Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-05

Resolution Adopted LevyiBe Tax.
The County Court met again yesterday
morning at 10 O'Clock, pursuant to adj
journment, Judge Glenn presiding, and a
eoodly number of magistrates in attend
ance.
After the reading Of the road minutes
and the transaction of some unimportant
business, W. B. Ewing Esq, offered the
following resolution
Whereas, The present Legislature, on
the LIST Of December last, passed an act TO
authorize each county in the State to levy
a direct tax on the property and taxables
of the respective counties for the support
and maintenance of a system of common
schools in the respective counties there
fore.
Be it resolved, That this court levy a
tax of two mills on the taxable property
and taxables of this county, and that one
half of one per cent be levied on mer-
chants privileges, and 81 for each poll
P W. Maxey, Esq, in seconding the
resolution, extended an invitation to Judge
Whitworth, who was present, to give his
NibMh Ou NAb AnA1 Jaw ktttpoSu wv TUG lIbRio-
lature.
P. w. Brien, Esq, here remarked that
he was in favor of the law thought it the
best ever passed in relation to schools, but
was opposed to the resolution.
Judge Whitworth then in response to the
| invitation took the stand, and commenced
his remarks by congratulsting the County
| Court upon reassembling in full possession
/ 4 L I. E.1A
mented by the request asking him to make
a statement on a subject which was of more
interest than anything presented in the
| past, or likely to be submitted to the court
| in the future. How the court acted in
| this school law would determine the future
| prosperity of Davidson county. Under the
nature of things heretofore there had not
| been a sufficient amount of money ap-
| portioned 10 the respective districts to car
| ~ on the educational interest as it should
be, and hence private enterprise came into
direct opposition to the public school sys-
tenn. By experience he had ascertained
that the only way to place the public school
system on a basis sufficiently strong to get
rid of opposition, was to back the schools
with the necessary amount of money.
Judge Whitworth then read the law
passed by the Legislature, and commented
upon it at some length Heremarked that he
did not regard it as the best that could
have been adopted, that he saw defects
which might be remedied, but 1t was law,
submitted to the various counties in the
State, and under its provisions, these
counties could go to work. If alterations
and amendments were to be made to this
law, it was for the Legislature and the PEG
i i. = l. IL l.
from various sources in discussing the pro-
visions of the new school law, the great
question was as to the dollars and cents.
He referred to the assessment made upon
the people Of this country In 1869, up
wards of $4,000, which came directly
out of the pockets of the people,
not a cent of which had been levied
by this court, and Notwithstanding this
levy by State, county and corporation, we
find the schools at a stand still, and We
are informed by those in charge of the
public fund that there is not a dollar tc
pay teachers, or to start with. He did not
intend to quarrel with anybody about these
funds, but would like to know where and
when it was expended. He hoped that tho
future promised better than the past.
He was willing TO admit that the coloreC
| llldll pau ~ pun bdAs Dub NOu1u hSh II lLlt
white man would not refuse to paw hi
polls if not compelled by law TO do SO.
The organic law of the land had failed {,
make provision in this respect, and it was
not the fault of the colored man, who
paid cheerfully his tax on priv
leges. or any other tax that had been i'm
posed upon him. A law requiring the col
ored man to pay poll tax would be passed
| I, I Ia H.,
object to it. As the representative of The
white man, he was willing to see the con
vention pass a law making every man
white and colored, pay a poll tax from tht
age of twenty-one until death.
He wanted to see a sufficient levy to pu
schools on apermanent basis. Give Schoo
Commissioners about half of the money
necessary to run them successfully. ant
they will abandon them in disgust With
such a levy as was made last year, ther,
viii be sufficient money for all pur
poses. The sum of 100000 will rur
these schools successfully. Suppose YOU
schools are established on a basis
that will be mistaken, what effect will i
have on your population There will bt
many to remove here from other counties
and when you increase your DOB
/ iAAAtADA .NOu ALNA0doB gOU4 Nthlli. liz
Legislature had been engaged an entire
session discussing the subject of immigra
ton. This proposed system of publ,
schools would be the best immigration
society that could be organized The
poor boys of the present day viii be youl
rich men in the next generation. By tb,
right sort of hberality on the part of this
County Court, you give your children an
/ a4rpa41pu ubiab will 41,av,, r.,
and the youth of the land, however Door
will he your future orators and statesmen
We want to invite useful and slzillful me
chanics to come here, and enjoy the bless
ings Of these schools In the education o.
their children. An impression prevailed
abroad that Tennessee was not disposed
to be liberal, and these reports had giver
rise TO trouble Let the County Court TO.
day take the initiatory in this matter o.
schools, and thus give the lie to any such
report. He wanted to see the true repre-.
sentatives of the people TO act for the ben.
eft Of the county at large. What is good
for the city is good for the country, and
vice versa. Discard the picayunish idea o.
city and country arrayed in hostility Il
each other, and act for the public good.
Letall preiudices be dropped, and everything
would end tremendously He would give hi
entire estate to make every man in the State
intelligent. The Legislature of the State
had placed the key Of knowledge in the
possession of this County Court by the pas.
sage of the present school law, and if You
act upon it as you should do, a new era OF
prosperity will dawn upon this people
Hon. A. V. S. Lindsey was present,
and responded to an invitation to speak.
congratulating the people of Davidson on
the restoration of her time-honored
| County Court Referred to the original
settlement of pioneers here, and their &C
ton in favor of order, courts and schools;
| glanced at their progress and success, and
coming closer to our own day, was glad to
see the people allowed to vote tax through
their County Court for the purpose of edu-
eating the children of all, rich and poor.
His speech was well received, and heartily
responded to by the members of the Court.
Rev. c. D. Elliott was also called upon,
and he made speech in favor of voting
the tax, and dwelt at some length upon
j other points.
j. o. Griffith, being invited, made some
remarks urging prompt action on the part
of the County Court in voting the tax asked
for, and then the election Of the best men
to carry into effect the law. and the organ
ization of the schools in the different dis
tricts, as the people have a right to expect.
and demand all this shall be faithfully
4 done.
He thought it no time to stir up and dis
cuss sectional or sectarian topics. He had
confidence in the integrity and intelligence
| IF fha mon, barS IF tba oo1,r+ ovI 49, -