Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-28
LETTER FROM A CONSTITUENT TO
HIS REPRESENTATIVES,.

Nov. 20, 1S7l.-Dear Sir: You have ex-
pressed wish to hear from Col. R., Mr..
Nc, Esq. w. and myself in regard to
"COmnlOR schools" etc. As have nothing
to gain or lose from "BuncOnlbe," l can very
plainly say that would not give a Nnickle'
for the old or present system of common
schools in this State; it is nothing but
''Humbug;" its practical utility is rot
worth a cent to the people of the State.
though it has high sounding name in other
States, and until the State raises a fund
sufficient to educate the young, and compel
them to attend school at least four out of
the twelve months, and enact an educational
qualification to be necessary to exercise the
elective franchise, hold office and sit on
juries, you viii never raise the standard Of
education to its proper position, that our
citizens may be the most enlightened of any
other State. Your school fund now is too
small for any practical use, and viii only
enlist the attention Of persons wholly incOm-
petent to judiciOusly manage it and for
''DemdgogIeS" to spout about
The present Legislature is opposed to
taxes; consequently viii not better the COM
mon school in myjudgment, but will under
take TO perpetuate and continue it, which
viii, hope, effectually ''SU it too dead to
skin"
Mr.. Morrow, in his report, which Won
sent us, gives some very sound views in re-
gard to the revenue in assessment and COL
iectiOH-and you will have to adopt higher
rate than 40 cents or you viii hare 10 re-
pUdiGte. This will be the end OF that
policy as sure as time will continue-you
may ''dodge around" it for a short time but
that viii be the end of it.
How is your pay department managed
now? Mr.. Pennebaker receives thOuSa nds
of dollars from this county to 90 into the
Treasury, more than this county draws OF
is entitled to; he receives it all and will not
pay clerks, sheriffs or witnesses of this
| county because some other counties de
nand and receive more from the Treasury
| than they pay into it. The Representa-,
tives, Senators, officers, judges and chancel-
| lors, must have their salaries if it bank
rupts the county offices. RddicdliSm don,
no ,oOrSe than this.
We really fear that corporations anC
mOHopOiieS are getting too strong in Ou
| State Legislation. Railroad rings appear t.
have the inside track in the Capitol, ge
what they ask for in the Legislature anC
| pack what they want on the people.
The merchants are making a grand com
| plant about their taxes, and are filling you
House with petitions TO lessen them, whilt
in reality they are now paying less take
than any land holder in the State, and W,
| have no doubt, but what you will gran
| their petitions by lessening their taxes, anC
| let the great body of farmers and land hold
ers pay the taxes as now, unless it appears
that some of them own farm inside o
some corporation or city. They will b,
relieved from payment of corporation taxes
because they pasture their cows and calve
| on the land, rather than sell i. at what it i.
worth in the market, because they wish t,
hold it until it becomes be be worth fabu
lous prices.
| We see also proposition to limit the pa,
of magistrates holding Quorum Courts Il
S1.5O per day-just as if the Legislatur
knew better what would be just compensa
ton to them than all the magistrates Of tn
county.
| You will see from this that we are ful
of objects. This is very disjOinted, but vii
| give you some idea of our impressions Of
this subject. viii write again in a few day
more correctly and specifically.
VERY Truly, ETC.