Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-04-02
INFAMOUS CHARGE REFUrED.


Representative Buquo, arose in
the house last Saturday and bravely
and CALAMITY defended the honor
and manliness of the men who had
the courage to stand by their state
and her future good name and inter
ests in the hour of her greatest peril.
We are proud of Buquo. Proud
that he lives even as near to us as
he does. We congratulate the peo-
pie of Houston county on having SO
brave, true, and manly a represen-
tative. The following is how he ST.
fenced the unprincip)ed defamers
MI Buquo rose to II question OF
privilege and said he had in his
hand a copy of the Evening Herald,
from which he read the following
1.-THE passage of the bill 600 81
through the house was forced by a
body of spectators in the honor OF
the state, and this body of men en-
gagged ia procuring Gotes Of The Gener-
al assembly"
Also: "They (State-credit mem
accepted without hesitation the
proposition made by the syndicate
Of bankers in bonds Of 100 3, and
hare supported the lobby organized to
procure U0tes to enact It into a Ldl0.''
Mr.. Speaker-Having been told
by one of the signers TO the article
just read, that twelve hundred cop
les are printed and distributed
among the people, 1 feel justified in
thus condescending to notice it.
This is not the first time that
wholesale slanderous charges against
Tennessee Legislators have been un-
scrupulously published throughout
this state, and | feel that it is my
dutytoraise my humble voice in de.
fence of honest Tennesseans, OF
whatever political faith. So far as
my individual course upon this floor
is concerned. I feel that / need say
nothing in its defence. l have en-
deavored to maintain the honor
and credit of Tennessee, to vindi-
cate the principles of true democra-
cy, and to carry out, under the san
elton of my oath of Office, the eX-
pressed will of an high minded
and honorable constituency, and it
is not surprising TO me that men
whose doctrines and professions,
judging from their actions, are ex-
actly the reverse of those / have un-
dertaken TO carry out, should, In
the hour of their defeat. set up their
hideOus howl of despair, and make
false charges against men whose
honor and integrity is a far above
theirs as the stars are above the
| earth. So far as the cOwardly in
situation that | among others, have
been influenced byalobby togivem my
support to the 1908 bill is concern
ed, / desire to say that the only lob
bying that was attempted with me
came from a prominent lOw-taXer,
who called on me at my seat in the
house, and who might have infiu-
enCed my vote nut for the fact that
L was raised by honest and upright
parents, who taught me TO desLise
with all my heart, mind and soul,
the principles as well as the authors
of every species of dishonesty and
reputation. | will further state
that l know of no one who was in
fuenced by lobbyists, nor do L
know of any lobbyists having at
tempted to influence anyone on this
floor to support the bill, and if
there is any truth in the charges of
the honorable thirteen, l hope they
will do themselves the honor to let
the public know who it was that
supported the ''lobby' and what
votes were secured by the lobby"
If they can show this, submit that
it is their duty to do so. If they
cannot, then it seems to me that
common decency and the ordinary
courtesy due from one member of
this house to another should be suf-
ficient guarantee against the hiss of
the foul breath of calumny. For the
present 1 will say no ore.