Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-01-21
HON. John ". WRIGHT.
His Position, Pledges, Platform
and the Cause of His DC
feat Clearly Set

I
dressed to the Lewisburg News, ex
plains itself in no uncertain terms
AS to the sincerity of its author
and as to the integrity OF the prin
ciples he courageously advocated, /
carries conviction in every Iette
and sentence:
COLUMBIA, TENN, Dec. 26, 1881
Hon. w. N. Cowden: Dear Sir
In the News of the I'D you say: /
! Judge Wright pledged hemSelf t
| veto any settlement above 50-4, VIZ
do not know it, and do not believe
it," You are right. 1 made M
such pledge at any time, at any
place, or to any person, either pub
licsy or privately. The Democratic
party in the platform which they
made, and on which / was nomina.
ted for Governor, made no such
pledge, nor was it susceptible Of
any such construction. My posi-
ton was clear and unmistakable,
and on all occasions was in perfect
harmony with the platform of the
party. In that platform four dis
tinct propositions were clearly set
forth. l. The validity of the bond
ed Indebtedness of the State of Ten
nessee was admitted. 2. The DEM
ocratic party were in favor of a
speedy settlement of the whole debt.
8. It favored the the best settle
ment which could be obtained by
negotiation and agreement. A. 1t
was unalterably and utterly opposed
to reputation in any form. 1t was
for the maintenance of the public
faith, State and National. With
these positions clearly and distinct
ly set forth, accepted the nomina-
ton, and if at any place or at any
time / deviated a hairs breadth
from their open and undisguised
advocacy, even against the heaviest
pressure, am not aware of it. 1t
is true that l expected, and so sta
ted, that if the Democrats succeed
ed we would be able to get a mate
rial reduction of both principal and
interest, and believe so now. This
idea was based upon the fact that
the holders of our debt had at one
time proposed voluntarily to take
cent. interest, and some of them af-
terwards offered to take 90 cents on
the dollar, with 4 per cent. interest.
Both Of these propositions were re-
jected, the last named one by
vote of the people at the ballot-box.
1t is true that in my addresses /
tried to show what the debt would
be if reduced to these two standards,
and what amount of taxation would
he necessary in order to carry such
settlement into effect, and / said.
it would not require more than 9 40
cts. tax on the 500 to do it, precise
iy the amount of taxation levied to
carry out the provision of the settle
ment made by the present Legis-
lature.
These facts the people all over
the State know to be true, and any
attempt to misrepresent me or my
position will be futile. / was not
defeated by the Republicans who /
told the people would probably, if
they got in power, settle the debt at
100 cents on the dollar and per
cent. interest. There was nothing
in their platform in the announce
ments of their candidate which de-
manded either negotiation or agree
ment. 1t Is true that the candidate
of the Republican party did say
that he would be glad If the credit
ors would offer a reduction but at
no time did he propose to negotiate
with them for a reduction.
1t was dafeated by Democrats
h. fn N
at 60 and and 90 and 4, and who
were unwilling t" settle on any
terms, the great bulk Of the debt,
but proposed to settle only about
one-tenth of it and leave the bal.
ance unprovided for. These same
men or their representative in the
Legislature refused to join the State
credit democracy in the passage of
a substitute. embodying 50-4 set
tlement. This last remark may not
be true as to all of them, but it is
certain that many of them did. This
state of affairs existed when the
creditors as | suppose offered to re-
tain the principal of their debt and
reduce the interest to 3 per cent,
which was precisely the same, so
Idl Sto CiIC NOtV VI td@AdtlOli Oti hlO
people is concerned, as If they had
agreed to take 80 cents on the dollar
with per cont interest.
If the members of the Legislature
who were elected as State credit
Democrats, on the position that
they were for the best settlement
which could be obtained, believed
the one offered to be the best which
could be obtained, then there was
neither treason or inconsistency in
voting for them. If there were 9TH
er State credit Democrats who hon
estly believed that better settle
ment could have been obtained by
defeating the one offered, then no
one can blame them for voting
against it. 1t was not the settle
ment which /, together with my
political associates expected or de-
sired, but it was the only alterna-
tive by which the State could be
saved from the stain of reputation,
then it was intellectually more desir-
able than the latter. During the
pendancy of the bill, whenever in
quired of, | universally announced
in substance the above opinion, and
my opinions were published at the
time.
With the pledges which any
member may have made to his con-
stituents, / have nothing to do.
That is a matter between him and
them. With the passage of the bill,
| had nothing to do further than
whatever influence my opinions as
above stated may have had. / did
not converse with my own imme-
diate representatives on the subject
prior to its passage. AS to the pres
ent status of the whole matter, /
have but little to say. The whole
question is now before the Supreme
Court of the State, comprised Of
judges elected by the people them
selves, and supposed to be possessed
of wisdom, learning and unblem-
ished characters. Whatever decis-
ion may be ! shall be content with
it and abide by it.
Ifthey shall declare the act void
for any cause, then / shall stand
where / have ever stood-in favor
of the maintenance of the public
faith, State and National. / shall
favor the best settlement we can
get by negotiation and agreement,
opposing anything that is tainted
with repudiation. 10 the discus
sion of this question l see no reason
for passion or excitement. 1t is a