Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-31
MEMPHIS.

Collapse Of the City TFeasury-Enor-
mOUs Increase Of Taxatfan-The
Alarm Exeited-The EnOrm0ms Coal
Of Courts and their Hangers-en-
Granny Hunter, fhe ConsemntIbIe-
Wees ofthe African.
Correspondents Of the Union and Disputch
MEkrHfs TENN, January %, 1853.
--Whiie the war ragged Memphis fell
among thieves. The city was ruled by the
appointees Of Dana and other lnagnates;
the treasury was plundered, and public in
debtedness rapidly augmented. Under the
Radical dispensation, those holding Offices
had no interest in common with tax-pay-
era, and expenditures exceeded revenues.
The late Mayoa, Jno. Park, during whose
reign the Irish and negro war was waged,
denounced Aldermen as common thieves.
In fact, financial caIamaties that have be-
come ruinous maY render the repeal Of
acts Of Incorporation a proper subject for
the consideration Of The Legislature. Sight
drafts Of the Comptroller on the CITY
Treasurer, are outstanding to the amount
Of 5000, 900. There il not dollar in The
irensury, and cannot be until "city scrip
1.-THE Mayors checks) Is absorbed. The
cisyis revenues for the current year win
pot be less than 100000. 10 this sum the
S259000 collected As a special tax levied
for the behalf of the Metropolitan Police,
is not included, nor does this cum embrace
the vast amount collected for the use Of an
army Of hangeB-onof the public schools.
These schools constitute an independent
corporation, like the Metropolitan Police,
and these two agencies of public good,
managed by class Of people who have no
interest 10 thewell-being ofthe great bodyof
taxpayers, plumber usremorselessly. Aside
from exactions imposed by the Federal gov.
eminent, each property holder of Memphis
pays three per cent. annually Of the sum
total Of bis wealth for the support Of the
city government. Aside from the ysst
sums paid TO city school marms and the
quarter Of a million gobbled by the Net
ropolifana the sJm of taxation paid by
this county is said 10 be one-fourth of the
whole revenue of the State treasury, If
the city we're properly represented, or if
lawgivers at Nashville prosecuted public
instead Of partisan interests, these facts
would be Investigated, and Mesrs. Rich
ards, Hamilton, and Ryder, see that their
constituents are relieved of share Of these
insuferable burdens. They should see that
public charities, compulsory in the case Of
these public schools, are lessened. When
the city prospered, and its streets we're
crowded, and the sad words For Rent
were undiscoverable, taxation was unfelt.
Then we could afford to pay seventy dol
lars per annum Tor each pupil that entered
the portals Of the schools. Just now the
burden is insufferable.
In view of the the deplorable condition
Of the city's credit and fearful exactions of
armies of ravenous eax-gatherers, there
has been a convention Of citizens. Their
action appears in the papers Of today,
Wise as this may be deemed, there can be
no relief save through rigid economy, the
suspension Of all improvements and the
intervening Of the Legislature to restrict
those twowheels within wheel, the school
system and Police.
THE HERMAPHRoDTTEs COURT.
II wss understood yesterday, that Grand
mother Hunter, of the Criminal Court,
would pronounce sentence upon Galloway
and others, editorsofthe Apaldnch. The hall
Of justice was crowded. The grandmother
has printed her opinion in pamphlet form.
IL is said that the editors will go TO Jail
and be mulcted in heavy sum. need
not tell you that the people are weary Of
the knavery and incapacity of these un-
known adventures who plumber us with
out mercy and make mockery Of Justice.
Think Of it. Our State aud county tax,
only eight cents on the hundred dollars
eight years ago, is now one hundred and
thirty~fve cents For this beBehcent
change We are indebted to Barber Lewis.
The poorer we become the heavier our
burdens. How long can can these cumu.
lative calamities be borne? Is there no
possibility Of change?
GREAT PUBLIC NUIsANcEs TO BE ABATED.
Theae multiplied courts, which have
been organized that sinecures might exist
for the occupation of incapable, WORTH
less partisan adventurers, have digusted
the people. The courts Of Memphis cost
taxpayers enormous sums. There are
six or seven hundred lawyers and clerks,
hangers-on of these absurd and worthless
institutions This whole mighty mob
feeds upon the follies and misfortunes Of
this tax-burdened community. We need
criminal court and another Of arDitra-
lions and awards, and third for the set
element Of the estates of decedents Be-
sides these, all courts should be abolished.
The bankrupt act will adjust the accounts
of individuals, and then we should begin
even, and the cash system reign eyermore.
Then there would be a premium upon
honor; nov knavery is supreme. Why
does not some decent man substitute this
question for the eternal "nigger," in the
General Assembly These non producing,
useless courts and their appsndages cost
TenEesseans Eve or ten millions annu~
ally. They add not a sou to public
wealth, and the active industry of the vast
horde Of lawyers, censtables, cleTks and
"squires" would add & vast sum to pnbiic
wealth. Let rs have the whole system
knocked on the head
PITY TIE AFRICAN.
Our colored fellow>citizens become in
dustrious. They have gathered here in
mighty numbers, and have villages Of their
own 10 the city and suburbs. The weather
has been cold, very cold. The condition
Of the sons Of Ham il deplorabls. Poor,
ignorant, helpless, dependent their suffer-
ings kave been indescribable as they are
unknewn and unpitied. Radiealism duga
gulf between them and the only class Of
people who would hSve aIleviatsd their
misiotunes. Greelyism has achieved It's
purposes. White women have learned to
toll, and the fewest number Of blacks find
employment as demestics For every
white woman sent TO the wash tub there are
dozen starving negresses. Candidates no
longer distribute brides among black voters,
who become chcediiers d tndHstris, devoted
mainly to robberies of hen-rocsts aud pig
styes. Cows, swino and horses are stolen,
houses are robbed, burglaries are Of nightly
occurrence, gardens are destroyed By the
removal Of fences, houses are torn down 10
be used a. fuel by freezing, half clad blacks.
Even the wooden street-crossings are taken
up by the wretched inhabitants Of novels,
that they may have FIRE these bitter cold
nights. Such is negro industry. Let the
Bureau laud IL in official reports. IL csnS
not be too extravsgsntly commended. For
the first time negro woes demand pity and
tears. TERRENCE.