Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-09-22
SENATOR JACKSON
Appears Before the People OF Memphis
at the Greenlaw OperahOuse
Last Night.
Speeches by Him and Mr.. E. A. James
in support OF the RUSSELL Ticket
and Platform.

In support OF the Russell Ticket
and Platform.
Last night about 600 people assembled at
the Greenisw Operaho1se 10 hear Senstor
Howell Z. Jackson and Mr.. E. A. James dis
cuss the political questions of theeday. OF
course there were good many Bate men
present, who were willing to lend ear TO what
Senator Jackson had to cav, even though
they disagreed with him. Upon the plat
form were General W. Y. C. Humes, Captain
Collier. President Hidden, Mr.. Lehman, Mr..
Trezevant, E&-Msyor John johnson, Judge
Fentress, Colonel r. ID. Frayser and several
other prominent citizens. Senator Jackson
was introduced very appropriately by Mr..
Irrelevant. The senator spoke substantially
as follows. The APPEAL does not pretend
to give full report Of his remarks, as his
resdy handling Of figures is gift that has
never been acquired BY the reporter:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-I appreciate
the kind remarks of the gentleman who in
troducsd me 10 you. As / stand before the
people OF Shelby county my feelings crowd
go upon me that can hardly express my
gratitude TO you for your kindness to me. l
find myself differing to-nigh, with many Of
my warm friends, 1 regret TO say.
The speaker then paid his respects 10 the
June platforrs. He said that he believed it
contained many heresies. The platform
was an abandonment of every true prin-
ciple Of Democracy and though its false
ideas were bsing disseminated among the
people, which, if adopted, would prove de-
structive TO the future usefulness OF the
Democratic party, and TO the best interest Of
the State. He said these were his honest con-
victions, and he would be a coward and a
traitor il ne refused TO give expression 10
them whenever occasion demanded it.
He thought the principles set forth in the
june platform derogatory TO the material
advancement and progress of the State, and
never would he utter a word of approval for
a measure that tended 10 destroy the credit
and honor Of Tennessee. He was not go
welded 70 public life that he would sur
render his honest convictions at the beck OF
any party or any majority. He wished TO
discuss some matters pertaining TO all. Two
platforms are presented; two policies are
offered. Which would the people choose?
The agitation of the State debt question had
delayed the development of the resources
and injured the credit of the State. The
National Democracy had lost 10000 voters
and upward by Tennessee keeping this
vexed question in politics. II it is not
speedily settled and removed it will ulti-
mately destroy the Democratic party.
The Louisville and Nashville railroad
paid the amount it had received in full
and left it duty to the State to pay the
outstanding Indebtedness. The other rail-
roads had failed to do so. In 1866 the State
advanced further aid, doing what was neces-
sary 10 protect the advances already made.
He did not doubt that some of these bonds
were improvidently Issued. Something hsd
to be done. The Republicans suggested the
sale OF the roads. In 1869 the Democratic
party came into power and said these delin-
quent roads ought 10 be disposed Of They
we're sold and allowed TO mortgage their
property, the roads and the State acting as.
debtor and creditor. Three commissioners
were appointed to cell the roads. They
were authorized to sell or lease. They
could do neither. They came back TO
the Legislature and reported the facts, and
those eminent commissioners commended
the Legislation. In December, 1870, the
sale of the eleven roads was authorized.
The interests of the State of Tennessee
were represented by able lawyers, and it
was adiudged by the Supreme Court that
the State was liable for the outstanding
Indebtedness. He heard men saying that
the State was not bound for outstanding
bends. when it has been decided by the
courts and by a Democratic Legislature that
it was. The total loss of Tennessee on her
system of railroads was S12,-
100000, and these roads had increased
the wealth OF State probably S150000,000.
Tennessee had no right to sell those bonds
i the bonds were fraudulent. She necessa-
lily is bound in law. What right had the
State OF Tennessee TO attack the property
II those eleven roads, if she did recognize
hat they hsd a property? He understood
his question. He knew what he was talk
o.,1 \
politicians had been dealing unfairly with
he people of this State. The Democratic
Legislature in 1878 investigated hese bonds,
and found only few of them were irregu-
arly issued. Suppose Tennessee had not
'old the eleven delinquent roads, she would
nave to pay $40 100000, whereas now it is
,nly $12,000,000. The Demccrstic,party had
pledged itself frequently not 10 scale with
tut The consent of the creditors, and said it
vas dishonest 10 do 80.
He said the frat heresy be found in the
une platform is that the Democratic party
Ilone musl settle the debt. The question is
lot purely political one. All citizens
AVE right to deal with this question, no
natter what his political predictions are
Which OF the two platforms present the
ighest policy? Which ia the best express
ion of Stale credit? Which is nearest the
recedents of the Democratic party? There |
no fair-minded man but who will see at |
lance that the July platform is the only |
ne before the people in line with true De- |
as it has been handed down to us |
y our ancestors.
The June platform proposed to unsettle
he present adjudication and leave it open
gain. One hundred and eighty thousand |
oters had in 1880 voted in favor of the best |
sttlement that could be had as the result OF |
egotiation. A Democratic committee had
one to New YORK and rendered the identical
roposition that was contained in the June
latforn, and it was emphatically rejected.
t the time of the June Convention the pres
ut settlement was not contract, but mere
? because 1t had not been accepted by the
reditors. But every bond which had been
,nded up TO this time, and which should
GREATER be funded under the sixty three
settlement, was an accept
nee of that proposition and re lection OF the
roposition OF the June platform. The June
latform was impracticable and could not
e carried out, and WIS never intended to be.
In 1870 the first declaration of the Demo-
attic party was that the honor and good
,me of the State demanded That we should
axe provision for the payment of the princi-
Il. Our constitution of 1870 recognized
e validity OF the bonds. Now come the
gans and leaders of the June platform and
y the sixty three four fve-and-six must be
'erthrown. The settlement as made could
IT be affected by any party action.
Men IN this county, nominated for the
legislature without reference to their pref
ence for governor, but on the platform OF
staining the settlement, were opposed by
unity candidates pledged to the overthrow
the settlement above. Never in the his
~ of the Democratic party had such a
resy been announced as that the rights of
hers could be sacrificed to party harmony |
ID for political purposes. 1t was a mon
GUS political heresy to say that the rights |
third parties could be disturbed in order
secure party success. 1t was true that the | {
bond was just as sacred as the new one, {
d Democracy had never proposed 10 inter- !
&c with it. They had been acknowledged
every Democratic Convention since 1870. Z
lie moment we insisted on making a /
element lower than our ability to ,
y, without the consent of the cred I
II, we crossed the line between honesty aud
'honesty. That was reputation. No I
Eyer could deny that the bonds were bind. I
Z on the State, and there wss not in the
ste man who could say we were not able 8
pay. His Democracy did rot go to the point q
having any man deprived of his rights | a
Lhout legal process. The rights of prop d
y were the foundation of all social happi- Il
's and protection, and yet this June plat =
1
with these rights for party success This f
adjuster movement did not differ In any V
terial way from the movement of Malone
Virginia. The Democratic party of the Il
late we're solid against the effort to reward h
hone and aiding reputation in Virginia. i,
And now a so-called Democratic party in !,
lnessee assemblies and says, for the sake
harmony We will resdjust the settlement n
our OWE figures without consulting The n
iitors. The Democratic party has never q
,mitted itself TO Readjusterism. The m
1ers of the June platform say If the bond n
ders do not accept its proposition, they "
have to wait a long time before they get m
interest under the sixty, three d
r-hve-and-six settlement. This is r
udiation. The Democratic party .,
er in its history made such a declaration. h.
party in 1874 said the State was unable If
'ay. This was legitimate. But we have nj
reached point where we are able to in
and no man will dare say we are unable ne
ay. 90
Is said We must go with the majority. in
denied that the sjority had the right to N
egard the vested rights of these creditors. v.
That was the effect of this Virginia coali- or
on the Northern States? WAYNE Mac in
gh, in a recent speech at Philadelphia, an
Il