Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-07-01
Was There Ever Anything Like ft2
Nashville Banner. lime %.

| Was there ever such a demonstra
ton of the purposes of a party a:
that given by the Readjusters yes
debt platform? They divided the
State debt by the comfortable fig.
ure and then struck out the war
interest, bringing the debt down to
Savage's platform as to amount
Thus, with stroke of pen, they
wiped out millions of public debt,
without consideration, without in
vestigation, without adjudication
/ beyond such as an excited, shout
ing crowd can give in a moment of
political excitement and passion.
This was bad enough.
Nothing like it was ever known
in the civilized world; but that
which followed was necessary, as a
| commentary upon the act to show
the full enOrmity of it, to exhibit
the purposes and designs of the Re
adjusters in all their bare-faced
wrong and injuctice.
After adjournment, finding that
a number of Democrats had refus-
ed to be longer parties to such ac-
ton, alarmed at the effect of their
folly and reading defeat in the sol
emn protest entered, they reassem-
bled and restored millions of public
debt to place in their platform.
Was there ever such comment up
on the fragrant injustice, the crying
iniquity of their purposes. They
were dealing with the rights of
| others, supposed to be helpless, and
helpless in fact, but for the spirit of
Tennessee manhood and justice
which still has place among Ten
neSseanS.
They wipe out and restore mil
lions of debt resting upon the pligh-
ted faith and honor Of the State.
They loose and bind again solemn
obligations in an hour of passion
and political excitement as readily
and with as little compunction as
they would regulate and prepare
the ordinary details of a canvass.
If there was ever anything like it
on earth, history in shame has re-
fused to record it. Millions of obli-
cations, due to creditors, depend
ent solely upon Tennessee justice
and honor, or supposed by the Re
adiusters to be so dependent, are
wiped out and restored with as lit
tie thought and compunction as a
man will appropriate a nickel to
buya cigar. i
its very enormity and wicked
ness show how little thought they
have given to a matter which af-
fects the very foundations of socie-
lI,sr hn
would not so deal with each other,
who would not so deal with the
rights of a dog, if they did but
pause and think, if they did but
reflect how unjust, unWise and ruin
Gus to themselves and disgraceful
and wrong the act.
And yet this is the body which
declares that it is the custodian of
the honor and glory Of Tennessee.
This is the body which declare the
rights of others and the honor of
Tennessee safe in its hands. Do
Tennesseans think their honor, their
liberties and their own rights and
the principles of free government,
safe in the hands of those who can
wipe out and restore millions of
solemn public debt as whim may
dictate, and expedIency and rehec-
ton suggest? In such hands the
very foundation of society would
be broken up and cast into chaos
and confusion, property rights rem
dered insecure, our homes cease to
be the secure abodes of love and
peace, and society and government
be turned upside down to be ruled
by ignorance, passion, injustice and
defiance of right.