Page:Disunion and restoration in Tennessee (IA disunionrestorat00neal).pdf/57

 *sentatives of the people. From the pulpit to the bagnio, recruits were gathered for the assault on the treasury of the State. Fine brandy by the barrel was on hand to fire thirst and muddle the brain, and first-class suits of clothing to capture the vanity or avarice of the gay or needy. Money, the proceeds of the bonds issued by the State, for specific purpose to these men, was here in abundance, and it was used. Take one example: A man came to the State. He was appointed Receiver of two short insolvent railroads at a salary of $5000. He was appointed Commissioner of Registration for Franklin County. He sent his Superintendent to the Legislature of 1867 as a member. That member, in conjunction with a certain Senator, was active in procuring 'State aid.' The Commissioner and Receiver let out contracts on his road, and was a silent member. The proof shows that this Receiver, this member, and this Senator formed a conspiracy to defraud the State. About a million dollars of bonds issued under the Act of 1867 went into the hands of the Receiver. Take another: A president of a railroad would sell bonds and apply a portion of the proceeds in corrupt efforts to get more bonds. They got bonds for roads that had never been surveyed and located. One railroad president says that he had great influence with the Governor, that another railroad president wanted bonds and desired his services with said Governor, that he got them, that, in addition to pay directly for his services and influences with the Governor, he was to have control of a portion of the bonds obtained to use as margin in stock speculations in New York. They got 885 bonds in New York. This man of influence with the Governor further says that he and the other president were partners in stock speculation, and used the bonds obtained from the State in these speculations."

When the Democrats regained control of the State, the settlement of the State debt, which had been so greatly