Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-08-12
A LETTER FROM COL. N. BRANDON, or
STEWART.

A LETTER FROM COL. NJ BRANDON, or
STEWART.
Ne IS for THE Gallant russell, Who Stands
Upon a True Democratic
Platform"
1t having been reported about
here that the Hon. Nathan Bran
don, of Stewart, was for Bate and
his readjuster platform, we take
pleasure in publishing the follow
ing extract, from a letter of his to
Judge Chas. g. Smith, of this city.
Every Democrat in the State ought
to read it:
Hon. ChaS. q. Smith,
DEAR JUDGE:-I received yours
Of the 10th inst, and was glad to
hear from you. Yes, had hoped
the Democratic parties, if may so
call them, would have harmonized,
and given us platform that all
-could have stood upon and support
Ell without sacrifice of principle I;
but | was disappointed in this, and
we have for the first time in the his
tory of Tennessee a Republication
platform, called the platform of the
Democratic party, and its support
ers call every Democrat that refuses
to endorse it and support their cam
didaIe, Il "bOlter." 1t is very evil
dent that the convention that
adopted it was composed largely of
those that supported reputation
two years ago, and declared the
debt was fraudulent, unjust and
void, and not binding upon the
people, and Il majority of them
would never vote to pay any por-
ton of it, except the State debt
proper, which they said was about
-, 800, 600 and they were the ones
who bolted the regular Democratic
convention, and now bolt aud de-
part from the old Democratic usa-
ges and principles.
The Democratic party IN the first
convention held in Tennessee after
the war, pledged the credit and
honor of the State to strict pay
ment of all debts and obligations,
both State and National, and they
have done so in every convention
since that time; and the Democrat
ic party has endorsed them and
elected governors and Legislators
supporting these platforms, and
have steadily denounced repudia-
zion whenever presented. The cam
vass was made principally upon
that question two years ago, and
thA-n arl- -,
who fought Reputation then, to
step forward and support it. |, for
one, do not propose TO be thus
caught and manacled. | believe a
majority Of the press of the State
say they will support Bate, but will
scratch the platform he stands upon
and supports,
have always been taught and
believed that the party was party
of principles, and supported meas
ures rather than men and If this Is
so, how can |, or any other Demo-
crat, vote for Gen. Bate consistent
ly, when he stands upon and sup
ports this reputation and readjust-
ing platform :? | would not put
myself in a position that / cannot
act and vote consistently against
reputation; and mot only this, they
ask every Democrat to support their
plank to readjust and break up the
present settlement and fu;sding of
the State debt, under the act of the
last General Assembly, which was
by agreement with our creditors by
which the State would reduce the
debt about Sll ,00O, 900, anG this IL
certainty, while there is no certain
ty that they will get settlem ent
under their platform, but when it is
almost certain that they will not.
Then they propose to pay from
81 ,OOO, 900 to 81, 000, 900 in full, repu-
dating the war interest, and pro-
pose to the creditors to pay the
balance at 500. | understand the
war interest on all the bonds of the
State was funded in 1866, under
radical rule, and the new bonds
issued failed to show or discrimin-
ate between the different bonds, and
that no one can tell the bonds issued
for interest on the capitol bonds
from any other bonds. Ii this is so
how can they repudiate those bonds
issued in settlement of the war in
terest on the old debt proper; and
is it probable that the parties who
hold the debt proper hold any of
the war interest bonds? And, if |
am mistaken i'm this, if they can be
designated, will not the parties
holding them fund them at 80 10
6 act of the last General Assembly
before the next Legislature meets,
and will not the holders of the
bonds that would come under the
5O-3 clause i'll the platform, also
fund their bonds under the same
act?
And then we will have this state
of things the debt funded at 80 and
100 cents, and the new bonds thus
issued will amount to $40, 1000, 900.
This would be victory gained by
the party calling themselves the
Low-taX party, having defeated Il
settlement of the debt at SOL, which
would have left it in the aggregate
about $4,000, 900, instead of the
probability of fastening it upon the
taxpayer at about so, 100000.
The funding OF the debt under
the present act of the Legislature
would reduce the debt to about
SIC, 900, 900. They now propo'e 10
prevent it, if possible, the funding
under this act, and no sane man
believes the creditors of the State
will ever fund under their PROPOSE
ton. 1t amounts to leaving the
question open for discussion for
years, with the debt growing at the
rate of $4,000 per day-just what
they want to accomplish in my
Judgment. Savage, their leader,
says that the creditors had better
accept the sos, meaning no doubt if
they do not that they will get moth
ing, hence the policy to commit as
many of the State Credit Democrats
to Reputation as possible, by get
ting them to support this platform
that carries Reputation on its face,