Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-01

petition from James Holloway, guar
dian of John K Hama, lunatic, was read
and referred to the Committee on Lunatic
Asylum.
DEAF AND DUMB SCHOOL
Mr.. Luttrell presented the report of the
trustees of the Deaf and Dumb School at
Knoxville The reading of the report was
dispensed with and 500 copies ordered
printed.
NEW BILLS.
BY Mr. Eelson-A bill defining the du-
ties of tax assessors. Passed first reading
and referred to Judiciary Committee.
BY Mfr Palmer-A bill to repeal an act
further extending the exemption laws of
the State, passed March II, 1868 Passed
first reading and referred to Judiciary
Committee
By Mr.. Ilart-A resolution to employ
counsel to take legal steps TO collect the
interest due upon the 100000 of
State bonds loaned for the construc-
ton of the Evansville, Henderson and
Nashville Railroad III Kentucky; also to
obtain, if possible, some guaranty for the
payment Of the bonds when due. The
resolution instructs VIM A. Quarles, as
sisted by the Attorney General, to investi-
SdtO lA4C DlCOClN COLANAAAOAA Vi bAiO
road company, and take such legal steps as
may be deemed necessary TO secure the
payment of the debt and unpaid interest
upon said bonds. Adopted under suspen-
sion of the rules, and transmitted to the
House.
REDUCTION OF TAXES.
The time having arrived for the consid-
atation of the special order, which was the
e IL ~ 10 NJ,
Etheridge to reconsider the vote passing
the bill to reduce the tax on real estate and
personal property, that business was re-
sumed.
Speaker Thomas (Mr Morris in the
chair made lengthy speech in opposition
to the measure. The following is a brief
synopsis of his remarks He would not
prolOng this discussion and weary the Sen
ate with any further remarks upon this sub
ject, were it not for the purpose of eliciting
discussion, that it may be more thoroughly
discussed by Senators than it has been.
That government is accompanied with ex-
pense is acertainty. No government could
be sustained without agents to execute its
laws, to provide means for the government
of the people, and make such changes as
time may demand. 1t necessarily requires
money and means to support and supply
such agents. 1t becomes necessary that all
governments should have money to carry
on its legitimate operations. The State of
Tennessee, having the guardianship of its
people, must necessarily provide means for
the efficient government OF that people.
To do this it had always been the custom
since the organization of the State, to re-
sort to taxation, either direct or indirect.
Direct taxation upon the property, personal
and real of the State, and able-bodied men
who are competent to labor, and by indirect
tax upon privileges, merchants licenses.
etc The State of Tennessee had, from
time to time, created debts. Whether the
policy was a good or a bad one was not
now necessary for us to argue and de
bate. The debts are of two kinds:
One created by the State for various
purposes, previous to the general internal
improvement act of 1852. and called the
direct debt, and amounts to 3d.
800 600 or $4,000, 900; The other,
debt created tor the develop
ment of the internal improvement interests
of the State, by the loan of State bonds to
the different railroads, retaining lien up
on the same for the final payment of the
IL
There is of this debt about S34, O00, 900:
SIS, 900, 600 of this is for bonds issued be
fore the war, under the act of 1852, and
subsequent acts About So, 500, 900 more
is for interest upon those bonds that had
accrued during the war, that was funded,
and 81 800, 600 more issued since the war
upon the authority of acts passed before
the war-making about $22, 500, 900 OF the
debt created before the war These are
debts created by the people of the State
when they were represented by men
elected by the whole people. This is a debt
they can by no means refuse to pay,
without furnishing their character for honor
and integrity.
The balance of the indirect debt. of
about twelve or thirteen millions of dollars
has been created since the war-a portion
in the way of additional aid 10 old roads.
TO enable them to reinstate themselves and
make available and secure what had already
been furnished them-the balance to new
enterprises. OF this | see the Comptroller
reports all issued under acts of the Legis-
lature, except about one and half millions
that he reports issued by order of the Gov
ernor
To secure this debt We haze a lien on all
the railroads in the State, and so long as
they pay their interest we have no right to
interfere with them, nor are they an in
cumbrance The whole amount of interest
due from said roads is about two millions
| annually, of which there is nearly one halt
or one million paid. This leaves the State
| to paw the interest on the balance. OF
this indirect debt about one half is amply
secured aud will give the State no trouble
The other half, or about sixteen
or eighteen millions, is upon delin-
uuent roads and for which the State is
| bound to meet the interest either when it
| falls due, OF at some future day when she
| is better able to do so. OF the bonds issu-
| ed since the war in accordance with acts of
| the Legislature, we are as much legally
| bound to pay as those issued before, but
| merely it may be deferred, and those issued
| 10y order ofthe Governor, if there be no
other authority, l doubt their legality.
| The delinquent roads in the State can be
sold at something like ! or of their cost,
| but it will take time to do this, and in the
meantime we will have to pay the interest
| This with the present deposit in the
| Treasury-resulting from the extraordinary
| expenses of the State government for the
four past years, the employment of militia
school superintendent, etc, with the re
cent decision of the Supreme Court requir-
ing us to take in payment of taxes, the
issues Of the Bank of Tennessee renders il
| impossible for us to pay at present.
Citizens of the State have a right 10 theil
own labors sufficient to furnish them with
the comforts and conveniences of life, anG
no government has the right to demand o.
them the payment of taxes reducing then
below this point. The great complaint fol
| the last four or five years has not been SC
much against the onerous taxation, but be
cause the people believed that they had Nc
part in the1egislation of the country. The
State expenses, at time when they SHOULD
have been reduced to the lowest point, were
increasedin every department. and the peo
pie could see no hope of retrenchment OF
reform The militia were thrust upon III
for which there was no necessity, and IN
stead of preserving peace were the cause
of Gissention and discord, and created STRIFE
and disturbance. We had set of vul
lures upon us in the way of School Com
missioners, teachers, etc, that rendered M
service. and were had at great expense t.
the State. 1t is of this the people com
planned, and Justly so too, for they had II,
voice in the matter and could see no end t,
it. The taxes were burdensOme, becaus,
they could see no good resulting from them
That the people should complain of taxa
ton at that time Is not remarkable; bu
now the circumstances are very different
They have their own representatives, anC
the responsibility is upon them, and the,
can see that taxes collected are applied il
the right way, and not used to degrade anC
Cypress, as then. | am satisfied they vii
cheerfully pay taxes to preserve thei
credit and honor Not that / woulC
have them pay all that is now due but t.
give an earnest to the world of what the,
will do when they have time to realize from
their assets.
The Bank of Tennessee should be woun,
up and its remaining assets applied to tn
] & l., F,lI 4.