Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-05-04


exenPting from execution the last hoe, The last
pioW' the last horse and the last mule which tie
humble and unfortunate man might have with which
to make subsistence fer his wife and children
But 1t passed over mis- head, and has been the Law
OF Tennessee ever since, and will remain the Law
SO long as there is spark Of virtue ancDg our
people.
But, further, said Gov. H, while Col. NErHER.
LAND is opposed to exsmping the last hoe the last
pow, or the last horHe from execution, he Ess not
forgetfa Of the interest Of The Shaver but, in ad
jusiing ihs revenue laws Of the State favored and
voted for the policy Os exsmrtng from taxation the
capital which was being used in that business. Why
should not the Shyloek with his $50 600 used in
specializing upon the msforiunes Of his neighbors,
be taxed to support State government as well as
the farmer and mechanic who we're sustaining and
building up society under their life giving infu
ences? What greater claim has note-shaver upon
the syDpathies and kind consideration Of legis-
latoT, than honest msn Of any other profession;
| particularly the poor man, whose last horse, last
hoe, and last ploR Col NRTHERLAED was unwilling
to exempt These were grave questions for that
gentleman to answer, and it was due 10 the people
[ Of Tennessee that they should be answered Gov.
Il had always pursued different policy, andif he
was wrong and his competitor right, he wanted the
| people to say So
Again, Col NETHERLANDS party are terribly
taken with the idea OF economy, and Gov. Il. sup
posed his competitor would have to talk Ike them.
If so, it would show up another Inconsistency, as
that gentleman, in his brief history as legislator
had always favored the most liberal donations.
FGov. HAnRIs was Of that school Of politicians who
do not believe in making The government, state or
national party or patron to every enterprise,
merely because its purposes cOwmendable He
| believed IL g strict construction always when de
! termiuiDg the purposes and powers of government.
The contrary policy was always dangerous, tending
10 wild, hazardous, partial and sectional legislation
| Not SO with his competitor. He had favored, when
last in the Legislature nearly every tniag that had
an item Of extravaganza in it, For instance: he
introduced proposition authorizing the Governor
of the State to issue $40 600 Of State bonds for the
! benefit of Hawkins Lodge, Independent Order Of
| Odd Fellows The Order Of obi Fellows was an
association Of individuals FIR purposes of privsie
charity and other Objects doubtless lAudabe in their
character. But what has the State to do with it.
Might not her bonds with equal prOpriety, be given
to any ether laudsble Obiect-tO other Odd Fellow
Lodges, Masonic Lodges, Temperance Associations,
&c, &c? Were The bonds of the State 60 cheap
that they might be lsvished without stint or all
purposes? He thought net, and Governor, had
endesVOred to pursue different policy. His CONS
petitOr had also for appropriations of almost
every conceivable character. To Academies, Law
Schools, Medical Colleges and for the cleaning out
l So -, ;,to al fha
immediate mel ghbOrhoods through which they pass
Though very desirable, perhaps to afeW individuals,
it is based upon principle which every must
see. if carried out would lead to most ruinOus
sequences. One bad precedent opens the door to
another. The tried statesman lifts himself above
local considerations whenever they in conflict
with sound principles.
Again, said Gov H., have to arraign my com
petitor. Nothing is moro sacred to an American
citizen than his soUersgHty, constituting him part
of the political power Of the country. II is great
right-the right Of voting and of representation
They are political rights about which every
should be as jealous as Of liberty itself And yet
this great principle, SO dear to American freemCn,
was not respected by his competitor, When mem
Der of the Legislature in 1851, it was grossly viola
ted by him. In appOrioniDg the State, which has
to be done in every years, the Constitution
provides that it shall be done according to the
number Of qualified voters' in each county or sen
atorial or floating district. To Col NsTHERLAED,
as a committeeman, was assigned that labor in part
when member of the Legislature of 1872. Hol0
it was done, has been the subject of discussion on
the stump frequently since that time Gov HIS
time being nearly out he could not 60 fully into the
subject but there were three features of that
apportioument measure that would answer his pur>
pose rive are compelled, for want of space, to
omit Gov Harris enumeration OF the counties and
their respective population at the date of the ap-
portionmeut and content ourselves with The result
of his figures.
The Congressional ratio 90, GA
The Counties composing the first Con-
gressionsl district. had population Of 97.626
Excess of populstion.......... 942
The ceuaGes composing the second Congressional
district had population of......
Deficiency of population. ............. lo,5O9
To have taken Sewer from the LIST district, with
her population of $780, and added it to the second
district would have reduced the excess of the first
district from 6,942 TO 1872 and lessened the deficit
of the second district from Is, 500 10 11,749. Why
was it not done! Let Col. NETHsRLAND answer
The difference between the population of the two dis
tricts as they stand is % 451
The counties composing the third district had
population of Sc 826-Excess G, 142.
The counties composing the fourth district had
population of 49, 625-Defcienoy II ,059.
By taking Marion from The third district, with her
population 6O98, would have reduced the excess in
the third district to 49. To have added Marion to
the fourth district would have lessened the deficit
from 1869 to 4 966. Why it was not done let Col |
NETHERLAND answer. Difference in population as |
they now stand, II POI.
The population of the counties composing the |
seventh district, is SO 802-excess s, l18
The population Of the counties composing the
eighth district is 81 deficiency S452
To have taken Hickman, with its population of
1910 from the 7h district and added it to the 9Th
district, would have left the 9Th district with de
fcency OF only $50, instead of excess of Sis;
and would have given the Stb distriet small ex
cess of 2lS instead Of the present deficiency of
g. 452. The difference between the two districts
would have been only 40. But, as Col NETHER
LAND fixed it up, the difference is 1880. But to
have thus equszsd those districts they would have
furnished two Democratic Congressman instead of
one and that would not do.