Year: 1875

dissensiODs among ourselves be among
the things Of the past.


OUR STATE CREDIT-JOHNsoN


EDITORS APPEAL-YOu see in the
newspapers a full account of the pro-
Ceedings of the legislature. While there
is every disposition to relieve the people
as much as possible, think there is a
disposition in the present legislature to
maintain the credit Of the State. | be-
lieve commissioners will be appointed
TO confer with Tennessee bOndholdeTs,
and make such arrangements as will be
satisfactory to all parties, and even in
crease the value Of Tennessee securities.
/ have no idea that this legislature will
place the State in the humiliating atti-
tude Of depreciating its own credit in Or
der to become a speculatOT in its own
paper, thereby sacrificing the weak in
order to benefit the millionaire, who is
able to hold his bonds until lie can get
both principal and interest. Open, bold
Tepudiation is InOre honorable than this,
because all then are placed on an equal
footing, and the State is not under the
necessity of paying anything toward her
debt. Ii we are to destroy our State
credit, let US do it openly and manfully,
and reap whatever benefits are to result
fTom the nOn-payment of our State debt.
This way of doing it by indiTection, and
getting all of the evils of reputation
and none of the benefits, il there be any,
is a One-sided business. Whatever ar
rangement can be made between the
State and its creditors, which will be
satisfactory to both parties, will not af-
feet our credit, and will relieve cur peO-
pie. Ia regard to the senatorial con-
test the "cOmbat thickens.r In regard
to Mr.. johnson l shall have but little to
say. The most vigorous opposition
arises to him because of his conduct
during the past canvass. Had he acted
in entire harmony with the Democratic
party Of Tennessee during the recent
canvass much of the opposition which
is now manifested toward him would
not exist. There is a deep-seated feel
ing that his election under the circum-
stances would destroy all hopes Of Demo-
cratic organization in the future, upon
which depends the only hope of success.
This is the real ground of opposition to
johnson. The Hobbs committee are
busily at work, and it is hoped they will
get out all the facts. Was Hobbs paid? &?
If so, who paid him? Did Mr.. Burch
know anything about it, or have any
thing to do with it? Was it the pur-
pose of those who paid Hobbs the money
to have BuTch appointed? Did the gov
ernOr know anything about it, or was
there an understanding, in which he
participated, that he was TO appoint
Burch? These are the questions peril
nent to the issue. Hobbs may have
been paid ten thOusand dollars, and
both the governor and Mr.. Burch have
been ignorant of the whole transaction.
Or it may have been understood that
the governor wOuld appoint Mr.. Burch,
and yet the governor might not have
known anything of the trade or agree
ment. There are parties who can
answer all these questions, and they
should be made to appear, Absence is
confession of guilt so far as the parties
absenting themselves are concerned,
and no further. Governor Browns
friends, ] learn, are exceedingly anX-
iOus for all the witnesses to appear and
all the facts to be made known, They
feel that full investigation will COM
pletely yindicate him. The Memphis
delegation, it is understood, will vote
for Mr.. Johnson because they consider
themselves instructed to do so. The
county committee, I have been inform
ed, reported to them that a majority of
the Democrats voting at the last election
expressed a preference for Mr.. Johnson,
and under the agreement made by the
candidates before the election they feel
bound by these instructions. How long
they will feel bound to vote for Mr.
johnson l have no reasons Of knowing.
If Mr.. Johnson had supported in good
faith the platform and candidates of the
Democratic party he would have made
friends Of many men who now oppose
him. If he wishes to become strong
with the Democratic party Of Tennessee
the true policy with him now would be
to retire from this canvass where he
hopes to be elected by Radical votes,
and support earnestly and in good faith
the Democratic ticket in 1876, and he
will be a formidable candidate for the
place now held by Senator Cooper. He
will doubtless scOrn this advice, but he
will live to see the day when he will
regret not having taken it.


DEMOCRAT.


NASHVILLE, January 18th.