The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-10-25

alive to the spirit or thG"heW era,
and that we are equal to our preten-
sions.
If you should deem it your duty
to aid our two State Universities
you might require a given number
Of worthy poor young mon to be ed
ucated from time to time free Of ex-
pense, or for nominal sum, on con.
dition that they would afterwards
teach a given number Of years in our
common schools. In this way many
young men might each yearbe turn
ed out of our Universities, sent over
the State to diffuse, through our
common Schools, the knowledge they
had acquired. Our common school
system would thus become efficient
to accomplish the noble purpose de-
signed for it. Without some plan be
devised for the education of teachers,
that system must, for several years
at last, be imperfect, and q partial
failureIsl
The entire account of the State
with the Railroad Companies-and
especially that portion relating to the
Sinking Fund, has been so badly kept,
during the war, and before, that the
books are very unsatisfactory. | ad-
wise the appointment of Commission
ers by your body, to sit, during your
session, and make new settlements
with all the roads, that the books may
be made TO show all settlements satis-
factory, both to the State and Com
panies. The expense of such settle
ment will be more than compensated
for by rescuing the account from ruin
Gus oblivion.
1 further advise that said Commits
sioners be instructed tolook into the
disposition made of the Bonds granted
to the various Commissioners in the
State, and that they be clothed with
power to send for persons and papers.
| have reason to believe that in some
instances the Bonds of the State have
not been disposed of according to law,
while in others the confidence Of the
State has been abused, and her credit
sought to be injured, even by the re-
cipients of her favors. And in all
future appropriations to Railroad Com,
panies, let us know the characters Of
the men into whose hands State bonds
90, both as to integrity and loyalty
Meanwhile, let us guard against any
future increase of the State debt BY
the issuance of Bonds tCrRailroads
unless it be in cases where the in.
terests of the State would suffer fol
the want of further 4id. ~
In the discharge q my dGty, l have
appointed Receivers on as many as
seven Roads, aud if the interest or
their indebtedness to the State is no
promptly met, shall provide guar
dams for others. 1t is an outrage
that nearly million of dollars is due
the State from these defaulting Com
panies. -
BIT while | deem it of the first i'm
portance to preserve the credit Of tht
/ State, and believe our present rail
roads, when completed, will be ample
for the wants of our people, sugges
| for your consideration the necessity
| and Justice of the adoption of system
of macadamised or turnpike roads foI
such sections ofthe State as.2Fe with
out them,an especially for such coun
ties as are remote from railroads ant
navigab.e streams. The people of al
the counties are entitled TO equa
facilities in reaching a market, ant
yet they do not possess such facilities
For example, the counties OF Sewer
Union and Hancock have no railroad
either completed or contemplated
while they bear their equal share o
the taxation necessary to aid in build
ing or sustaining roads in other NOR
favored counties. 1t is but an act Q
simple justice to aid such counties il
some form in finding q cheap means
reaching q market.
On general principles the policy 4
improvingo our county or local road
byt iudieious use of the credit c
the State can easily DO maintained
We need now not main lines, but goo
F local roads, leading from county t
county, and reaching the remote
parts of. the county, not ponetrate
by railroads. These would act a
feedera and supporters of the railroads
. add to the prosperity of tho people
/, greatly enhance the value of real ei
, tate. increase the revanue of the Stat
!, and largely increase the flow of in
! migration. Labor being the grea
: source of wealth, we must do all W
can to attract population. This "
, can do alone by affording labor tn
q, the same facilities forreaping its ju'
rewards that is afforded by oth'
: State. We can not expect the peop
. of other States, when they haSe gho
macadamised roads leading from ever
: county town, to sot.lo among US, wiz
out local roads impossible nearly en-
half the year. For these reasons
earnestly invite your attention to th
oonafdaration of this gnbiect.