Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-05-09

tor. E
But is it quite certain that our taxes will be in
creased by the formation of new State? Will |
thew not be diminished In considering these |
questions let it be borne in mind that our slaves
heretofore constituted fraction less than onethrd
in value of the taxable property of the State That
source of taxation is gone. The loss falls the |
different divisions of the State as follows
East Tennessee, $1o,558652; Middle Tennessee,
$57,O77, 800; West Tennessee, $47,972,s42.
Thus while we lose from that source in the ratio
of one dollar, Middle Tennessee loses six dol
lars and West Tennessee near five dollars. While
we lose as a source of taxation $l055S652, the two
other divisions of the State lose in the aggregate
SlO5 $50 902 or more than ten dollars to our one
1t appears then that they are much poorer than
they were before the war, while we are relatively
much richer. Tn wealth of the other divisions OF
the State and especially that of Middle Tenness ZEE,
is to great extent the result of the expenditure OF
the peoples money, and ours with it, in building
railroads turnpike roads, and public buildings, in
that section thus enhancing the value OF their lands
We have paid our part of the 1856 &c, to build
her turnpike roads. while we nave not recelVeu one
cent for hat purpose.
Let us now look at some facts and hgures, ana
approximate as nearly as VIC can the income and
expenses of new State.
In 1860 the taxable property of East
Tennessee was valued at S64,378,4S0.
Multiply that by % cents on the nun
dred dollars, the present rate OF TAXA
taxes sl6Os64 20
81. 533 polls, the number in $780, at one
dollar each, gives. 5oo9o w
The taxes received from the County, Dir
cult and Chancery Court Clerks, as
taxes on law suits, on privileges, IL
censes on land and town lots register
ed, &c, will amount, on an average
of s., 900 90, to each county, and thir-
ty counties to the sum of.............. 6O,OOo w
Knox county pays this year alone in this
way about $23, 900 90. Making total
of income ~
EXPENSES.
Under our present State Government
there are twelve salaried officers of the
Executive Department, with salaries
amounting in the aggregate to........".s2U,oOo w
Several of these offices, by using economy, may
be filled by one man-such as the Superlnten-
dant of Weights and Measures, State Librarian,
Commissioner of Roads, and School Commission CT,
and for some of them there will be no immediate
USE such as the Superintendent of the Insane hos
ptal
There arc FIVE Circuit and three Chancery
Judges at a salary each of $1,000. Sl6,OOO w
We w0nld need three Supreme Judges 1900 90
The expenses of State prosecutions, bills
of costs conveying prisoners to peniten- ..
tiary, sc, would amount probably to-. lo,OOO w
Attor1ev General and Reporter ........ 1900 90
The debt of the State proper was, IN 1861,
1884, COG &c. In dividing it our pro-
portion would be about one-fourth, say
$97365l 66. Interest on that sum at
6 per cent. would be about............. 5S,419 90
The Legislature of East Tennessee would
probably consist of about forty-fve
members Say they were in session
three months they ought to be limited
on pay to 80 days,) at 81 90 per day,
with mileage and meeting once IN two
SsV for each ar - $3.50 90
Contingent expenses, such as fuel, books, -, o,
stationary, printing, Sc. &c.........:. le,oOo W
70 bniIJ one nar ' 1000 90
Of l2O, l6e O6
| Subtract the expenses from the supposed
| income, ($256,49 2O,D based on the
value of property in 1860, and the pres
! ent rate of State taxation, and there re-
mains surplus of..................... l3o,5Zo Il
! From this ought to be deducted about the
! sum of $25, 900, to cover the loss of the
slave property, which is included IN
the above estimate leaving net sur
plus lllo-o ID
Deduct for unforeseen expenses Sll,3zo
Il, 1t leaves. 1VV0VV W
In other words, our taxes will actually be dimin-
! ished that much
1t is believed after the most careful calculation
and investigation that the above estimates are near
ly correct They are based on official data and hg
ures and cannot be far wrong. 1t has long been
believed and asserted by some of our pubic men
that the legislation of the State had been of such
character on the part of the majority west of the
mountains to make our section OF the State pear
more than her share of the taxation and burthens o.
the State. These figures would seem to demonstrate
the truth of the charge
1t is proper to add that the State has endorsed the
bonds of Railroad and Turnpike Companies FOL
which it is contingenty liable to the amount OF neal
fifteen millions of dollars. Of this sum someth ne
over three millions were endorsements for and OF
account of Railroads in East Tennessee. The aetna
share we have thus received and Tor Whlcn W.
would be contingently liable, in the event new
State were formed would be about one-htth; while
the amount we are now contingenty liable for, and
eauitably entitled to, is about one.foarth In tnl
respect also our liabilities would be diminished Oy
the formation of new State.
If a. new State should be formed the debt of tn
State and the public property will be the subjects
equitable adjustment The following items mus
properly enter into that adjustment;
The State capitol, library, weights and
measures, furniture, &c, worth say"Sl 100000 o
Penitentary worth OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 25OOOO .
Lunatic or Insane Hospital, worth say 200 ,oO0 .
Hormitsoe northumberland. $4,000 0
Turnpike Roads in Middle Tennessee. 1886
Total of property in Middle Tennessee
belonging to the State, without TAX
ing into the calculation other items
that might be added. U
From this is to be deducted
the amount of the capitol
stock Of the State in the
East Tenn and Ga. Il. R.$t25,00o Oo
The value of the Deaf and
| Dumb Asylum at Knox -,l
vile, say................... 35,OOO w StoOIoUV
i, | Leaving a balance, in which we have
| a common interest, and for which we
ought to be paid Of.................S2,ff 1886
Suppose our share to be one fourth, and
we have this sum for which we ought
to be paid. SoSo''oi
To sum I'D the whole, it will be seen that, takIn
the assessment of 1860 and the present rate OF tai
alton thereon with the other sources OF revenue an
after paving the interest our share OF the Ota
debt proper and adding over eleven thousand 90
lars for unforeseen expenses, there remains the SUI
of one hundred thousand dollars not needed to carr
ON the new State thus showing that the taxes OF tn
neople NAV be LcsseJscd at least o,e-hrd. Or wit
It temporary penitentiary may be built and
State house fitted up. There is no necessity fc
building costly State capitol at this time Ienne
see did without capitol of her own for upwards
fifty wears. A temporary building can be procure
and fitted I'D at an expense of five or ten thousan
dollars, which will answer until our wealth is deve
oped When that time comes, with the AID OF col
Wet labor, capitol can be built out OF East Tel
nessee marble, and without very heavy cost Uni
will be the pride and ornament OF the State Econt
my and unostentation for the present at least, WI
we'll beft the pure patriotism and unselhsh loyalt
of our brave and noble people.
9 This movement, in favor of new State begun
days of darkness and danger, with the view
clinging to and aiding the General Government,
: now recommended, with the same feelings and u