Year: 1878

them was to defeat, not this or thai
settlement, but any settlement o.
the State debt; that in fact that was
the only purpose in which they die
agree, and that they differed il
everything else. Col. Colyar &C


knowledged the debt, but denied
the ability to pay, while Col. Say.
age denied the validity of the debt
and held that it ought to be paid
to the last dollar if it were
really due. He showed that the
amendment of Col. Colyar propos-
ing to include the labor account OF
the railroad and the depositors oil
the Tennessee Bank was not offered
in good fstlUn. Uut saddled on tnr
compromise bill for the purpose OF
defeating it, that it contained ac
counts which had been settled long
ago, and that Col. Colyar would
have been the last man to vote for
it if there had been any prospect OF
carrying it. He closed with a
cheering view Of the financial pros
poets of the State, the increasing
business OF the city showing increas-
ing productiveness of the surround
ing country. He called upon the
mechanics of Clarksville to corrob
crate his affirmation that there was
never SO great demand for their
skill and labor; that building was
contracted for on larger scale than
at any time since the war; that all
our warehouses had been enlarged
in view of the increased supply Of
tobacco pouring into the city, and
warned the citizens of the blight
which would fall on these indica
tions of reviving prosperity if the
credit of the State should be blast
ed by reputation. Finally he en-
Joined upon all truly patriotic citi-
zens to unite In urging the adoption
OF the compromise OF last session if
it should be again offered at the
next.


Col. Coyar in his reply gave but
little material for a rejoinder. He
made no attempt at graphing with
the figures of ludge Smith, but
said that they were refuted by the
signs of distress and destitutiol Wis
ible to any man travelling through
the country and he urged his antag-
onist to 60 among the people and
see for him self. This was an un
fortunate position, for everybody
in the hall was aware that Judge
Smith is acquainted with every
man, woman and child in this
county,


After the speaking was over, DR..
Ussery offered the following resolu
tions, which were carried by accla-
nation;


Resolved by the people of Mont
gomery county, in mass meeting
assembled, that Tennessee is neither
a pauper, nor is she bankrupt.


Resolved, that the proposition to
10 10 1nD nf hn ut
cents on the dollar, submitted to
the extra session of the Legislature
by the Governor, ought to have
been promptly accepted.


The victory obtained by our late
representative is very inadequately
realized by the above sketch of the
debate, the feeling of the large
crowd who heard it was the true
criterion of success. Except few
crossroads politicians, who went
primed and loaded for reputation,
the conviction throughout that
vast assembly was that the State
debt ought not to have been
brought on the stump again this
year; the people are weary of it and
would gladly have had it settled and
ldone with last session, when it could
have been done so much to the adj
vantage of the State. A large
number OF the crowd were men who
voted against Judge Smith under
the influence of the Lo10 tar cry. last
election, but they are unanimous
now in favor of the proposed com-
promise Col. Colyar gained no
votes for reputation here.