Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-01-20

ing is his
INAUGURAL ADDRESS:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen OF the House
of Representatives, and you, Ladies and
Gentemen-my fellow-citizens;
At no time in the history of Ten
nessee has an incoming Legislature J
been looked to, at home and abroad,
with prouder satisfaction and deeper
anxiety than this.
Certainly no one has met under
more peculiar auspices or invested with
more delicate trusts; neither has one
heretofore assembled brought with it
the wishes of constituency more gen
erously coufded or more emphatically
voiced by majorities at the polls. The
prayers of a Christian and noble peO-
pie, go out for, and unto you, for just,
wise, honorable and successful legisla-
ton. Then is it not the duty, as it
should be the pleasure, of those thus
entrusted with these solemn duties and
powers of legislation, to implore and
RELY upon Him who blesses nations, and
states, and individuals, for His guild
ance, in this delegated work, so deeply
involving the veal or woe Of this great
commonwealth.
From the olden to modern times
every government of liberal organiza-
s:~.-, --.-,:v-~l -.~ta hoe bod lite
financial troubles; and in the light of
history can it not be truthfully said
that in most instances, when those
financial troubles grew out Of war, for
eign or domestic, or obligations were
seriously affected by it, the final adjust.
ment and relief has generally come in
Il spirit of compromise by waving rigid
technicalities and enforcing just, lib
eral and honorable equities.
Tennessee to-day finds herself con.
fronted with just such obligations; and
after repeated and unavailing efforts,
} heretofore made by conference with
3 creditors, and by legislative enactments,
o and recognizing the fact that this is 8
government of, by and for the people
that all power is inherent in them; and
5 they. as voters and taxpayers, are the
e real parties to whatever obligations ex
+ list against the state-has, as she ough
4 to have done, spoken through be
source of power, the ballot, box, in n,
Il uncertain tone, and sanctioned by al
e overwhelming majority, the PROPOSE
h ton to tender to her creditors settle
is ment, which is alike just and honora
BILE to all parties concerned.
BY this expression, so recently given
d it will be seen that Tennessee does no
d shrink from assuming to pay, accord
D. to the letter and spirit of her obIiga
Up ton, however burthensOme it may be
that which she believes and acknowl
edges she justly owes, known as tn
IL estate debt proper"
That known to the public, an
named in the official reports of most {
our state comptrollers, as contingent
or railroad Indebtedness being i
m dispute, and our liabilities for it que
5 toned by a large portion of intelliger
- and patriotic voters and tax payers
VI the state, and who likewise claim equ
IS; ties, as just and honorable offsets, sh
v BY a decided vote, authorizes in spir
he of compromise, tender of terms
- settlement to creditors, of one.half
% principal and interest; which, it
o hoped and believed, will be met in Il
re spirit with which it will be tendere
til and full, final and satisfactory settl
ment effected.
Among other questions of momer
and with which you have to graph
is the spirit of monopoly that is rearil
l. its ommous crest and moving with d
'0 fant and aggressive steps upon t
lite rights of the people. Those who ha
ire been chosen as guardians of these RICH
to in these times distempered by lobb
49, ism, with its baneful fruit of bride
r aud corruption and official defalcatioI
io' must and will stand faithful sentin,
al on this the watchtower of their citad
ter While corporations should have
to just rights maintained, and proper {
;cb enlargement to make their work use
49, and profitable, yet, as they gr'
Tue mighty in their strength, and strain
use unjust power as they are prone to {
in they should be checked by lines of
nse gal limit, and told in unmistakaI
81. terms Thus far shalt thou go, a
- no further" The spirit of resentmt
SUI, or intolerance, however, should l
veil stir the storm of passion, nor ride
sell the wave of prejudice, but give way
-ow that calmer reason which respects
"a rights of all. If law is, as it is said
'DO be, "the perfection of reason" tn
'or- that reason should be alike the shi
'ec' to innocence and the sword to guilt.
ave should protect and punish alike