Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-02
TENNEssEE's HARIKARr.


Mr. Coo was called to the chair and
Mr.. Chittenden was the first speaker
In the course of his speech he said:
In business career OF more than
thirty years 10 this city had large
commercial transactions with Tennes.
see, and ever found the men Of that
State exceptionally high-toned and
reliable. 1t is literally true that my
firm often gave liberal credits to Ten
nesse merchants on sight and never
lost dollar in doing it that | know
of. OF course | was slow to believe,
and still refuse to believe that a proud
State peopled by such men can
be led to commit hari-kari. Ten
nessee is known to be a very rich
State. Her debt, under the compro.
mise Of last year, is neither burden.
some nor large. Its lawfulness is not
denied. The compromise legislation
which we, with nearly half her cred.
itors, promptly accepted in good faith
is as sacred and binding as Tennessee
Can enact. But wEirl of the politi-
cal wheel this year threatens to make
void our contract, against our will
under the scandalous plea of
State sovereignty. For what
end2 To save from two to three mil
lions more Of the principal of the
State debit How can this great and
opulent State afford to do this thing?
Can Tennessee, without positive and
deep disgrace. take a position so un
just, indefenlible and venal? Ten
nessee cannot, in my judgment, be
lost to reason and honor, Her legiti-
mate influence and power in the Union
o States dearly depend upoa a reac
tion in the public spirit Of her people
on the debt question, and | believe
such reaction will come swiftly, and
come TO stay, ii the holders OF the
compromise bonds of last year stand
firm. IL REQUIRED only ten righteous
men to save SOdom. | know 100
rennesseeans whoare better men than
Lot ever was" Applause.
HOW NOT TO DO IT.
Colonel Taylog made a =sTy viEoT.
Gus and sarcastic speech. He spoke
OF the time, seven years ago, when
rennessee's creditors had first assem-.
bled to take action upon their dishon
ored claims. I'VE were all great
deal younger and great deal 'lresher'
then" he said, and we really be-
lieved, in our innocent hearts, that
these Southern States were very anx.
ious to pay. but couldn't. We have
learned better since. We have found
that tho representatives of the
great State OF Tennessee, instead
of maniiesting an ardent desire to
effect ). settlement OF its Just ohliga-
tions, are fred with a wild ambition
to fnd out the easiest way how not to
do it. Our Southern brothers, no
matter how enlightened and honorable
they may he personally and individu-
ally, have but little sense il the az
gregile OF financial responsibility, and
generally speaking they don't care
three straws whether the States in
which they live and pretend to have
so much pride ever pay their debts or
not. | hope" he concluded, "Mr
Moore's bill will be adopted. IF it is
the country ought to erect another
monument in Washington Of bronze,
1900 ioet high, and upon its bas,
should be the words, Erected to thr
honor and memory Of William X
Moore. Though he came from Ten
uessee he was an honest man." Great
applause and laughter greeted this
peroratlon.
VIGOROUS LANGUAGE.
The Rev. r. S. Moran examined at
length the history ofState sovereignty
and used polysyllabic and very iorcible
adjectives in expressing his opinion
Of Tennessee in refusing to pay her
debts when she has the money to do
it with. This battered and tatlered
rag" he said. lis all that is left Of
Tennessee's State rights flag,
and rag as it is it is besmeared and
besmirched with the slime of repudi
alton" 1t was explained sotto voce
to the Herald reporter, however, that
| Mr.. Moran no longer breaches in the
pulpit. He is in Wall street. After
this speaker had had his fling at the
dirty conduct OF Teunessee" at con.
siderable length Mr.. Robert A. Craw
ford, of Georgia, was introduced. Hi
feelings we're so intense on this subject
that he fell into profanity; but il
seemed so easy and natural that ht
was not called to order. He was also
he said, "a victim to this damnabll
shame OF reputation" He was (
Georgian -four quarters to the yard
aud he always said what he blanl
pleased. He was ashamed to say hi
own State had been guilty of thi
damnablo shame of repudiation; bu
he had always freely expressed hi
opinion that this policy was infamous
deliberate, damnable robbery, b.
blank, sir and he was sure that tn
Intelligence and honesty of his Stat
| WtIt WIN uius ut uubhNluu 49,
he said, has the reputation Of homes
debts become an accepted principle o
southern legislation e. AS to tn
matter Of State rights, he went ste
further than the gentleman who pre-
J ceded him. This doctrine had bee
5 settled by the arbitration Of the SWORD
b We are no longer States-we are
. nation. (Applquse). Aud the Stat
chat repudiates its just contract obi
cations shakes the credit Of the natio
aod aims a blow at the integrity Of th
country. (Applause).
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
q The following resolutions, offered b
Mr. Eugene Kelly, we're received wit
enthusiasm aud unanimously adoptc
!. and the meeting adjourned, after PFC
b yiding that tho chairman be placed !
charge Of q committee, to consist