The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-05-02
TO THE VOTERS OF POLK, MONROE
AND McMINN,

TO THE VOTERS OF POLK, MONROE
AND McMINE.
In again becoming q candidate for the Of.
flee of Joint Representative in the next
General Assembly Of the State of Tennes.
see. it will be expected, and it is right that
| should give something Of the policy which
| shall strive 10 promote, should YOU honor
me with the station ask at your hands -
The member Of any representative body is
the agent and servant Of those BY whom he
is chosen, and I hold il to be cardinal doc.
trine in the political creed of every republi>
can that the legislator is bound to carry out
the will Of his constituents. He must have
soul which looks beyond self. and exer,s
itself for the good OF his country, and his
country alone.
Custom has rendered it next 10 impera.
tive, on the man who asks for office. To
mount the stump. and rant loudly about his
love Of country, his warm devotion for the
people, and his arden, zoal fnr their good -
Almost any man may gather up bundle Of
mus'y documents ,memorize q stock of vulgar
anecdotes, and lay in q goUd supply Of slang
and make o right passabls, modern, stump
speech; but The heartless demagogueism,
mock benevolence, and disgusting personal.
tiles Of modern politicians have brought
odium and distrust upon political men and
political schemes generally; and | prefer
giving you my views in form that will ad
mt Of no lodging or qubblIng.
told you two years ago that was Cor the
election Of our Judges and A,tornies Gener.
al by the peopIe:-tha, was in favor lthe
devising Of some plan for more equitable
distribution Of the appointments and pay Of
our Jurors, 50 that all our citizens might
iSioy this pittance Of public favor; THAT !
W niSScate Of generous liberal,ty.
vas the duVs State, toward valuable
N the part Of tie S-S.n,. md The
works Of Internal Improvement ..r-;
.areful observation aud experience OF The
wo post years have but strengthened my
Of the propr'ety end importance
IF all those measures.
consider our system Of common school
education as very defective; and 1t should be
,ne great object OF the next Legislature to
amend and perfect it. Whatever tends to
give life and vigor to the moral aud mental
Of our citizens. and 10 open up ond
develope the vast resources OF our country,
should always receive the fostering and
anxious care Of our Legislative assembly.
Nothing is so we'll calculated TO produce
these happy results as . good system 81
public instruc' ion. and easy and abundant |
facilities. Yet there must BE-
bounds ries to our liberalty. WhiIsta stin-
cy, selfish pulley is 10 be avoided on the one
hand, VIC must DO careful, on the other, not
to incur such heavy debts as TO injure the
credit Of tho State by reputation and the
Of our treasury.
A bill passcd at the last session Of our
Legislature, in regard to which desire to
say few things to my fellows ci,ixensi-l
mean the law imposing q tax on cotton,
tobacco. sugar. cotiee. salt. moasses end
spun cotton. when brought from another
State into this for sale. II requires no
great share Of sagaci:y 10 discover that this
affords protection to, and enriches our iner-
chants at the expense Of oil the Other classes
Of the community. The farmer. by indus
trious and honest toll, raises q surplus Of
the products Of his farm. These he il able
to barter, in our southern markets, for those
very articles taxed by the provisions Of this
bill, and. BY bringing them among US he
can dispose Of them IN such terms c. to
reap q fair remuneration Tor his labor,
and also accommodate his neighbors. Blu
the unjust imposition Of this tex either pre-.
vents the farmer from thus exchanging his
surplus products, or forces him TO sell the
necesssries named at an advanced price, so
As TO be able to meet the demands of the
law. A great part Of the competition in the