Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-05-30

IT is understood that a bill is before
the Legislature to form a new county
out of portions of Fayette and Shelby.
We are at a loss to see the compensate
ing good which is 10 accrue from 1t. A
friend from the country has called on
us as the agent of his neighbors, and
in their name and behalf to enter a
protest against it, and request that we
would make one in his and their be-
half. AS to the reasons for and
against it he sums up rs follows: For
it, all those who want office and
offices created that they may get soft
places, which the people can
do as well without; all those who
think they can get the location
of the new county seat on their lands,
and thus enhance the value of a few
acres and their surroundings; that
some say pauper funds now collected
are all spent in Memphis and do not
come to their poor in equal proportion;
and that taxpayers on the proposed
new county line now payaless amount
of taxes in Fayette than they do in
Shelby. Such are the frail pretexts of
some who have axes to grind. Against
it-that the white vote north and
south of Wolf being equal and the
preponderance of blacks being south
of that river the effect will be certain
Iy to give the county seat to the SOUTH
ern portion; that new bridges
over Wolf river will be
required, a courthouse must
be built, heavy expense incurred for a
new set of officials, that the more Off
GERS the worse, and the more office
seekers and Radicals the worse, who
look to negro votes, and will flock
into the county to get them; that the
taxes on the people will be heavilyin-
creased, without increased conven-
fence and protection Warranting the
outlay; and that the majority of the
people, in the proposed new county
itself, are satisfied and prefer that
things should remain as they ARE.
We think they are about right. Fay
cite and Shelby are only average
counties for size, and of as convenient
shape as other counties. The same
reasons which would warrant their
reduction, by carving out of their
territory a new county, apply as we'll
to Hardeman and McNairy, Hardin
and Wayne, Lawrence and Giles,
Lincoln and Franklin, Obion and
WeakIey, Madison and Henderson,
[ BlOunt and Knox, Cumberland and
Morgan, Marion and Hamilton, Will
son and Rutherford, Giles and Maury,
and other counties. 1t will be rather
expensive to divide the State up into
ten mile squares, and double the num-
Der of officials to be maintained at
public cost. The burden on the tax
payers is quite sufficient already. We
have governments enough and gov
eminent enough. And we do not
see any pressing reason why legis-
latOrs should not let bad enough
alone, until they see a way to make
things. better. We are satisfied that
the new county project will not meet
the appreciation Of the people Of Shell
by. The last returns indicate that it
would cut off some two or three hum
dred from our Democratic majority,
without doing other service than to
give a few ~carpeters a new grab at
the spOils. Shelby county is in
debt, and the debt should be
borne equally by its citizens. Is
it the object of the movers of this
measure to escape responsibility for
Indebtedness, TO which they are
equally bound with their fellow citi-
zens? If the motive is political, it will
do no good to Fayette or Shelby
counties. Ifit is peeuniary and self
ish, their attempt ought to be resisted.
And we hope the representatives
from Shelby will use their influence to
the utmost TO defeat the bill. 1t is a
surprise to the people. Tie matter
has not been discussed. And we in
sist that too sudden action of the
Legislature, on private application,
and where the public interests r af-
fected is an unhealthy practice. We
bava saan too much of H.