Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-05-20
Grave Questions TO be Considered.

pleasure OF Ine Legislature.
Grave Questions 10 be Considered.
Among the most pertinent questions of State poll
cy connected with this canvass are first, the policy
of our Exemption laws; secondly, the policy of
revenue laws thirdly. the character of apPrOpria-
tions which the Legislature should make from the
public treasury; and fourthly, the policy that
should be adopted relative to Banks These are
grave questions for consideration They immedi-
stely concern the pocket-nerve of every man in the
State The respective positions of the candidates for
Governor and for the Legislature these subjects,
should be clearly defined and well understood by the
people.
1t will be the sworn constitutional duty Of Col.
NETHERLAND if elected, to make recommendations
to the Legislature upon each Of these questions.
We are grstfed, therefore, that his position upon
them is clearly Defined not in his recent speeches,
but in his record q legislator.
First; to the policy of Exemption laWs-that
is of securing to the head of family, against all
contingencies, those articles which are absolutely
necessary as means of subsistence to the mothers
and children Of the country-Col NETHERLASD,
judging by his public record, stands opposed As
member Of the Legislature of 1888 he took his stand
passed at that session, exempting from execution
the last hoe, the last plough the last wedge, the
last horse or mule Of the husbandman; and the last
set Of tools belonging to the mechanic, There were
but few, at that time, who agreed with Col. Meth
ERLAED in his illibera policy towards the labUring
classes; but he did not change his course on this
as has been his custom on other questions His
views seem to have been matur6d and his policy
fixed; for, while a member of 8 subsequent legisa-
ture bill was introduced to repeal much of the
Exemption law as related 10 tAe mechanics, and he
voted for such repeal The journals of the Legis
lature do net give the arguments upon which his
policy was based. Whatever those arguments were
we are sure they would fail to convince the public
Of his wisdom as a legislator in this particular
There is nothing more firmly fixed upon cur statute
books than the Exemption laws, and however deep
seated may be Col NETHERLANDS prejudices to-
wards them he dare not declare his policy and adj
vOcate it upon the stump.
Secondly: As to the proper policy of our Reve-
system for the support Of the State Government,
Col. NETHERLAYD's position is equally well defined,
notwithstanding he my seek to avoid its discussion
in this canvass. There is no matter about which
the people feel deeper than the subject of
taxation. It was the unequal and unjust taxation
of the mother country that drove our forefahers to
revolution, and which made them so particular in
the establishment of our Federal and State gov
eruments to make the burdens Of taxation fall equal
ly upon the people, consistently with that sense
Of justice which is the very soul of our republican
system. The history of all governments up to that
time had been history of wrongs and expressions
The strong had tyrannized over the weak The
power of concentrated capital had relieved itself Of
all the burdens of government ana placed them
upon the shoulders OflsbOr The fruits of the toll
ing husbandman and mechanic were taken to up
hold institutions, the chief benefits Of which were
enjoyed by the wealthy nobility. The tendency of
capital has always been the same 1t was the gen
eral equality of fOrefathers and the oppression
to which they had been subjected that enabled them
TO establish free government and equal laws upon
this continent But in the times of the revolution
and ever since wealth has been unfriendly to lib
erty, because liberty brought with it greater equal
ity, and exemption TO labor from that unjust and
oppressive taxation which the power of capital had
always levied uporit. There has ever been party
In the country representing these unjust demands of
capital There has always been a party resisting |
such demands and uphOlding the rights and equal
ity Of labor; and these parties let names change as
they may, viii continue to exist so long as ayariee
and selfshness are traits in the human cbaraeter
Col. NETHEBLAED believes in a system Of taxation
which will throw the burdens of government upon
labor TO the exemption of capital and wealth His
record upon this subject, brief as it is is clear and
well defined. As a member Of the Legislature in !
arranging the revenue laws Of the State-notwith-
standing be was unwilling to exempt from execu-
zion the last hoe the last plough and tie last horse
OF mule, Of the humble husbandman, and the tools
in the hands of the mechanic-he endeavored to i'm
pose upon these classes the main burdens Of govern
msnt, and VOtsl 10 exempt from taraion al capital
G50Ve $500 IN The hands Of The skdUsr. He voted
furthermore, to exempt from taxation all pleasure
carriages used fer the display and ease of wealth.
Singular as may seem these charges, they are pro-
ven by the public records, and not controverted
by Col NETHERLANDS friends. Upon this policy,
also, the people must pass in the ensuing election
Ifthey agree with Col. NETHERLAND that the reve-
nue. Of the State should be collected of of labor to
the exemption Ofesptal then they should elect him
and his party
Thirdly, TO the character of appropriations that
should be made from the public treasury, Colonel
NETHERLANDS position is equally well defined. The
amount OF taxes imposed upon the people for pur-
poses Of government necessarily depends upon the