The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-01-25

Lpw-citizens:
Atuo time in history of Tennessee
has an incoming Legislature been
looked to, at home and abroad; with
proudcr satisfaction and deeper an
xiety than this.
Certainly no one has met under
mare peculiar auspices or invested
with more delicate trusts; neither has
one heretofore Assem- bled brought
With it the wishes Of constituency
more generously confded Of more
,emphatically voiced by majorities at
the polls. The prayers of a Chris
tjAn and noble people, 90 out for, and
unto you, fOrj just, wise, honorable
and su, cessful legislation. Then
is it not the duty, us it should be
the pleasure, OF those thus entrusted
with these solemn duties and powers
of Legislation, to implore and rely up
On Him who blcsIcs nations, and
states, and individua!s, for his gui-
dance. * this delegated work, SO
deeply involving the veal or woe of
this great commonwealth.
From the olden to modern times
every government Of liberal orEAul-
ration, national or state, has had ITS
financial troubles: and in the light
of history can it not be truthfully
snid that in most insta noes, when
those financial troubles grew out of
war, foreign CT domestic, or obliga-
tions were seriously affected by 1t, the
final adjustment and relief has
generally come III a spirit of compro
mise by waving rigid technicaliues
and enforcing just, liberal and honor
able equities.
Tennessee to-day finds herself
confronted with just such obligations
and after repeated and unayailing
efforts, heretofore made by conference
with creditors, and by Legislative
enactments, and recognizing the fact
that thus is a government Of. by and
for the people; that all power is in
herent in them; and they, as voters
and tax payers, are real parties TO
whatever obligations exist against
The stnte-has, as she ought TO have
done, spoken through her source OF
pswer, the ballot-box, in no uncer-
itnis tone, and sanctioned by an over
'mhelming majority, the proposition
4 o bender to her creditors settlemeRt
which is alike just and honorable TO
all parties concerned.
By this expression, so recently
given, it will be seen that Tennes-
see does not shrink from assuming 10
pay, according to the letter and spirit
OF her obligation, however burthen-
some it may be, that which she be-
lsvos and acknowledges she justly
owes, known as the state debu pro
per"
That known to the public, and
named in the official reports of most
of orr stale comptrollcrs, as econ
tingent" or railroad Indebtedness
being in dispute, and our Liabilities
for it questioned by large portion
Of intelligent and patriotic voters
and taxpayers Of the state, and who
likewise claim equities, az just aud
honorable offsets, she by a decided
vote, authorizes, in spirit Of CON-
promise. a tender Of terms Of settle
ment to creditors, of os.e-half Of prin-
.cipAkand iRterest; which, 1t is hoped
and believed, will be met in the spi-
lit With which it will be rendered, and
a full, hnal aud satisfactory settlement
Effected.
Among ether questions Of moment
and with which you hare to graPple
is the spirit OF monopoly that IS rear
Ing its ominous crest and moving
wItldsfiant and aggressive steps up
on tie rights of the people.
Those who have been chosen as
guardians of these rights, IN these
times distempersd ly lobbyism, with
ITS baneful frait Of bribery and cor
ruption and official deialcations, must
and will stand faithful sentinels on
this, the watch tower Of their citadel.
While corporations shsuld have all
just rights maintained, aud proper
encouragement TO make their work
useful and profitable, yet, rs they
grow mighty in their strength, and
strain for unjust power rs they are
prone 10 do, they should be checked
by lines of legal limit, and told in
unmlstakable terms Thus far thou
shalt 60, and no farther" The spirit
of resentment or intolerance, how ever
should not stir the storm Of passion,
nor ride OH the wave of prejudice, but
give way to that calmer reason which
respects tie rights of all. If law is,
as 1t is said TO be, "the perfection q
reason, then that reason should be
alrhe the shield TO innocence and the
sword to guilt. It should protect
and punish alike the Official and UNI
,fflcinl, the rich and the poor, the