744 



TENNESSEE. 



Normal School, which is now in successful 

 operation, has been supported thus far by the 

 Board of Trust of the Pea body Education fund, 

 but its support is to be withdrawn at the close 

 of the scholastic year of 1876-'77. 



The penitentiary of the State and its in- 

 mates are still under lease. An act of the 

 Legislature of 1875 provided for a new lease 

 for five years, if the highest bid received was 

 satisfactory to the Governor and inspectors. 

 Only three bids were received, and all these 

 were rejected. The old lease has been ex- 

 tended for a period of eight months, at a rental 

 of $10,181.75 quarterly for 800 convicts. 



A Republican Convention was held at Nash- 

 ville on the 17th of May, for the purpose of 

 choosing 24 delegates to the National Conven- 

 tion of the party at Cincinnati. There were 

 about 200 delegates present, one-fifth of whom 

 were colored. A letter from ex-Governor 

 "William G. Brownlow was read, urging the 



maintenance of the credit of the State by the 

 full payment of every obligation. Resolutions 

 were adopted advocating the preservation of 

 the national credit and the restoration of an 

 honest currency ; expressing entire confidence 

 in the ability of the Republican party to cor- 

 rect the abuses and errors that may have found 

 entrance among those to whom it had confided 

 its governing policy ; favoring the punishment 

 of corrupt officials ; opposing interference with 

 public schools by any sect or denomination; 

 denouncing repudiation in every form ; ex- 

 pressing full confidence in the delegates to 

 Cincinnati, and declining to instruct, and refer- 

 ring the matter of a convention to nominate 

 a Governor and other State officials to the 

 Executive Committee for their action. 



The Democratic Convention for the selection 

 of delegates to the National Convention at St. 

 Louis was held at Nashville on the 31st of 

 May. The following declarations were made : 



NASHVILfcE. 



1. That civil reform in the public service is im- 

 peratively demanded. 



2. The unconditional repeal of the resumption act. 

 8. The substitution of Treasury notes for national- 

 bank currency at the earliest moment practicable. 



4. The resumption of specie payments, whenever 

 it can be effected without injury to the business in- 

 terests of the country, and with fair prospects of 

 being able to maintain them, the policy of the Re- 

 publican party having rendered early resumption 

 impossible without the ruin and bankruptcy of the 

 eountry. 



5. We demand rigid economy in expenditures, 

 and strict accountability of all officials charged with 

 the collection or disbursement of public money. 



6. We are opposed to the further contraction of 

 the circulating medium, and believe commercial and 

 industrial interests would be promoted by the re- 

 placement of a portion of the currency already 

 withdrawn. 



7. We insist that only honest and capable men be 

 appointed to office. 



8. We demand the vigilant investigation and the 

 condign punishment of official corruption and crime, 

 according to the methods and measures of the law, 

 and thank the popular branch of Congress for its 

 unfaltering efforts to uncover and punish official 

 peculation. 



9. No bounty to any one class engaged in special 

 industry, to the prejudice of other and more numer- 

 ous classes pursuing occupations equally important, 

 and opposing protection for protection's sake. 



10. We declare hostility to all legislation designed 

 or caloulnted to foster and favor the few to the detri- 

 ment of the many. 



11. We insist on the subordination of the military 

 to the civil authorities. 



12. We declare unfaltering fealty to the Constitu- 

 tion, and oppose any attempt to enlarge its powers 

 beyond its true spirit and meaning. 



