Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-10-23
BeasIey a Bold. Bad Boy.


On the 10Th Of January, 1879, a res
olution was pending before the Genera
Assembly, declaring that no settlement
Of the State debt made BE- the General
Assembly should be final until ratified
b. the people at the ballot box. The
Democrats passed the resolution, but
there we're two or three Democrats
who voted with the Republicans
against 1t. Among the number vas
Beasley. He was not content to cast
bis vote against it, but be assaiIed it
bitterly. We copy what he said, from
the Banner Of January II, 1879:
/ an opposed to the adoption Of
thisFesolutiOn. The government uDder
which we live Is a republic. and not a
democracy, like some Of those il
ancient times. All legislative power
Is vested In the General Assembly
Representatives are presumed to know
and reflect the sentiments Of their
constituents On al public questions,
and these representatives are required
to take an oath 70 support the eOnsti-
tuition Of the State. and not an oath to
support the platform Of q political
party, which il generally gotten up BIZ
= few men and adopted without dis
c1ssiOD. The resolution before the
House Is unconstitutional. Il Is also
unEiss aud in~expedlent II We
abandon the constitution In this Ia
stance, how long will il be before We
will be urged 70 abandon il agsinl
Never before 10 the history Of the
State has = resolution Of this kind
been adopted. The policy which il
proposes is foreign 10 the genius Of our
Institutions aud establishes a preeedent
which is dangerous 70 the ibertief
aud welfare Of the people"
lie was then speaking and acting
under oath. When did Beasley
change his yiewsy His present plat
form and bis legislative record d. not
consist upon this question: Which
does he scratchl II be will read both
az the same time We will incline 10
the opinion it will make him want 10
scratch whether he does or not.
On the same day be introduced A
bill 70 settle the State debt. II ii
hard to credit, yet he was then for
settling the entire debt at fifty cents
on the dollar without discrimination
and without submission, and his bin
also embraced the odioss principle Of
tax Teceiyability Of the 1903. We
copy his bill from the Banner Of the
same date:
by Mr.. Beasley-To settle the
State debt by the issuance Of non.
Interest bearing treasury notes. The
bill authorizes the issuance of treasure
notes in denominations Of one. two.
i've, ten, fifty, one hundred
and five hundred dollars. payable
and redeemable only in taxes
1t authorizes the COMPTROLLER IN
take up all bonds presented within
twelve months after its passage. with
these treasury notes at fifty cents on
the dollar. II provides that the inter
est shall cease on the lst Of February
1873, and that all bonds that are no,
presented within twelve months after
the passage Of this act shall forever
be debarred and not considered claims
against the State. This does not in.
elude the permanent school fund OF
any bonds held by educational or
haritable institutions, OF those held by
the United States prior to the passage
Of this act. Referred"
Bold, bad Beasley-wabbling Beas.
ley-why did you impose OF Inc
Greenbackers2 II he bad remembered
Tillnlan's fate, he would have hesita.
tod. Tillman, faneying his record
had been forgotten, imposed himself
upon the Greenbackers. When they
discovered the fraud they kicked him
off the track. What will they do with
tie bold, bad boy, Beasley?