Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-08

speak for the other parts of Tennessee, but be
thought he could speak for West Tennessee
and he did not hesitate TO say that the people
were poorer than they had ever been in the
history OF the State; the people were litter
ate and uneducated. He wanted TO see more
money spent on education; would Ike to see
more teachers and have them better paid
for ignorance and vice were the weakest tim
bers in the constitution. He thought the
people could pay the 80 3, bat regarded it as
an imPossibility to pay the amount OF debt
claimed.
COLONEL CAN'T
was then called FIR, and ne said it was not
his purpose to be more than an auditor and
spectator. As citizen, as one OF the people,
who wanted no office, and proposed to re-
main simply one OF the people, he was inter
ested in the State debt question. He thought
they ought not to run around to the credit
ors and ask them how much they wanted.
He believed in the people. He was one Of
them himself. He would support the rsso-
lutions because he wanted the question set
tied. He thought the people should shape
the settlement. He believed in paying the
debt with the surplus. First a man should
provide for himself, then for the govern
ment, AID then with the surplus he might
meet the debt. individuals must live first
and governments next. For the last twenty
that they could not pay the debt, support
the government and support themselves.
Now they were taking counsel of themselves
and not carrying around the hat to the pub
liz creditor The members sent to the J. gi--
lature should be instructed TO vote for 5O-3.
What If the creditor wouldn't take it2 Why,
do as they did in North Carolina. They
levied the tax, collected it andfnformed the
creditors that it was there. Well, the cred
itors growled, cursed the people, waited,
growled some more, and then every rascal of
them came TO the tank and got his fodder.
lie regarded the meeting suspicious in
that the two charm. N, one low-.ax and the
other kjgh-tax, were presiding together. The
settlement OF the debt proposed didn't exactly
suit him, as he was a low-tax fellow, but he
had climbed and climbed until he rested
safely on the 50-3 limb He thought that
there were other questions besides this State
debt. He agreed with General Gordon, that
there should be more education.
MIR. JAMES PHELAN
said he could not express himself so felicit-
ously as Colonel CAN'T, but he asked leave
10 differ from him somewhat. A public debt
was public honor He said ii the State
owed 500 it should be paid. He was not
like Colonel CAN'T, he did not have to 90
higher and higher, but found himself COM
PEELED to go lower and lower. When he re-
tired with the committee he felt embarrassed
10 think that every shade of opinion was
represented there, and he had resolved that
it was no longer question of principle, but
one of expediency. The people had assem-
1led on a question of expediency rather than
principle. The Republican party was not
lble TO settle the debt. The question then was
placed upon the shoulders of the Democracy
It would be impossible to get the full amount
If the debt, and he thought that every man
ought to concede some, and if they could not
,ay the whole, why do the next best thing
md pay part.
aR. MINOR MERIwErHER
aid he supported the resolutions, because
ife was a compromise. He was one of the
'ery low.tax men, who didn't want to pay
my of the debt. He had wrestled with the
question in great agony, and if the compro-
Mise had gone cent higher there would
most surely have been death in his family
he was willing TO go halfway between moth
ng and 100. The name repudiator had no
errors for him. The old obligations of the
evolution had all been repudiated. Missis-
ippi had repudiated years ago. He had
ONE of the money of his forefathers now.
liked to look at it, but it was no good !
lie had calculated the amount of money the ,,
tate would have to raise to pay on the |
0-3 basis in thirty years. The people would |
nd it irksome, but he believed in standing |
y the compromise.
MIR. JAMES HARRIS
aid he would not make a speech; ne was |
lerely spectator. He sympathizsd with |
ne meeting entirely.
ESQUIRE P. NJ. WINTERS
, his terse, characteristic way, made few
,marks. He said that Mr.. Phelan was the
My man he had come across with honesty
loUgh to say that he favored the 1908. but
Ike good little fellow he had come into
arness, and he was willing to shake hands
it'll him.
ESQUIRE BLEDsoE's LETTER.
General Gordon then read the following
tier from Esquire Bledsoe:
CoLLIEEvILLE, TENN, March g. 1882
, the Chairman OF the Democratic Convention:
DEAR SIR-An engagement for Tuesday.
hIch cannot postpone, prevents me from
in the mass-conveniion called
the chairmen Of the divided Democracy
Shelby county. | should be pleased
be present and approve that which
have reason TO believe will pre-
Ill in the councils of that convention
the unifying OF the Democratic party for
e accomplishment of a great and common
od-the settlement OF the State debt. To
e the disposition of this question-which
much absorbs other interssts-which de-
ands considers alton and egislation-as well
engendering strife and bitterness among
ends-can only be accomplished by the
minant party OF Tennessee. Hence the
ity of the Democratic party, on some
reed basis. is the only hope l see of the dis
sition of this question for ninety -nine years.
lille l have adhered TO the platform upon
lich the one armed hero, the Hon. S. F.
ilson, stood aud advocated as principles of
man liberty, justice and right, yet in the
irit of concession and compromise should t
; called convention see proper to engraft, c
an organic part Of platform, basis of q
Element of the State debt at 50-3, with an
,ly State convention, the action OF the con- 8
ltion shall meet my humble approval and
arty indorsement. Not in the spirit of {
PARTISAN should l press SO much the unity e
the severed Democracy, but as a great
nmon good to all the State, to unite all O
r minded men upon liberal, equitable
/ just basis. as against higher rate which s
i be attempted, beyond the capacity of an b
pressed people to endure. | am very t
ly, B. C. BLEDsoE.
Resolutions of thanks to Esquires Coleman
Smith were passed, and the meeting adj I