Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-05
MASS MEETING
OF Five Hundred People at the
Greenlaw 0perahouse
To Protest Against the eO-4-S-e.

If the real or vicarious bOndholders
could have looked on at the Greenlaw
Operahouse, last night, they would
have learned more about the real
temper of the people in two hours
than from all the committees and high
tax papers sent to New York in two
years. There was large, intelligent
and earnest crowd, composed Of both
white and colored citizens, and repre-
senting all parties. They assembled
in response to a numerously signed
call to give expression in regard to the
proposition pending to settle the
State debt at 60-4 SO.
After music by the Chicka-
saw band, General G.. W. Cor
don called the meeting to order,
and moved that General JOSEPH B.
Heiskell be made Chairman, which
carried. General Heiskell came
forward and made brief address, ex-
planning the object Of the meeting.
General Gordon moved the appoint
ment of a Committee of fifteen on
Resolutions, which carried, and the
following were appointed: c. w.
Heiskell, G. w. Frazer, Napoleon
Hill, w. j. Chase. P. NJ. Winters.
W. B. Gibson, j. E. Bigelow, j. R
Goodwin, Thomas A. Hamilton, B. X.
Sampson, Edward Shaw, james Lott,
WI. Jones, j. Harvey MatheS, Henry
j. Lynn. The Committee withdrew,
and addresses Of considerable length
were made by Hon. 1. NJ. Hill and
Hon. Casey Young.
The Committee reported the fol-
lowing resolutions
We, the people Of Shelby county, in
mass convention assembled irrespec.
tive of party, hereby
Resolved, That we are opposed to
| the settlement of the State debt on the
basis of 60 4-5 6 because we believe
such settlement to be unwise, impo-
litic and unjust. It's unwise because
the present legislature has made one
abortive attempt to settle the debt
The settlement then proposed to bt
made was opposed by a very large ma
jority Of the people of Tennessee, be
cause among other things it was too
large in its concessions to the bond.
holders (the people by popular vott
having once refused to settle at 500
and in the face of this potent fact anC
as if afraid to trust the people and il
violation of their known will it is nov
proposed in hot haste to make another
and more disadvantageOus settlement
than the one happily defeated. 1t il
impolitic because in addition to the
above reasons the ques lion ought tc
be discussed before the people and the
settlement made by representatives
fresh from and intrusted by the peo.
pie. 1t is unjust because such settle.
mentis more than the crippled indus
| tries of the State can bear,
| Resolved, That we believe the peo.
| pie OF Tennessee desire no action upon
the State debt by the present Legisla
ture, and if it should take the action
proposed, or any similar action, that
they will reject the same, and be swift
to undo it. Public creditors should look
alone to public faith for the fulfill
ment of public obligations, and in
view of this fact, it is not difficult to
forecaste the consequence of another
public attempt. 1t will still further
shake the faith Of the people and the
security of the creditor, aud may re-
suit in ultimate reputation.
Resolved, That acting upon our
constitutional right to instruct our
representatives in matters which SO
deeply and vitality concern ourselves
and children, we hereby instruct our
immediate representatives in the Gen
eral Assembly to vote against any
such settlement as that proposed, and
to use every honorable and fair means
to defeat it.
Resolved, That we respectfully but
most sOlemnly appeal to the General
Assembly, as a body, not to pass any
bill settling the State debt at 60.4 5 g.
| or any other similar basis.
Resolved, That we earnestly request
the people Of every county in the State
to give public expression to their
views upon this subject at once, aud
with that emphasis that the gravity
and Importance Of the situation re-
quires.
Resolved, That a copy Of these
resolutions be forwarded to the
Speakers Of the Senate and House o.
Representatives, with the request that
they be read to those bodies,
A motion to adopt was made. Mr..
j. B. Bingham offered an amendment
which he supported in forcible and
somewhat extended speech. The
amendment was not adopted. Mr.
Ed Shaw and General G. P. M. Tur.
ner made very effective speeches il
support Of the resolutions. The mo
ton to adopt them prevailed unani
mously. When the nays was cAlleC
for there was nok siDpl,
one heard in all that larg,
crowd, fact almost without
precedent in the history of publi
meeting where important question
we're under consideration. Col. T. A
Hamilton made the concluding addres
it was 40 eloquent and highly credit
able effort. The meeting then ad
jouruOd. This is the message thatolt
Ckolh,, .onJs b all har a;eko, o,,untioo