Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-01-20
TENNESSEE coNeRsssMEN.
What They Say Aoout the Treasury Defdhcd'
ton.

TENNESSEE coEGRsSsMEK.
What They Say About the Treasury DefaAct
ton.
Washington Special to the Herald.
The embezziement of $4OO, 900 O
State funds by Col. Marsh Il. Polk
Treasurer of Tennessee, was thu
subject of general comment here OF
the streets and at the Capitol. Sen
ator Jackson, of Tennessee, and the
Congressman from that State were
of course frequently asked about the
matter. The following statements
were made by the gentlemen.
Senator JackS0n-I was very
much surprised by this affair, which
is indeed unfortunate in many re-
spects. 1 deeply deplore the occur
renee, for it is calculated to add to
the confusion and distrust respect
ing the Tennessee debt both at
home and abroad. 1t is a matter
which every good citizen must de-
plOre. L know nothing more of the
defalcation than what i have seen
in the public prints.
Congressman Warner Democrat
The announcement in the papers
that Col. Polk had defaulted was as
sudden as it was unexpected. L
have known him good while,
and always deemed him an up
right, honest man. In TACT, in
1879, L was a member of the Ten
nessee Legislature that elected him
Treasurer. We all then regarded
him honorable and trustworthy.
But this matter surprises me very
much, and do not know how to
account for it, for the man has al
ways borne an unquestionably good
character. However, know moth
ing except what you see in the
newspapers. OF course it is much
to be regretted that an officer of any
State should have acted in such
manner.
CRAZE OF THE AGE.
Congressman Mcmillan Demo
crat-I was surprised at the defal-
cation, and am wholly unable to
account for the cause of Col. Polk's
action, unless he may have been
seized with the craze of the age,
speculation. / know nothing of his
habits of life, and have no informa-
ton on the subject of the defalca-
ton except the published accounts
in the papers. / really am at loss
to account for the matter, which all
must regret.
Congressman Atkins (Democrat)
This story of an embeZzlement of
$400, 900 by State Treasurer Polk is
disgraceful. He ought to be relent-
Iessly prosecuted. l am certainly
indignant and have no conceal
ment to make of my feelings. The
embezzlement is the result of stock
gambling and the desire so preva-
lent among officers to become sud-
denly rich by the use of public
money entrusted to their keeping
and faithful expenditure. Marsh
Polk is a nephew of ex-President
Jas K. Polk, and L am glad that he
is not nearer related TO a man who
was an eXenplar of moral rectitude
and so pure in all the relations of
his life, public as well AS private.
He is a distant relative of the eX-
President. .+.fs
VICTIM OF 9TH HERS.
Congressman House (Democrat)-
/ know nothing but what see in
the papers. Polk was doubtless
the victim of Others. Perhaps he
staked men in whom he had conf
dence and the result is what we see.
/ always regarded him as an honor
able man and am sorry to see how
he has acted. l am somewhat sur
prised at the amount of the defalca-
tion, out last year, when some one
stole the bill pending in the Legis-
lature to increase the Treasurer's
bond, there was suspicion that there
might be something wrong. In
fact, the people of Tennessee for
several years.have suspected that
there was something wrong at
Nashville and that there was a ring
around the State Legislature. This
suspicion carried Bates nomination
and secured his election. This prop
osition to settle the debt is bona |
fide and one which the Legislature
means to carry out and The people |
to stand TO. Although there are
different views among public men |
in Tennessee as to what the State |
can or should pay, the present
if carried out, as / be-
lieve it will be, will result in the |
payment of more than any South
ern State has paid on similar debts.
Ii is proposition that 1, If bond
holder, would accept. The want of |
faith in the settlement of the debt /
under which Mr.. Polk, as Treasur-
er, was authorized to settle the debt,
and the belief that the Legislature
was being manipulated corruptly
were the causes that aIrayed the
people of Tennessee against the get
tielnent at sixty cents on the dollar,
with three, four, five and six per
cent. interest. The present propo-
sition is to settle the railroad debt I
at fifty cents on the dollar, with
three per cent. interest, and the
is the State debt proper
dollar for dollar.
NOT AN UNEXPECTED RESULT.
Congressman Whitthorne (Dem-
)crat)-I regret the affair no little.
[ know that it had been apprehend-
ed for some time past that there
would be developed some scandal
IN the settlement of Mr.. Folks ac-
counts as Treasurer. He was a
Warin hearted, generous, confiding
man. [ regard him as victim of
men. / think it will be
discovered that he has loaned the
of the State as well as his
own to parties by whom he was
and in whom he had
These parties have
been speculating in Tennessee bonds
md other securities. They have
ost, and being unable to pay, Mr..
Polk shows up as defaulter. Mr..
Polk was not a supporter of Gen.
Bate, the Democratic nominee for
Governor, in the last campaign,
md without knowing it to be true
[ should infer from an interview
with him in New York paper last
that he supported the
Republican nominee, Gov. Haw-
lins, for reelection. A full expos
Ire of things about Nashville IN the
of the State funds and
he manipulation of the State debt
question will fully justify the action
If the people in the selection of Gen.
Bate for Governor. ...-.
THOSE WICKED DEMOCRATS.
Congressman Pettibone (Republi-
.an)-It is a shame and disgrace to
,ur whole State, and every Tennes-
can who thinks of it should feel
his way. 1t is the fruit of the pO-