The Sweetwater forerunner. [volume] (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1867-1869, 1868-04-30
MYSTERY IN SEWER COUNTY.
Information Wanted.


From the Press and II erald.l
Strawberry PLAINS, April 20, 1868.
''Star Spangled Banner, long may she float,
O'erthe little black sheep and the big horned
goat"
Capital poetry, Mr., Editor, and very
suggestive too. Well, l want to tell you
about the trouble and perplexity we are
all in just at this time. | was over at
our little town the other day and met up
with a friend, the Postmaster, who had
just returned from cambridge. ] asked
him the news, and he told me tk& while
at cambridge he had a private conversation
with the Clerk of the County Court, who
told him that the Legislature of Tennes-
see had been in session, and that it had
passed great many new and strange laws,
and as proof showed him a large prin-
ted book, which he said was filled with
new law The Clerk was then kind enough
to open the book and read among other
things the new tax law, how that we must
pay twice as often as heretofore and that
if we failed to pay before due q per cent
would be added, and if not paid for in
six months 10 per cent, and, further, if
we failed to pay entirely, the amount due
would be doubled twice year until we
died, when they would sell our birthright.
This last provision, he said, was made in
mercy for rebels, who might wish to be-
come citizens again. | did not think
much about the new laws until after
started home when saw on every shop
door, and at every cross roads the follow
ing legal notice, the original of one of
which is enclosed. This copy took off
an oak tree, where it was fastened with
horseshoe nails.
NOTICE.
We the undersigned commissioners for
Sewer County will attend at s mounts
Fsqr on the 9th & 7th days of May next
for the purpose of Examing the clames of
the citizens for the loses incurdd by the
General Government & also loses incurded
by the Rebels all of which will be Accor-
ing to the Act of the General Assembly
of the State of Tennessee passed FEBRUARY
the 10Th 1868 this 10th April 1868
5 w HANDLES chairme
DAVID KEENER
RUPERT MoNGUMRY
Now, Mr.. Editor, I just want to ask your
opinion as to the proper and just constitute
ton of this legal document. My friend,
the P. NJ, contends that the citizens of
Sewer County are to be taxed (as in the
ordinary way) to pay the General Gov
eminent for losses incurred in saving it.
self, and what is still worse, to pay rebels
for losses incurred in trying to destroy
the General Government.
Well, you may feel sure that | was not
satisfied with such an explanation, so I
called on my spiritual adviser, who is a
presiding Elder in the loyal church. He
said the postmaster was mistaken-that
the commissioners, who are very loyal have
agreed to pay the losses incurred by the
late General Government and that they
only want the citizens to come out and re-
port their losses, that they may be sworn
how much to pay. Not being exactly
satisfied with either explanation, l sub
mitted the paper to Esquire Collins, who,
although not a citizen of Sewer county,
lives very near the line and is well ac-
quainted with the common law of our
county. The Esquire was undecided, but
gave it as his opinion, that the United
States was too magnanimous to ask either
Sewer county or any private citizen to
pay its debts. Now, Mr.. Editor, we know
you are good country lawyer, will you
be so kind as to give us your opinion on
the above "notice," and print the same in
your paper and send me copy, care of
the postmaster. will pay you five cents
the first time I 60 to Knoxville.
Yours,
JONATHAN JOHNS.
rive cannot undertake to explain the
enactmcnts of our sapient legislature in
accordance with the principles of law.
Our correspondent ought to be satisfied
with the fact that his taxes have to be paid
which is enough for him to knowles.
Press.
,SIGNIFIcANT.-The New Haven, (Con-
necticut,) Reporter, in noticing the late
election, says:
"Another significant feature Of the late
election, was the fact that a great major