Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-05-11
For the Chronicle.
TO THE TAXPAYERS AND MAGIS.
TRATES.

On the second Monday in thi,
month it is proposed to hold meet
ing of the County Court, of Mont.
gomcry county, and it is generally un-
derstood that the most important
question to come before the court or
that day is, whether or not, the ques.
ton appropriating about $4,000 Of
the cOunty's money to the building OF
the Clarksville and Princeton railroad
shall be left to the decision of the vo.
tiers of the county.
Now if all voters were taxpayers
and all voters and tax payers were to
be equally benefited in proportion to
the amount of taxes each had to pay
by said appropriation then it might be
right to allow them to decide the mat.
ter. But, as such is very decidedly
not the case, ! should say for one, lei
the county court end the matter on
the same day they commence it, put
the county to no more expense in re-
gard to it, and appropriate its money
to the most honest of all purposes
that is paying her Just debts. and Civ.
ing herself better credit at home and
abroad.
| would not have any one think that
| was such an "old fogy" as to be OPP
posed to railroads; on the contrary ]
am very much in favor of them and
would be glad to see a half dozen
built and successfully running through
our county, and | would not object to
all of them having their terminus at
GAINESVILLE. If such could be the
case, ] for one would willingly pay my
proportion of $4,000 to each one.
But this arrangement of the law
allowing the majority to vote tax on
the minority for unncC essary purposes
is not in accordance with what | con
ccive to be just principles. | do not
think that non-taXpayers should vote
on tax questions. And, indeed, ! am
well satisfied in my own mind that we
would have n much better government
if property or education were made
necessary qualifications for voters. |
know this is not popular sentiment
with the masses; but | am not an
Office seeker. and don't expect to be
one, and if | were, | don't wish pop
ularity unless | can gain it by express
ing or doing what believe to be right
As our voting population now stands
! do not think that three fourths of
them pay moro tax than poll-tax, and
many of them, yes, there are hundreds
in this county, that do not pay even
poll-tax. What difference does il
make with them how the funds of the
county are expended? They have no
interest in it-and they do not care
whether taxes are fifty cents on tho
hundred dollars, or ten dollars on the
hundred and if this same class OF
voters were promised five or ten dol.
lars per day to work on railroads, pro.
vidcd they would vote a tax 3t Ten pei
cent on the entire property of The
county, the polls would have to be
closely watched OF guarded to kceT
some of them from voting several
times.
Now shall this class of vo'crs(of any
race or color-whitc, black, red, o,
blue 1 make no distinction be per.
mitted to 60 to the poll aud say what
shall be done with the hard earned
money of the tax payer? The mem,
bors of the County Court may be call
ed upon 10 say yes or no to this ques-
tion, and when such is the case, we
hope each name and vote may he re-
corded.
Shall this class of voters go 10 the
polls and say what shall be done with
thc rroperl, If widow, and minor or