Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-01-21


both for the present, and future, sa.
to the subject, goodbye.
Respectfully,
g. III. SLAUGHTER.
st. Bethlehem, Jan. 13, 1882.
THE DEBT SETTLEMENT.
Reasons for Accepting it as Final
Nashville Banner.
There are many reasons for ces
sation of the agitation of the State
debt question. To say nothing o
the bad blood raised in the country
between sections and the parties
and the destruction of the democrat
ic party, which may be taken as q
fixed fact, the one great reason fol
a settlement is the material inter
este of the State. There is wave
of prosperity sweeping over the en-
tire union, and we have but the
settlement of our debt to make to
enable us to get a full share. 1t is
readily snnarent to every one that
capital vii. not seek a State when
the finances are in diSorganiZed
situation. We have recently cited
numerous instances where large
manufacturing and mining compa-
nieS who were anxious to come to
Tennessee, were turned away from
this cause. A great crowd of inn
migrants are pouring into the Uni
ted States to seek homes in the
more thinly settled sections, where
land is cheap and fertile. Both
capital and immigrants are deferred
from coming here, from exaggerated
reports about our financial stand
ing. There can be no question
about the fact that if we had our
debt settled on an honorable basis,
large share of the population
would seek our state as permanent
settlers. We have a large section
of country underlaid with iron and
coal, elements which give us rare
chances far attracting money and
people. A good word from other
people would soon turn a flood of
both towards us. That good word
will never be spoken so long as we
refuse to pay our debts. While the
State was suffering directly from
the effects of war, we had the SYM
pathy of good people who, for the
time, were disposed to overlook
our shortcoming. But a long Sc
ries OF good crops and general res
toration of the country has con-
vinced outsiders we are not subjects
for sympathy, and with returning
prosperity we are naturally expect
ed to be able to pay cur indebted
ness. a further refusal cOnvinces
them it is not want of ability but
disposition, and we thus not only
lose the confidence of our neighbOrs,
but actually incur their ill will. We
have before us the example of Geor-
gia. She settled her debts and be-
gan faithful compliance with her
promises, and now she is reaping
the fruits by not only an inpouring
of immigrants but of money. Geor-
gia to-day is capable of producing
more cotton goods than any New
England State, and what is more to
the purpose, it is mainly with New
England capital she works. Every
lover of the State must be anxious
to see the wonderful resources of
Tennessee fully developed. 1t would
Ue d sight which would gladden. the
hearts of our people to see Tennessee
a manufacturing State equal to her
opportunities. What must be the
condition of people capable of such
outcome when they willfully reject
the offer? Not only would an i'm
mense amount of money pour into
the country from the sale of her
manufactures, but the farmer would
derive the most magnificent returns
for his products. Everyone knows
the advantages farmers have who
live near Nashville or Memphis,
where everything in the way of
surplus, from Shuck to pumpkin,
can be sold. Such a state of things
would result from the establishment
of manufacturing centres all over
the State. Massachusetts, has soil
about equal in all respects, so far as
fertility extends, to the barrens of
our neighbOring counties. 1t will
produce almost nothing without
manure. 1t is cold, damp, and has
to be well drained to produce at all.
And yet the farmers of Massachu-
sets, by selling to operatives at
manufacturing towns. and every
town is such an one, get an average
of $400 per acre for their products.
If such returns could be realized in
Tennessee how little would seem
the tax we are about to assume.
There would be no limit to the pro-
quctiveness of our State and of the
wealth of her citizens. Massachu-
sets has a population about four
times that OF Tennessee, although
Tennessee will make in size, fully
four Massachusetts,. Then consider
for one moment the enormous
wealth which would pour into her
lap from the sale of her ores and
coal. Just such a state of prosper
ity would ensue that would make
us the Wealthiest State in the union,
and money, good money, would be
as plentiful in the country as bad
money was in the days of the con-
federacy. No one can question for
a single moment that the settlement
of the State indebtedness on honor
able terms, would at once inaugurate
such condition. 1t would be the
grandeSt prospectus ever issued for
attracting both money and people.
Just such an opportunity and just
such an inducement was never be-
fore offered a people to be honest.
Will we blindly reject it? We have
a settlement already consummated,
and unless successfully obStructed,
it will go into effect. Will it not be
better to accept the situation with
the certain reward to come, than
obstinately refuse to settle at all :?
1t is true we expected, and possibly
might have obtained, better terms.
We rSugh92d the best opportunity
ever Oh. and such an one could
never again be obtained. By follow
ing biindly the repudiating leaders,
we lost that chance. Now that it is
settled, let US boldly embrace and
meet it. The remuneration will
be sure and swift.
Loss of memory, universal lasSi-
tude, pain in the back, premature
old age, promptly cured with
Browns Iron Bitters. 1t restores
l. 4 L