Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-10-06

10 pursus the strictest esonomy ia the expenditure
Of public money consistent with the efficiency ofihe
public service and sound public policy, hold that
il is equally the duty Of governments TO pay their
pnblie officers such salaries as will defray sl ex-
pendiures which are necessarily incident to their
respective positions. with reasonable compensation
for their services. contrary policy will, in effect
exclude ell men from The donors Of public position
except such have estates sufficient to justify them
10 sacrificing their time to the public service. and II
requires no argument to show the gross Injustice OF
such policy.
eeives salary of $500, and as Internal lmprove-
meut Commissioner $780, with some uncomfortable
perquisits; and the Treasurer salary OF niteen
hundred dollars per annum with three-fourths OF
enc per cent upon all monies received and disours
ed bv him as Treasurer Of the Insane Hospital which
amounts to about four hundred dollars.
The duties Of each Of these Offices require the con-
slant presence of the officer at the Capitol, aud u Is
fact easily demonstrated, that they csnnot bring
their families to Nashville and support them upon
their respective salaries.
These salaries we're fixed at time when the
necessary expenses of living we're not more tban
half as much as they at present. n6rthe respon-
sibiity connected with these Offices much more than
half as great as they are at this time
! The salary for the Agent Of the PenieutiaEy was
reduced BY the last Legislature to the sum of one
thousand dollars The duties Of this office impose
Weghty responsibilities, great vigilance and con-
slant attention, and require high order Of business
/ qualification
| respectfully recommend inll investigalion OF
the matter, and the fixing of such salaries for :he
referred 10 as may be deemed fair and just,
both to them and the public
| THE HERMITAGs.
The act Of February llth, 1856 chapter 9G.
thorixsd and directed the GOverHor TO purchase, for
| the State Of Tennessee, five hundred acres of the
late residence of Gen Andrew Jackson. deceased.
| including the mansion, tomb, and other improve
/ msnts knovn as the Hermitage. This duty, rs WAS
reported to The Legislature at its last session, was
performed, at cost OF fortycght thousand dollars
The same act directed that tender Of the property
should be made to the Federal Government, on the
express condition that should be used for branch
of the Military Academy at West point, and that if
n should not be accepted for that purpose vii hin
two years from the expiration Of that session Of the
| Leqislature it was msGe the duty of the Governor
TO have laid off fifty acres, including the tomb,
| the mansion and the spring aud spring
| houses and expose the balance 10 public sale
The tender having been made by my predecessor,
| and not acted on by the Federal Government, The
Legislature st its last session. passed act chap
52l giving the further time of two years from the
| Oh of February, 1858, during which the Federal
| Government might signify its acceptance OF the
tender. By the original act, Mr.. Andrew Jackson
was allowed the possession Of the properly for the
term of two years. unless applied for by the Cen
of 1858, it was made the duty Of the Governor to
see that the property was taken care of until the
Federal Government should Determine the question
Of It's acceptance. The Federal Government having
failed TO signify its acceptance Of the property on
the terms provided in the act of 1856, and MsJ Dr.
Jackson having notified me of his intention to re-
move from it duriug the coming winter further
legislation viii be necessary at your present session
If it be deemed advisable to self part OF the
property, l recommend that the part reserved by
the State be laid off in square, SO as to lueiuoc
the mansion, tomb and spring, and spring houses
and extend out to the Nashville and Lebanon Turn
pike which would probably embrace about on'
hundred and fifty acres. You cannot preserve the
{ harmony and beauty of the property without IN
Guiding at least this much and that sPecIho IN,
structions for its preservation and care be PROVIDED
by law.
The most appropriate custodian of the estate
would seem to me to be the State Agricultural Bu-
reau and in the of its willingness to accept
and preserve aud beautify the property the whole
t should be retained, if preferred by the bureau
This body, composed Of gentlemen, eminent ahHt
for their enterprise. intelligence, Eu0hc spirit sno
patriotism, would, | am confident, undertake th'
management of the property, AMI so direct as no
only to preserve, but to beauiify and adOrn It,
The farmers of the State Wouldfee constant prld'
in decorating with their choicest care the hel1'
which the hero loved we'll, and which are sacred
5 to them as holding the ashes Of the pstrio re-
fer the matter to your consideration, nj tent ina
you will do all in the premises which the KePr sen
tsttVes of the peot lie Of crest S:aie can ao' u
protect the shriue Of patrotism AMI to decorate
as the res Of beauty aud taste, the beloved res
ing place of him who will be regarded by all com
ing generations, as Of the pLrest patriots, AM
as having been at once the hero and the ttae sman
the captain a1d the sage.
Invoking the blessings Of Divine Pfoyidence up
! en- your deliberations, this great CJDmon YEA IN
aud our whole country. commend t. your care an
favorable consideration the foregoing recommends
tions, with all other questions which afe st the pros
perity ami we'll beiOg Of the people of Tennessee
| ISHAM HARRIS.