Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-08-12


of this convention were ratified at the
ballot box. .
Many say that the difference be-
tween the Legislative settlement and
that proposed is only ten cents on the
dollar. This is a fallacious statement
that does not stand proof-it is a
question of right against reputation,
term so distasteful to us that nc
man in America can defend it, and
nineteen-twentieths of them deny it.
But what is reputation Let us de-
fine it: Wherever a debtor declares
it right to pay less than 100 cents on
the dollar he is a repudiator to that
extent. He may honestly pay less
by consent of the creditor; other
wise such action is reputation.
1t is the principle that underlies it,
that makes the distinction and not
the difference of ten cents on the dol
ar. You must abide the principles
of the Democracy on this question or
go into the Reputation camp. The
trainers of the June convention claim
ed the right to name terms of settle
ment without the consent of the cred
itors. The old guard of Democracy
cannot endorse that, and they chal-
lenge its followers to defend it. That
platform suits no one. 1t evades the
chief principles of the submissiOnists,
and the repudiators do not believe
| that the State owes the railroad debt
that it proposes to pay at 80 cents, and
either must sacrifice his principles to
get on it. Can it be sustained? 1t is
endorsed only by minority of those
who stand upon it. and by only half
a dozen papers in the State.
Those who bolted the principles of
the party two years ago and their
followers now are the boilers, and
the name as applied to State Credit
Democrats has no terrors-names are
nothing but phantoms to scare chill
dren and deter no man from doing
his duty.
Are the railroad bonds just debt :?
He was in the Legislature of '53 with
Col. Bailey when the question of
their issuance came up, and though
of the same political faith as Col.
Bailey he voted against their issuance.
He was not proud of his vote now,
because believed that the State would
be set back 100 years had they not
been issued, and where is the man
who would be willing to see the State
cut loose from her present position
by reason of these internal improve
ments, and put back SO far a?
Why are these bonds not legal ?
They were issued in conformity to
law; every Legislature since the
war has endorsed their validity and
said they should be paid, and it is
too late now to urge their illegality.
What is the objection to the settle
ment? Talk to those who are now
opposed to it and nearly all Of them
except the original bolter will tell
you that the settlement suits him but
it don't suit the people. If they in
their individual capacity do not OPP
pose it, how do they know the people
object? Why should they give it
up and open the breach, letting in
again this question that has demOrai-
lied and scattered our forces? It
has never been uttered by Demo
cratic assembly that State honor and
State credit should not be sustained.
Then why open up this Pandora's
box and bring 1t forth TO divide and
defeat US? Let us stand shoulder to
shoulder and sustain it. We should
be for it from higher motives than
for party success and party victory.
1t will rebound to the upbuilding of
the State and her grand prosperity to
sustain this settlement.
SENATOR JACKsON's SPEECH.
In introducing Senator Jackson
Col. Bailey said, that men had
charged him. with sordid motives
and ignoble aims because of his pO-
sition on this question, and he was
glad that he had the opportunity of
introducing to the audience a man
who, secure in his seat in the Senate
for four years, can have no other
motive than to maintain the prin-
ciples of true Democracy.
Senator Jackson said that such a
reception on his first visit to Clarks-
vile gave him great pleasure, but
that his greatest qualification was
in knowing that the motives which
called them together was higher
than their regard for any man.
1t was the cause the speaker
represented that brought out such
enthusiasm, and well it may.
Democracy had long been distin-
guished for the purity of its leaders,
and it would be strange if this cause
did not bring the best men in the
party to the front. We know that
as long as it is an issue i'm State pol
itics it will divide and distract the
party, and not only interfere with
the States prosperity and advance
ment, but will seriously af- |
feet its good name and honor.
State Credit men are not RESPONSE
BILE for the breach. On the Goth June
they begged and plead as long as
honor would permit to be allowed
to stay within the party; they
urged that the question be prefer
mitted and referred back to the
people, as the LOw-tax men had
once urged, that it might be the
issue in the Legislative canvass.
He and other gentlemen went be-
fore the committee and plead for
both wings Of the party, that nei-
ther be driven from it, and men
here know the fact we begged that
we might have united party for
Governor. They asked what about