Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-04
The Emphasis Of the Popular
DisapprOVal.

The Emphasis Of the POpulAl
Disapproval.
Nashville American.
The meetings held on Monday il
Maury, Giles and DeKalb In referenc,
to the six million sixty and six, pend
ing before the Legislature under tn,
Governors proclamation, ought h
satisfy every member Of the Legisla
ture as to the wishes and purpose O
the people concerning IT,
In the meeting at Pulaski, the pro
ceedings OF which are published else
where, is to be found the most signif,
cant fact-one that will strike every
man in the State as the most conclu.
sive proof Of the dissatisfaction of the
people with the whole proceeding
While the meeting was in progress
with the resolution Of instruction tC
the members of the Legislature
it being suggested that the repre-
sentative from that county was
in town, be was invited to appear and
speak, which be did, taking his stand
in favor Of the proposition and insist
ing that the people ought to agree to
it as the best that could be done. But
when the vote was taken, it was unan-
imous in favor of the resolution, con
demning and deprecating any action Of
this Legislature.
The significant fact is, that the Rep
acknowledgement Lester-who is a
man of decided ability, and one who,
in the decision of questions about
which the people are not determined,
would have great influence with the
people Of Giles county, could not in
this large meeting control one vote.
He was compelled to admit that he
was not in accord with his friends and
comrades, and supporters, and said it
gave him great pain that such was the
tact.
1t is doubtful if any meeting was
ever held in the State with such re-
suit. a meeting called in a formal
way, largely attended, to consider a
question pending in she Legislature,
which is spoken Of in the preamble
to the resolutions as a "momentOus
question, AID the member support
ing it present making a speech for il
and not able TO control one man. The
vote was unanimous against it.
This shows an extraordinary state
Of public feeling. The meeting ia
DeKalb, the proceedings of which we
also publish. is also significant. From
the proceedings, as we get them, we
take it there was no division among
the people.
I Now here are three counties, two
Of them, Maury and Giles, leading
State credit counties. and DeKalt
being low tax county, but in ever
respects representative county, anC
in these three counties large meetings
are held. and not one man in either
county found who sustains the pro
POSED action Of the Legislature.
1t will turn out that this is The
feeling all over the State. Our credi
tors may understand this, and deter
mine for themselves what course the,
will take. We say to them-the few
VINO seem to have been in some wa,
drawn into submitting this proposition
that they had better withdraw it
The belief OF the people is universal
or as nearly 80 as any belief could be
that the proposition originated a
Nashville, and not in New York
.
There never was day when cred
itors representing six millions would
not have made this same proposition
and no one will pretend that six mil
lions being represented justifes actor
as 70 the other $50, 100000 upon tn
ground that the proposition come
from the bondholders. So that con
vening the Legislature upon tn
ground that the creditors make prop
osition, is preteDse.
The only answer made 10 this is tina
the committee representing the bond
holders signed This, is not even
respectable dodge, because the com
mittee give the names Of the person
they represent as signatures 70 th
proposition, and the whole, includin
those represented by the committee,
less than six millions.
We waive for the present the ques
ton Of instruetions, merely saying tina
we sincerely hope the day will no
come when Tennessee Representative
in the Legislature will refuse TO ODE
instructions or resign, because undo
our Constitution and the theory Of ou
government, 10 refuse is palpable an
plain disregard Of the iundamenti
prinoiplcs Of tho the Constitution.
What do our creditors want wit
7 such a settlement The answer 10 thi
is that the creditors do not want az
such settlement, and the few VII
have signed the paper have done 1
! under the Misrepresentation that ii
people would approve IL.
But now it is absolutely certain, an
there can be no question about IL, tht
the people will not approve this pr
: posed settlement in this manner an
: through this medium. They bolie'
, tits political trick, and tho terms
!, settlement ought 70 DO considered
J both PARTIES creditors aud tax pave,
!, and they do not consider this prop,
sitin any more than party devic
and the fact that a few Democra
J have consented to II does not anon
70 an agreement by the people.
Cenarou. phvateiau.