Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-13
The state Debt and the COnstttu-
fionaI Convention.

COfiTTSSsssss..an shall be neld az the Oapl'
toll in Nashville, on the second Tues
day in April, 1888, to remodel the
Fundamental laws. The Acts of 1881
chapters l25 and 146, make full pro-
vision for taking the sense of the
people, and IF the number of votes
cast for convention be a major
ity of all the votes cast upon
the question misunderstanding a
convention shall be held OF
not-then the Governor shall make
proclamation of the result; that
Constitutional Convention shall be
held, and delegates thereto shall be
elected and assemble in the time and
in the manner as then provided by
law" The vote upon holding the
convention is to be polled at the
same time and places for holding the
election for civil officers, in August.
If the people vote for convention,
the election of delegates is to be held
at the same time and places as the
November election, and the conven-
ton itself is to be held on the second
Tuesday in April, 1883. The conven-
ton will cost the State about half as
much perhaps as the four sessions of
the Legislature held under the Haw-
kins administration, and it may result
in benefits to the people which will be
felt for generations to come. But then
it may turn out the greatest calamity
that could befall the people. This
depends upon the material of which
the convention is to be composed. But
then the law provides that "the Con-
stitution which said convention may
adopt shall not be of any binding
force until the same has been submit
ted to and ratified by the people of
the State in such manner and at such
time as the convention shall provide"
This is the safeguard Of the people.
Ten or dozen years Of experience
under the Constitution of 1870, have
demonstrated that it has serious de-
fects, both in things provided for and
matters not provided for. The whole
system Of taxation oughGto be changed.
AS the matter now stands, almost the
entire burthen Of the government is
thrown upon the farmer and merchant.
The discrimination against the latter
amounts to oppression. The judicial
machinery of the State should be so
perfected as to guarantee to the citi-
zen the great organic right of speedy
justice without sale, denial or
delay. The present Supreme Court
might stand as it is--but other
tribunals should be authorized so that
an ordinary lawsuit may be settled
within a life or lives in being and
twenty one years thereafter.
But there is one great question that
may be more appropriately settled by |
constitutional provision than in any
other conceivable mode. When set
tied by organic law, it is settled for
ever and can never again become the |
football OF the politician or a disturb |
ing element in the politics of Tennes-
see. 1t is the public debt of the
State. The Constitutional Convention
represents the very essence OF soyer.
eighty. What a Legislature does is
repealable. 1t may Or may not endure.
What Constitutional Convention
does, if rati6eu at the polls, In to last |
for all time. Other States have set.
tied their debts in this way. What
can be gained by settlement at the
present called session. Nothing, alb.
solutely nothing, except to widen
the unhappy breach between
the creditors and the people. |
The latter see very plainly that the |
scheme is political trick, the same
old snake" that charmed the Democ |
racy to its ruin in the last election. 1t |
is well known that our whole trouble |
grows out of the fact that large body |
Of our people believe that the railroad |
debt is not their debt. While as
matter Of law they may be mistaken
in this, yet they are honest in their
convictions. Now the Supreme Court
Of the United States has this very
question before it, and before the
day appointed for the'session of Con
stitutional Convention, it will be set
tied and adjudged by the court of
last resort, either that the railroads or
the people are primarily liable for the
bulk of the debt. Will il not be bet |
ter for the creditors and better for the
State to await the decision of that
question: Can there be doubt of it?
LII be decided that the railroads own
the debt, then let the railroads pay it.
and look to the State for a settlement
OF their euities touching the pur-
chase of the substituted bonds
If it be decided that the
State owes the debt, then let
us settle upon the best terms we can.
and let provision for its payment be
incorporated in the organic law itself.
When once authoritatively advised
that this debt is their own, the people
will pay it. They will promptly ratily
the constitutional provision that or.
dams it shall be paid, and this is a
submission plank" that no man can
object to. The people want to do
right in this matter-and they will do
right if the politicians will but give
them fair chance. Let them be first
assured that this is their debt, and
all difficulties that stand in the wav of
an honest adjustment will vanish. The
Democratic Convention will meet on
the 10th Of June. Let it be a repre-
sentative body Of the best elements of
Tennessee manhood. Let it say to
the creditors: You, at least, have
nothing to lose by little delay. You
have said by your bill against our
railroad companies that this debt is
their debt. We want IL
settled honorably and Justly
But while you are asserting before the
courts Of the country that this is the
debt Of the railroads, would it be
just to ourselves and posterity to take
this heavy burden upon ourselves,
until the issue you have made with
the railroade sball ha eat.io1o W.