The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-05-04
THE PEOPLE SPEAK.
The Meeting Monday to In
struct Our Representatives
How to Vote.

Circuit court room was well filled
last Monday by people from every sec
ton of the county, called by some
citizens to consider the 60 cents PROPOSE
ton and to instruct our legislators
Capt. Thos. 3. Wade was called 70 the
chair and Laps. ID. McCOrd made secre-
tary, and Capt. Wade announced the
object of the meeting.
Upon motion of Or. Edmundson a
committee of seven was appointed to
draft resolutions expressing the objects
OF the meeting, consisting of DR.. |.
Edmundson, Newton White, X. l..
Sanders, Sam. Yokeley, Capt. Bass, DIR.
G. c. Alternately and Cary Gilbert.
Upon motion of Mr.. White DR.. j. A.
Sumpter, Col. d. 7. Reynolds and Maj. |
B. +. Carter were appointed to notify |
the representatives OF the meeting and |
request their attendance.
The committee reported the follow |
ing:
RESOLUTIONS.
WHEREAS, There have been three full !
sessions OF the present legislature-oue F.
the regular and two called or extra
and the fourth one has just been entered !
upon, and has adjourned over for few
days in order, as is supposed, for the /
OttS " COilitT W lLu lilSlT CONSTITUTE
ents upon the mOmentous question upon !
which they are called to legislate; and, |
WHEREAS, The constitution by art |, /
sec. %, authorizes the people to as
semble themselves together for their
common good and to instruct their
representatives; and,
WHEREAS, Believing the proposition
submitted by few of the bond-holders
for their consideration to he fraught
with much mischief to the state if ac-
ceDted. by Increasing instead of aliaying
the feeling upon the subject, and tend
ing largely to driving the people into
reputation and,
WHEREAS, That a settlement may be
made that will be observed and carried
out in good faith, and one that will be
honorable to the state and creditor; it is
ReSOtUed, That our representatives be
and they are hereby Instructed to use
their influence and vote against the
proposed measure.
ResOIUed, That we regard it mex edi-
ent and unwise for this legislature to
attempt settlement of any character,
believing that for one to be effective it
must be done by a legislature fresh
from the people.
ReSOlUed, That the secretary transmit
a copy of these proceedings TO each one
the American and World and our own
county papers to publish the same.
Judge Thos. NJ. Jones responded to
calls and said he had always been
state credit man and believed every
dollar of the debt just and owing, and
if we were able it ought to be paid, but
war and drouth and mismanagement
had deprived us of the means to pay in
full and he would never consent TO see
the men who cut the cane driven from
their state by excessive taxation and
the country peOpled with strangers -
No settlement would stand that has not
the support of the people and this one
would not be sanctioned by them. The
unexampled energy that characterized
our people after they laid down their
arms has nothing to show for it but tax
receipts and their ability to meet the
debt in full has been deprived them.
The committee to visit the represent
tatives reported that they had found !
Representative Lester and Senator
Matthews. (Mr. Ezell was not in the |
city,. Maj. Matthews declined to come |
before the meeting. Capt. Lester ac-
cepted and was now in the house.
Mr.. Wharton advised the people to 90 |
slow. He thought this proposition in |
accordance with the democratic plat |
form.
Mr.. Taliaferro was called and said |
that the people had right to meet and |
instruct their representatives, and while !
1t was not mandatory, it would certain
ly have its weight upon their actions
The people will not endorse coo. Giles
cOunty's majority for 50-4 demonstrated |
her state credit proclivities, and yet
when it came to 1908 she opposed it
mi ghtily-nOt one man in fifty favor
ing it. They will not now endorse 6O-6.
The supreme court had settled in effect
that the people alone could settle the
debt and all things else must yield to
their wishes.
Representative Lester was called and
said in substances:
Mr.. Chairman, have listened to the
speeches OF my friends here and have
conversed with numbers of the people
upon this question. Here is where l
was born and this people have been
very kind to me. L recognize among
these men those with whom | have
stood in darker days and who have been
my friends and comrades and supporters.
and it would give me great pleasure
could bring my views to coincide with
theirs. But when "A representative is
chosen does it take away his private
convictions or his power to think for
himself? The question we deal with is
Il matter of principle. l am as much in
sympathy with the people as any man, +
as L have Jeopardized my life TO ,
and before God to-day |
would rather give my Lille 10 rescue the
state from the disgrace that is threatened !
than l would have yielded it for the t
cause we loved in other days. The '
platform upon which you elected me
called for the best settlement that could
be secured upon negotiation, and the
that promulgated this was S
the largest that ever assembled in Ten G
lessee. L stood upon it and thoroughly i
approved it. / did not think we had :,
he right to make the creditors take
what they had not consented ts. II
his was sound democracy then, why is u
{ not so now? When did it change? |,
Mr.. Pearcy asked Mr.. Lester if he f.
ollowed the platform when he voted !,
or the coupon feature.
Mr.. Lester.-I must recall my words y
If just now in reference TO this part OF u
he platform. My opponent advocated Il
he coupon feature all over the county c.
md did not take issue with him be Or
auSe | favored it, and candOr cOmpels =
ne TO say l did not endorse the plat u
orm in this particular. / was sick and Il
ired OF this perpleXing matter and c.
avOred this as an etlectual way of ii
it from politics. l know it A
5 not popular, but L am not the man TO \
dapt my views to the popular voice -
'he proposition now before us came in ID
regular way and if it is not the best a
D be had as result of negotiation, it W
'ill come 10 that. 1t has been charged II
hat this is a republican scheme to dis f,
upt democracy. 1t is not true. Ii q
smes through IA straight democrat, who ~
i'll the corresponding and telegraph h'
~ that induced it, and no republican
ad any thing to do with it. &.
Mr.. Talisferro.-Whow was the demo ~ ~
rat? ID
Mr.. Lester.-EX-G Gov. Porter. | can
OF see why having passed the 1908 mr.
this legislature for this work. 81
this settlement not preferable TO hay m.
Y the question left open to distract
I'd disrupt us? imagine that the best
ne OF policy for democracy is to take
run stand upon principle, whether it
popular or not, and not yield 10 Sc 90
lctiye influences that would patch up
truce that will be good for this trip
lily. 1t is reflection upon democracy 30
suppose that il will tie up its princi- ia
es in a buadle and lay them aside until 90