Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-07-10
OUR NEW COURT HOUSE.

Iast Monday took the initiative steps
towards building new Court House
by the appointment Of ID. N. Ken
nedy. r. F. Ferguson J. b. Kille-
brew, j. B. Tapscott, and Jno. +.
House, q committee whose business II
is 10 ascertain what tire old Court
House can be sold for, how much it
will require TO purchase new and
suitable site, and what amountitwill
be necessary to raise by taxation In
order to build temple of justice that
will be creditable TO the intelligence
and taste and b. an honor to the peo-
pie of Montgomery
We congratulate our readers and the
people of the county upon this step.
We have for years contented ourselves
with melting out Justice In % building
whose construction and location are
entirely unsuited to the purposes to
which it is applied. 1t Is in fact an
sye-sore to the city, and a disgrace
and dishonor to q county boosting of
as much Intelligence and refinement
as this. Its whole architectural de-
sign 10 "a failure, utterly subversive of
those wholesome feelings of awe and
veneration which should be felt by
every one when entering within the
sacred precincts of justice. Its design
ers appeared to have no conception of
tho value of public records, upon the
preservation of which every man in
the county should feel deep solicit
tude. At present they are liable to be
destroyed at any moment, and should
such calamity befal us, who can
predict the interminable disputes, the
bitter strifes, the endless litigation
and the insufferable agony, uncer-
tainty and distress of mind that
would ensue? The evidences of title,
the settlement of vexed questions, the
bonds of guardians and their accounts,
settlements of administrators, execu-
tors, &C., the destruction of all these
would be a calamity as terrible rs an
earthquake; and no prudent business
man takes such little care of his val
liable papers as our county does of Its
records. 1t is high time this thing
was looked into; and those public
officers whose duty it is to provide
proper repositories for our valuable
public records should be admOnished
that they will be held to q strict ac-
countability should they longer neg
lect to make suitable appropriations
for that purpose.
We are aware there will be some
croakers; men, who though well
meaning enough, oppose every step
that requires the expenditure of mon
ey or that leads to u higher civiliza-
ton. Such men always oppose rail
roads, turnpikes, schools, immigra-
ton, &C., and would to-day, had not
the pressure forced them to advance
I've cutting wheat with reap-hook
treadiug it out with horses and carry
ing it to mill in bag with the Ven
cradle, historic grindstone Mt the
other end. Opposition from sucl
men we must expect. 1t is natura
and necessary to counterbalance tn,
schemes Of Missionaries on the othel
extreme. The safest course lies be
tween these-medio in tutissimus ibis
When the question is asked, ''shal
we be taxed still more? ?" 1t Is only
proper to inquire, sis 1t necessary
to our safety and prosperity?" If so
then rs shrewd, correct, business mel
we should cheerfully submit to it, ant
not only submit to it, but deman,
and require of our public officers tina
they insure our safety and prosperity
ms far ms is consistent with their duty
We know that we are heavily taxed
Our burthens are grievous to b
borne. Our liabilities, State an,
county, are enormous; and II will re
quire the most skillful iinanciering I,
relieve us of our Indebtedness. Blu
there are a few things worse evel
than being in debt, and one is the in
security of property. Suppose on
public records We're destroyed to-mor
row, how much and how great woul
he the loss to the county? Ho,
many men who are now secure i
their possessions would be bankrupt
How many widows and orphan
would be rendered penniless? HOY
much more expense would IL enta
upon the county than the building ,
proper place for their preservation
These are practical questions-quo
tions that sooner or later must com
home to every man in the count,
and that will increase in important
rs our county increases in wealth an
population--questions that we ca
not ignore or forget, and that ol
magistrates 10y stern public deman
should he required TO look at and n,
upon.
There are other reasons, besides Il
one of necessity, why a suitable Cou
House should be built In our count,
Public buildings belong the peopl
They correctly represent the stal
dard of architectural taste. They a
unerring indices of the amount
enlightenment and refinement Of Il
people. They add by their display
architectural fitness and beauty
dignity of the people at homo and