Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-11
OUR CoNGREssMEN
ON THE GREATEST THEFT OF THE TINES
WHAT THEY THINK OF THE CULPRTT.

WHAT THEY THINK OF THE CULPRIT.
The New York Herald's Washington cor
telegraphs that the embezzlement
of S4OO, 900 Of State funds by Col. Marsh T.
Polk, treasurer of Tennessee, was the subject
of general comment here on the streets and
at the capitol. Senator Jackson, Of Ten
nessee, and the congressman from that State
were OF course frequently asked about the
matter. The following statements we're made
by these gentlemen:
Senator Jacksou-I was very much sur.
prised by the affair, which is indeed unfor-
tunate in many respects. 1 deeply deplore
the occurrence, for it is calculated TO add to
the confusion and distrust respecting the
Tennessee debt both at home and abroad.
1t is matter which every good citizen must
deplore. know nothing more Of the de-
falcation han what l have seen in the pub
lie prints.
Congressman Warner (DemocraD - The
announcement in the papers that Col. Polk
had defaulted was as sudden as 1t was une1-
pected. have known him good while and
always deemed him an upright, honest man.
In fact, in 1879 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
kuuCn anu W uOt huOW uOW " dCCOuut
for it, for the man has always borne an un-
questionably good character. However,
know nothing except what you see in the
newspapers. OF course it is much to be re-
gretted that an officer of any State should
have acted in such a manner.
CRAZE OF THE AGE.
Congressman Mcmillan (Democrat)--I
was surprised at the defalcatien and am
wholly unable to account for the cause of
Col. Folks action, unless he may have been
seized with the craze of the age, speculation.
l know nothing about his habits Of life, and
have no information on the subj ct of the
defalcation except the published accounts in
the papers. ! really am at loss to account
for the matter, which all must regret.
Congressman Atkins Democra) - This
story of an embezzlement of $400,0e0 by
State-Tressurer Polk is disgraceful. He
ought to be relentlessly prosecuted. / am
certainly indignant, and have no conceal
ment TO make Of my feelings. The embezzle.
ment is the result of stock gambling and the
desire so prevalent among officers to become
suddenly rich by the use of public money
intrusted TO their keeping and faithful ex-
penditure. Marsh Polk is not nephew of
ex President james K. Polk, and / am
glad that he is not nearer related 10 q man
who was an exemplar 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.
VICTIM OF OTHERS.
Congressman House (Democrat)-I know
nothing but what see in the papers. Polk
was doubtless the victim Of others. Perhaps
he staked men in whom he had confidence
and the result is what we see. / always re-
garded him as an honorable man and am
sorry TO see how he has acted. / am some-
what surprised at the amount of the defsl-
cation, but last year, when some one stole
the bill pending in the Legislature TO in
crease the trsasurer's bond, there was a
suspicion that there might be something
wrong. In fact, tie people of Tennessee for
several years have suspected that there was
something wrong at Nashville, and that
there was ring around the State Legisla-
ture. This suspicion carried Bates nomina-
tion and secured his election. This PROPOSE
ton to settle the debt is bona fde and one
which the Legislature means to carry
out and the people 10 stand to. Although
there are different views among public men
in Tennessee as to what the State can or
should pay, the present proposition if car
ried out, as l believe it will be, will result in
the payment of more than any Southern
State has paid on similar debts. II is a pro.
position which i, if bondholder, would ac-
cept. The want of faith in the settlement of
tine debt under which Mr.. Polk, as treasurer.
was authorized to settle the debt, and the
belief that the Legislature was being man
ipulsted corruptly were the causes that ar
rayed the people of Tennessee against this
settlement at sixty cents on the dollar, with
three, four, five and six per cent. interest.
The present proposition is TO settle the rail-
road debt at fifty cents on the dollar, with
three per cent. interest, and the rest-that is,
the State debt pToper-dollar ior dollar.
NOT AN UNEXPECTED RESULT.
Congressman Whitthorne (DemocraO-I
regret the affair no little. I know that 1t
had been apprehended for some time past
that there would be developed some scandal
in the settlement of Mr.. Folks accounts as
treasurer. He was 3 warm-hesrted, gener-
GUS, cop6dipg man. / regard him as VIC
tim of designing. l think it will be discov-
cred that he has loaned the money Of the
State, as we'll as his own, to parties by whom
be was surrounded and in whom he had con.
6dence. These parties have been sPecula,.
ing in Tennessee bonds and other securities
They have lost, and being unable to repay,
Mr.. Polk shows up as 8 defaulter. Mr.. Polk
was not d supporter Oh Uen' Dae, tne Dem
ocratic nominee for governor, in the last
campaign, and without knowing it to be true
I should infer from an interview with him
in New York paper last September thai
he supported the Republican nominee, Gov
Hawkins, for reelection. A full exposur.
of things about Nashville in the manage
ment of the State funds and the manipula
ten the State debt question, will fully
jusiif, the action of the people in the selec
tion of Gen. Bate for governor.
TEosK WICKED DENocRAn.
Congressman Pettibone (Republiean(-I
i. shame and n disxracs To our vhoI