and Low Tax Alike OPP
pose the Infamy.
Tennessean, It'll

Gallatin Tennessean, 7th.l
After the adjournment Of the quar-.
terly court last Monday about two
hundred and fifty people assembled il
the courthouse for the purpose o
hearing their representative, Hon
James NJ. Head, on what was done il
the last session Of the legislature. He
spoke for about one hour in a brisk
lively style, after which those present
resolved themselves into a mass meet
ing, when the following business was
transacted:
On motion DR.. H. j. Wells was
elected chairman of the meeting. lie
briefly stated its object.
On motion L. W. Lewis was elected
secretary.
Mr.. Head moved that the chairman
appoint a committee of five to draft
resolutions TO express the sentiment
of the assembly, which was carried
whereupon B. D. Bell, Burrell Ben
der, David Chenault, jr., 5. r Doxy
and James NJ. Head were appointed,
who presented the following %resolu-
tons, which we're adopted without a
dissenting voice:
Whereas, During the session Of our
present legislature we have heard with
alarm from those claiming to be the
representatives of free and sovereign
people the enunciations of certain
principles which we regard as de.
structive and absolutely subversive OF
all free government, and,
Whereas, Many Of the most promi-
nent men in the state, and those
claiming to be our leaders, backed by
the combined corporate wealth of the
country, and the influence OF Il large
number Of leading papers in the state
have not only tamely submitted to,
but have actually aequiesced in and
Endorsed these principles as sound IN
theory and for the interest of a free
people,
Therefore it be
Resolved, By the people of Sumner
county, in mass meeting assembled,
l. That we witness with alarm and
regret this rapid tendency towards
Capitalization, this general distrust in
the honesty and intelligence of the
people and their ability to govern
themselves, and regard the support of
these doctrines as utterly subversive
of all free representative government.
2. That we denounce In unmeasured
terms the doctrine so announced and
advocated by some of the members OF
this legislature, aud a portion of the
press and politicians OF the state, that
platforms are made TO catch votes, and
that representatives when elected are
no longer bound by the platforms
upon which they run, and the pledges
made to their constituents, as a DO
.litical infamy, too foul aud eorrupting
for the decent consideration OF honest
men.
3. That We regard the passage Of
the bill for the settlement Of the So
called state debt al 1903, with the
coupons made receivable for taxes, as
having been passed 10 the interest Of
the railroads, and at the behest of
spectators and jobbers in the honor
and credit Of the state, open violations
Of all platforms and pledges made to
the people, and in utter disregard Of
their rights and wishes upon the sub
ject.
4 That We regard those so-called
democrats who made their canvass.
upon platforms which declared that
coupons should not be made receiv-
able for taxes" and YET voted for this
100 3infamy, as having recured their
seats in that body under false pre-
tense, as traitors to the rights OF the
people, and as unworthy the confidence
aud respect Of free people.
8. That we regard the settlement Of
the state debt upon any terms, with
coupons receivable for taxes, as an
insult to the people Of Tennessee, a
reflection upon their honor and in
tegrity, and an attempt to destroy the
last yestige Of states rights, and for
ever TO place the state under the iron
heel Of federal judiciary.
g. That we regard it to be the duty
Of al ireemen in Tennessee, publicly
and boldly to dcnounce this wanton
outrage upon their liberties, and to
resist by every lawful means in their
power the enforcement Of this in.
Equity, and to this end we call upon
all men, regardless Of past party diff
fsrenees, TO unite in their efforts TO
relieve the people Of Tennessee from
this burdensome. insulting and dis.
graceful iniamy.
Z. That We regard the contest now
going on all over the country between
corporations, corporate wealth, and
the moneyed power upon the one
hand, and the rights and sovereignty
of the people 90 the other, as the is
sue Of paramount importance in all
political contests, state and national,
and we urge upon the friends of free
government, constitutional liberty
and the rights of the people to con-
troll, the necessity o. Outstanding together
In their resistance against the en-.
croachments Of the money power. and
the undue influence Of eorporationsin
inducing legislation inimical to the
rights and sovereignty Of the people.
Dir. B. D. Bell submitted the fol.
lowing resolution which was unani-
mously adopted: Be it
Resolved, By the PEOPLE of Sum-
ner county, in Injecting assem-.
bled, that we recognize and appreei-
ate the fact that the Hon. Jas. Nj.
Head has been a faithful steward Ia
his people, aud has kept and fulfilled
all promises and pledges made TO the
people during the canvass. that we
heartily indorse and commend his
course while in the general assembly
Of the state Of Tennessee, of 1881; and