The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1870-12-22

We promised, in our last issue, 4
discuss the proposition Of Mr. McGi
vock to the people Of this county, am
we have endpav6Fed to ascertain tn
views OF gentlemen among us ~
whose judgments We have much res
pect, in Older to form an cnliyhtene'
opinion upon the subject. 1t was IN
sisted by the advocates for the rcmis
sion of the tax, that the resources o
Franklin county in tho way of water
power, coal, and timber, were unsur
passed by ally other county in TN
State; that Mr. McGavock propose
to invest 500, 1000 at Alisonia, and tina
though this capital should not hStaxc'
for ten years, at the emil Of that TIME |
would add materially to the income d
of the county; that such m establish
ment would afford a market fur GU
wheat straw, besides giving employ
ment to probably y hundred persons
that II the tax was, not RENTED posi-
bly, the factory would not BIZ built a
all; that no tax should he imposed b,
the county hereafter, for a term 0
years, upon u new manufacturing Ell
terprise of any sort; and, that, as
wise father will make such an invest
mcnt Of his means rs will inure to til
benefit of his children. ~ behoo.ed TIN
county Of Franklin TO offer indnce
msnts for capitalists to come here
and to remit the tax on the factory ii
question for the iWlrpose of swcIlln.
its assessment list and reaping Il large
harvest in the way of taxes ten years
hence. Upon the other hand, it Wa
insisted by the opponents Of the pro
posed measure that tie people of tli'
county had no ri-Lt to remit this tax
that section s of articles ofthe Consti
tuition provides that
1.-THE Legislature Shall have no pow
er to suspend any general law tor thu
benefit of any particular individual
nor to pass any law for the benefit %
individuals, Inconsistent with the gene
ral laws OF the land; nor /" pass any
law granting to any individual or indi
viduals, rights, privileges, imrnmities
or exemptions, other lban such as may
he, by the same law, extended to any
member of the community who may h'
able to bring himself within the pro
visions Of such law !" '''
AMI that, as the Constitution gave thu
Legislature no power TO exempt tn
capital of any individual or individual.
from taxation for q term of yeur!
Without extending the advantages q
the law to all who might wish to en-
gage in the favored branch Of husl
ness, it would lie IL manifest breach y
the spirit of the Constitution 10 thi'
county to exempt Mr.. AleGayork', cap
ital from taxation without extending
the exemption to that of all other:
who might wish to engage in manulac
turing enterprises; that the Legislature
has passed no law authorizing til,
counties Of the State TO reliiit the taxes
upon manufacturcs--but, upon tue con
trary, refused to- pass a bill last spring
exempting them from taxation; thai
the nnnuiact cries now in the county
have always paid their taxes withou
complaint; that our water-power ant
other resources are sufficient induce
mcnt for the investment of capital
without exemption from n share ofth
public burden That 1t would pay on
farmers better tn convert their wheat
straw into manure and spread it upo
their lands than to sell it for an insia
nifcapt price; ,latthe factory woul
not add much to the population of ID
county, as the employees would be oh
tanned here as before; that il wnu'
be unjust for the farmer and In" me
chanic, who are barely able to supper
their families, to- '!e tlxc'l,upon ever
thing that they possess, and t" exr.ml
from taxation the wealthy munuf,cl,
rer who fares sumptuously every day
that there is virtuallyn, difference be
tween the measure proposrd and I'll
aacursed protective tariff syst II
az sinst which tile S ,utl, llas fought f..
ffty years; that taxat.oni should fl
with an even hand upon all classes {
society. and that the laws should nc
rob one to pamler another; that it
unre asonable to suppose tIat'the ere'
ton of the factory in quest Oil is d'
pendent upon the release Of sma
county tax; that se!f-iftterest will rou
pei Mr.. McGavock topuLnp factor
now that he has b,ught the Site, q
else sell out to somebody who will
that the county of Franklin. even i
was authorized to do 50, ia under n
ALLEGATIONS to follow had precedent
one of which at least was set bcl0l
the present Constitution was formed
(she one In Coffee countys) that Il
experience. Of CALIFORNIA; SHOWS tn
| man ufactories and capital follow in Il