Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-10-07
SENATOR ESHAM G. HARRIS.

SENATOR fSHAM G. HARRIS.
Senator Harris said in his Erin
speech that the State debt was valid
obligation, that there was no dis
elimination as to the States iiabili-
ty for the bonds, in effect that there
was no such thing as estate debt
proper" in eontradistinction 10
railroad debt" but that all the
bonds stood exa lily upon the same
footing; he further said that the
State was fully able 10 pay the debt,
as it was mere bagatelle compared
to what she paid to the Federal gov
eminent, which amounted to twen-
ty-seven million dollars annually,
or nearly a. much each year as the
entire State debt, and no man
knows more about the State debt
than Senator Harris, for he signed
large number of these very bonds
himself and is perfectly familiar
with the issuance and disposition of
the remainder, he also of all men
knows the resources of the State and
her ability to pay, for he has trav-
eyed through every county periodi-
cally for forty years and has made
her resources and capabilities his
study; with this intimate knowl-
edge of the entire matter he says
that a failure to settle the debt is an
incubus to her prosperity clog
on the wheels of progress and foul
stain upon her fair name, and that
this "infernal question" is the only
thing that divides the Democratic
party and bars its way to success /;
finally he said that he knew that
60-6 was a lawful settlement, legal
ly made, end that Individually he
was for the settlement, as it was
the best thing for the welfare of
the State and the unity of the Dem
ocratic party; all these things he
said and SO tar, has never contro-
verified or denied them. TO offset
this, the only reason he gives for
advocating the cause Of the read
justers and trying to break up the
settlement is that he believes that
a majority Of the Democratic party
is opposed to the settlement and
that he does not wish to array him
self against the party and almost
in the same breath he announces
himself as a candidate for reelection
to the United States Senate, he says
that this question which has so
torn, divided and harrassed the
party, impoverished and retarded
the State is minor question, of
little or no consequence, a molehill
to mountain as compared to the
election Of United States Senator and
thinks he would make his own best
successor. He says the National De-
mocracy cares nothing as to how
we manage our local affairs (wheth-
er by Republication or any other
means, we SUPPOSE that all they
care for Is, that we shall send Har-
ris and jackson to the United States
Senate. For this he is willing to
stifie his own convictions and hum
bly, bow to the will of a mythical
majority, for this he ruthlessly
tramples under foot his own sense
of right, justice, the honor and pros
perity of the State according to
his own statemenfin his "higgling"
letter. aud still continue to dis
turb the unity of the Democratic
party; for this he would break up
settlement which he has said was
honorable to the State, as the prop
asltlQn came from the aFedltors, and
advocates tender which higgles
for further reduction and which
he said the State could not In honor
do. oh! how have the mighty fall
len; and this from one whom Ten
nessee has honored above any living
man. He has held office almost
for forty years, he
can't break his grip. he seems TO
Fegafd his own e!ectiln above ev-
else and to this end trims
his sails to catch the popular
breeze.
"The devil taketh him up into |
An exceeding high mountain, and
showeth him all the kingdoms of
the world, and the glory of them,
and sayeth unto him 'all these
things will ! give thee II thou wilt
fall down and worship me-" 1t
seems as if the Senator has been
taking lessons from "the gentleman
In black" and is now trying to
play the devil with Tennesseans to
induce them to continue their wor-
ship of him by giving him the
highest Office In their immediate
gilt; this Office of Senator it has
been said placed him in position
by which the Presidency was an
accidental possibility; can this Wis
ON have been the cause of the
change which has come over the
Ipirit of his dreams Else why |
lhould he come In such direct con-
iict with ali his previous utter
lnees and try to undo what he has
or years been using his bet efforts
o accomplish