Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-10


she has earned. Let her sons but emu
late their sires. Let them swear that
they will be free as long as the sun shines
Ia heaven, or the wind blows out of the
clouds, and their voices will be taken up
by the breezes that blow TO the shores OF
the lakes and to the golden sands of Cali.
fornia, and the returning breeze will bear
back the fraternal shouts Of millions Of
the free white men of America that they
will help them to make good their votes.
The speaker continued for more than
an hour his animated, earnest and yehe-
ment denunciations ofthe corrupt faction
that has the brazen impotence to ask the
people for four years further lease Of
power. He dealt not with distractions
and generalities, but with facts and
names-ofteu avouchipg the speeches
aud declarations of Radical leaders
against their associates in oppression
and villaiDy. 20.
TAxArIoS--A Memorial to the Board
of County Commissioners. AT a meet
ing of propefty-holders and tax payers
yesterday, the following memorial was
drawn up and unanimously adopted:
To the Honorable Board Of County Commits
aoners for Shelby County:
We, the undersigned citizens Of, and
properly owners in Shelby county, re-
specially present this, our memorial,
to your honorable Board, seeking relief
at your hands from the grieyous burden
and tax now borne by. our people.
II is unnecessary and Inappropriate
here to state in detail the financial and
commercial difficulties under which we
have all labored since the late disturb.
ance Of the country. Suffice it to say
that all appreciate fully the enbarrass-
ment in administering the affairs Of our
county; the outlay requisite to .defray
the necessary expenses of that admins
tration; and the causes which have
brought about the heavy taxes which are
now imposed upon US. While we admit
the necessity Of an increased taxation
throughout the country in its present
troubled condition, we would respect
fully ask your attention to the enor-
mously heavy rate now imposed upon
the people of our county, and their utter
inability to bear so great burden.
The difficulties that have almost bank
rupted our State, county and municipal
governments have also had their, effect
upon individuals of those governments.
As consequence, the majority of our
citizens are utterly unable to pay the
enormous tax imposed upon them. Taxes
have steadily advanced since the close Of
the war, and there has been no CORE
spending increase in the value Of prop
erty, which, in many cases, is assessed at
a figure exceeding its real value.
+ We would most especially call the at
tention Of your honorable Board to the
tax imposed for the year 1868. By the
State and county tax of one dol
lar and twenty cents on the one hundred
dollars worth of property is levied, and
an additional special tax of sixty cents
on every one hundred dollars worth of
property has been recently imposed by
your Board-which additional tax is
more than the majority of the people are
able to pay-and we respectfully but
earnestly ask that this sixty cents addi-
tional tax imposed by your honorable
Board be repealed, and that all such
other reductions in the rate of taxation
be made as the absolute requirements OF
the county will admit.
In presenting this memorial, we are
actuated by no spirit of resistance to the
collection of all reasonable taxes i'm
posed, bot we respectfully ask that you
give relief, as sought for, in the premises.
The utter inability Of great majority
Of our citizens to pay the taxes now
levied upon them will render the sale OF
their property necessary. Property sold
for taxes is bought generally by the State,
and placed in the State school fund; aud,
il redeemed, no part of the money paid
for its redemption is returned to the
county. This is q great loss to the county;
whereas, if the taxes imposed were so
reasonable that it would be within the
power of all to pay it, there would be
fewer, il any, sales made for taxes, and
the county would receive its revenue in
full.
. The tax collected in Shelby county
bears q large proportion to the tax col.
lected in all the remaining portion OF
the State; and while we would not make
this cause Of complaint, we would re.
speetfully, urge that our county tax
should in consequence be reduced TO its
lowest possible extreme.
We learn that your Board contemplates
issuing bonds, under a recent act Of the
Legislature, for funding the floating debt
of the county. We think it unwise and
impslitio to do so; and we earnestly re-
quest that no bonds be issued.
In all cases requiring an expenditure
of the funds Of the county, we would
most respectfully but earnestly request
the careful attention and supervision of
your Board, and that you exercise the
utmost economy and frugality in the adj
ministration of our county affairs. The
welfare of our county requires the exer-
else Of great economy; the peace and
prosperity of the community require il;
the snceess Of our commercial aud fnan-
cial interests requires II the quiet OF
every household requires IT. and We as
individuals aud as community, which
you represent, ask it earnestly AZ your
hands all F
A committee also, consisting Of two
citizens from each ward, was appointed
10 secure signatures to the above, and We
are requested 70 state that, for the conve-
nience Of those wishing to sign the me-
mortal. q copy viii be found at the Office
Of the Peoples Insurance Company, at
the Office Of ]. ]. Murphy, at the 0verton
Hotel, at the Worsham House, and at
George Pal,ison 4 Co.'S book store. The
committee appointed to solicit signatures