Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-10-01
SUNDAY MORNING. OCT. I, 1871
The ASSEMBLING LEGIsLATURE-
THE WORK BEFORE IT.

no lOfE6L u6I uUlt 70 tuoh parry
Organization and discipline is the
only way to prevent a large majority
from being torn by feuds and ehques,
and its power destroyed by Olsen
sions between its own members. To
avoid all this let the party, in elect.
ing candidates, and in discussing all
questions Of interest, meet in caucus
and carefully consider what is the
best for the interest Of the people.
Never did a Tennesss8 Legislature
enter upon its duties with graver re-
spOusibilities. The candidates, while
soliciting the SURFACES of the people
promised to relieve the taxpayers
from the burdens imposed upon them
by the corruptiOns of Radical misrule.
A people groaning under the heavy
LOAF Of taxes have been told by their
sangUine Representatives that the leg
islsture which cOnvenes to-mor-
row would be a model OF retrench-
ment and economy; thst the junket-
ings Of rings and hondholders were
70 be spit upon by q body which
t-eould neither be bought nor sold.
Il the members of the Legis-
lsture remain true to their
pledges and to the expectations in
spired by their promises, a halo Of
glory will crown them, the laurel
wreath will bedeck their brows as the
thanks Offering OF, swell done good
and faithful servants comes up richly
and l~uxuriantly from the lips of q
grateful people, We trust the ending
Of the legislature, now about to CON-
menee its labors, viii he in harmony
with its beginning. The people proud
ly point to it as one Of the ablest
bodies that has assembled in the
capitol for years; as the embodiment
the cream OF our chivalry
and our honor they march
upon the capital with a flourish of
trumPets, with music and with ban
ners. VIII they go out as a wet
blanket, or a candle when it is snuied?
Will they refuse to extTicate an Op-
pressed people from the load Of taxes
under which they are buried, and
thereby provoke murmurings, griev-
ings, lamentings, SCOTS, jeers, ridieule,
happenings, lashings and contempt?
Instead Of b~edecking the brow Of each
member with the laurel wreath, will
the e~xecrstions Of the people Of poor
tax-ridden Tennessee burn and tiugle
in the ars and seOTeh the backs of
The Tecresnt and faithless servants
who have dgelt at the seat Of govern
ment, wasting the taxpayers moneys?
II Is not for Is to deliver to the as
sembiing Legislature q lectTts as to
their duties. But we ca tell them
whst the people want, and will have,
If their servants obey the will Of their
masters, instead of consulting the ava
rice Of spectators, who regard the
taxpayer a a pack-mule, to be rid
den, booted and spurred by every
huckster that proposes to prosper on
the sweat and toll Of the horny
handed lsborer. The people Of Ten
nessee demsnG, in a voice amounting
to unanimity-a voice which no
member Of the Legislature can mis- A.,
take or misinterpret-ECONOMY, ,
BEREAVEMENT and a RE A.,
DUCCION OF TAXES. The A.,
Burdens under which they stsgger i
must be lifted from their shoulders. 5
The ShylOcks and the legislative }
pimps, purchased with a mess :
Of pottaze, viii hold up their 3
hypocritical hands In holy horror and :
pirate about Republication" shonor," @
honesty" the sacred obligations" .
and the "pIighted faith Of the State" !
Bot these mock puritsns know full 4
well that there IS moi q mar 10 Ten n
nessee so lost TO honor, probity and O
good faith as to propose a reputation 3
Of the State debt. It is true, the debt q
may have been contracted in viola Y
tiOn OF law, and that the bonds were O
sold by villains to villains for a mere fl
song. But the people intend to pay s,
the debt, with interest, so 0 as v
they can; 30 sOon as their Il
means viii enable them to do so. n
In tact, to prevent reputation, taxes Il
must be reduced. II the people were n
ordinarily prosperous they would en- st
without a murmur even extor- o.
ton and robbery in the way Of taxes. OF
But when applied to a population, ST
exhausted By the privations Of four gi
yesrs Of unequal strife, suddenly de- ri
Of their accustomed labor, and pc
destitute Of any resources but IA
their own hands, to Tecommenee the re
battle Of life, the load cannot be az
borne. So long as the taxable property iz
Of the State is reduced one-half "a
.he taxation cannot be doubled as
spoIistion and a mon tn
'trous wrong. Crops for four M
i've years have not remunerated he
he farmer; the disorgsnized condi- W,
ion Of lsbOE has brOughtnesrIy every 90
in debt, rich lands have al ds
,eady been sold for taxes, and if the W,
would heed the suHerings tn
4 the people and regard their elamors, tn
{ will suspend the interest on the be
state debt. Without largely increased wi
sxation the revenues will not suffice =
o pay two millions Of interest due. int
md also maintain g school system. all
The people cannot bear any further vi
axation at present, and the schools &c
hOuld be preferred 10 the public cred ve
tors. The education Of children IL
J more Important than the payment m,
I fraudulent debts, contracted by IN an
.srupulOus spectators, for it is educs- fire
on alone that fits men for their du- wi
les, and Il Is education that dimin- Or,
hes and removes or remedies error. vi
rretgtable statistics hsveso long e. les
sblihed the effect OF education In de- ers
: easing the injury and expense er- wa
lied on society by the criminal, that hol
would be the work Of supereroes. his
on 20 dwelIupon the fact. We must but
ave free schools, and to Sc tiol
Ire them requires heavy taxation. haN
ye have also charitable institutions cies
hieh rely upon the general treasury and