Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-09-07

mrtlon? As to what they term the Estate
debt proper" can any man answer how
much 1t is? There is no real
distinction, whatever, only, the
state debt proper" so-called, has no
security. Senator Isham G.. Harris pro-
claimed that there is no difference in the
character of the debt. The speaker gave
q brief history of the railroad bonded in
debtedness, how the bonds were legally and
regularly issued, and we are called upon to
redeem the pEghted credit and honor of our
grand old State He desired the attention
of his Democratic friends, who say that the
State debt proper is sacred debt, but
decline to pay the war interest. But the
bonded debt is not so sacred and they " ten
der " ON that, half the principal and per
cent. interest, war interest and all. But the
debt is already settled; more than nine mil
lions of the bonds have been funded and
the funding is going on as rapidly as pos
sible. Before the Legislature meets again
it will be about all funded, and how are you
going to open it? Not without inscrlb-
ing 'Repudiation" on their banner Fair
and reasonable people don't want to
open the question, but place hunters have
no interest in having it settled In the
other canvass Frank Wilson opposed the
paying of any of the railroad debt. Col.
Savage was a leader in that cause; now you
see him and the same men who bitterly op-
posed him then in the same bed together.
Don't you think there is something wrong
there?
AS to class legislation, the speaker is op-
posed to it. The Bate platform provides to
pay in full the State debt
proper" and that held by charitable
and educational institutions, no matter
where they are, and also the bond of Mrs.
Polk. According to the best calculation
there are eight or nine millions of this
estate debt proper" Now as to Mrs.
Polk She is a worthy lady; the speaker
esteems and honors her. But she is veal
thy, living in magnificent mansion, and
the Government pays her So, 900 per an
mum. THIS is all right; don't say she
oughtn't to have the full interest on her 29
bonds But the speaker has seen and talked
with one young lady who owns one bond,
signed by Governor Harris. Her father
was poor, humble farmer, named Busby,
living III stewart County. The daughter
was afflicted, nearly blind and half idlotic.
He purchased one bond and willed it to her,
before he died, leaving her and her old
mother, bending forward on the staff of
time. There are more than $500 of past
due coupons on the bond, aud We have been
taxing it. More, the old mother has been
at times compelled to borrow money and
hypothecate her household furniture
to meet the tax on it. This is one
bond that the Bate platform only
proposes to pay half of, and only 3 per
cent. interest A voice, pay it ALL How
do you like that, proud hearted Tennes-
seeans?
The Governor closed after speech of an
hour, with an eloquent peroration on the
grand mission of the Republican party, and
gave way. His speech was an able, con
vincing and unanswerable exposition of the
principles of the Republican party on the
State debt question. He was listened to
with close attention, and was greeted with
frequent applause.
CAPT. JOE H RUSSELL
next came forward and was introduced by
j. W. Caldwell, Esq, in few neat, well
chosen and well timed remarks He spoke
of the divisions in the Democratic party,
the same as two years ago, when
Knox County voted almost sohdly
for State credit. In June last the party
met in convention, with harmony
as the only watchword. A large element of
the party could not accept the terms.
This element had supported Judge Wright,
and sent representatives to the Legislature
instructed to carry. out their principles.
They declined to retreat from those princi.
pies and to denounce their representatives
in this canvass They held that the honor
and integrity of Tennessee was involved
ard was above all things else. They held 9
convention and selected as their candidate
an honorable gentleman, who he had the
honor to present.
Capt. Russell said it was not the first time
he had appeared before the Knoxville pub
lie. In bearing the Democratic banner
through East Tennessee, he had been sur
prised at the number that mad come out
with the effort made to have the people
stay at home. He was convinced that the
people know what is right and just and are
determined to do it. He claimed to beal
the only banner of true principles of De
mocracy. He also claimed the right anC
privilege and said he would attach
the record of the Republican party on every
stump. He then devoted some little time
to arguments against that party. He then
turned his attention to the history of the
State debt, dating back to the internal i'm
provement act of 1862, when the people
rose up and demanded railroads and i'm
provements. He gave concise statement
of the manner of creation of the railroad
bonded debt. The innocent holders oi
the railroad bonds demand their interest
The State has the money i'll its vaults, Ibu
declines to pay it. The Bate platform
proposes to pay half of it. He asked if thai
is right One neighbor wouldn't treat an
other In that way, and the State has enacted
statute that they shan't do it. If people
want to win victory they must do it OF
principle and right. Whenever Democracy
undertakes to build itself up, re
gardless of principle and right, it will fail
principle to be right and espoused it, ht
didn't care if not another living man was
with him, he would stand to it. W e heal
the question: ''Who is the Democrat? CA
voice III the crowd, ''Bate.")
At this point Constable Pat Mackey, beg
ging to interrupt tie speaker, propoundeG
the duSsliouJ Leaving youIScu Out, VIII
do you advise Democrats to vote for ?'' lie
requested Mr.. Mackey to sit down and he
would answer when he had time. There
was another interruption from one legged
man, who appeared to be an ''enthused'
Bate man, bnt he was quieted. The speak
er said never mind, let them alone its no
interruption.
In Old times, he said, he voted for true
Democratic principles. ca voice, ''Whert
are you now?") l am right there to-day
he replied He wanted to know of the
| Democrats who voted for Judge Wrigh
what had come over the spirit of then
dreams The speaker will not, for the sake
of party or party success, abandon princi
pie and vote for any man. He rated the Stat'
debt at % millions, in round numbers
We all differ as to the 'sState debt prop
err" He had never been able to tell tn,
distinction. He gave the result Of what he
called careful calculation of the Statement
by the Bate platform, which would make i
eighteen millions that must be paid, whil
the settlement of the Legislature pays Sl6,