Page:Disunion and restoration in Tennessee (IA disunionrestorat00neal).pdf/61

 Bate, was elected Governor. In his message to the Legislature, Governor Bate marked out a plan for the settlement of the debt which was finally adopted, by an act passed March 15, 1883. This act declares: "That the State will pay in full the bonds held by Mrs. James K. Polk, and all bonds held by educational, literary, and charitable institutions in the State; that it will pay in discharge of its just obligations, what is known as the State debt proper in full, less war interest; and that in compromise of the remainder of the debt, known as the railroad debt, it will pay one half of the principal and accrued interest by issuing therefor bonds of the State bearing interest at the rate of three per cent. per annum."