Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-03-12

ration and adopted the policy. Neverthe-
less, it was not of Yankee origin, but
Southern revival and Northern adoption
of a system established by God himself in
the Theocracy of the Jews. Free educa-
ton was part of the Jewish economy,
from which, be it said to their credit, that
remarkable people have never departed.
In the revival of letters, after the dark
ages, if do not incorrectly read history,
Scotland was the first to provide for the
universal education of the poole.
In the other end of this Capitol that
people of research and of letters has an
honored representative, whose conduct in
reference to schools shows the force of an
cestral impulse and habit. Next to Scot
land, came the German States of Saxony
and Wurtemburg, whose love of educa-
ton and devotion to the principle of gem
eraf intelligence finds worthy representa-
tive on this floor in the person of the
distinguished German member from
Davidson. After Germany, Massachusetts
espoused the cause, although Virginia had
attempted it and failed, and Connecticut
was scarcely year behind in establishing
free schools for the children of the colony.
AS far back as 1870, "one:fourh of the
revenues of this State acre laid out in
maintaining free schools for the children
Of the State" And now, in the light of
the nineteenth century, we find men
grumbling, and making complaint at tax
purposes. 1t is urged that the people are
aX-ridden-oppressed with debt; and I'M
able to contribute this small pittance to
the God-like purpose of instructing and
refining the minds and polishing the
intellects of the bright-eyed boys and girls,
who will otherwise grow up in ignorance,
and in all probability, drift into crime.
But, are we over taxed? Our State debt
is heavy. Our taxes are high. But it
should not be forgotten that all people are
prone to complain of high taxes, for the
very reason that it is the source of the
demagogues' power to make the people
believe they are burthened unjustly and
grievously, as well as beyond what they
are able to bear.
What are the facts in reference to taxa
ton? Let our condition be compared with
other States of the Union. The average
wealth of the State of Maine, for instance,
is S555.35 to each individual The. aver
age of taxation per head is $3.50. The av-
erage wealth of Tennessee is 1895. so, with
| iii less than 500 of that OF the State of
Maine. Yet, the taxation per head of the
| people of Tennessee is $500, making the
difference of 1854 each, Maine paying this
much more than Tennessee on each person
| in the State, and that, too, when the aver
age wealth of the two States is so nearly
equal. Now, this is but a part of the pic
ture to be drawn from these two States
Maine has taxation of Sl5.36 to every ST.
600 valuation of property. Tennessee has
tax of 500 to the 81 900 valuation. Thus
| it will be seen that the State of Maine bears
property taxation of little less than three
| times that of Tennessee. Maine pays the
sum of SS.57 more per 81 900 worth of pro-
perty than Tennessee. And, notwithstand-
ing this, it has become common for our
people, following in the wake of office
seekers, to scold at thesupposed high taxes
which they pay.
This supposition grows out of profound
want of information on the subject. There
are but two States in the Union that have
a lower rate of taxation that Tennessee,
| while there are thirty-four States which
have a higher rate. Pennsylvania pays 50
cents less to the 81 900, and Delaware paws
S2.49 less to the $1,000 than does Tennes-
see. Again, Tennessee contains 90 OOO,-
600 acres of land, of which only 5000, 600
are improved" Take it for granted that
there are still 100000 of acres suscepti-
BILE of improvement, and what a picture of
wealth falls upon our Imagination? have
not time to pursue this picture farther
! But, Mr.. Speaker, when hear a man
aOhining about taxation in Tennessee, am
sometimes disguised, and sometimes amaZ-
ed. pity the contracted character of those
| whose little souls will not permit them to
rise to the dignity of the position which
nature has assigned them as citizens of
Tennessee. The comparison with Maine
will not allow of it.
Mr.. Speaker, have already alluded to
the German States of Wurtemburg and
SaXony. Their example was followed
and their inspiration caught in Europe
until the whole continent was in blaze of
intellectual grandeur From the smallest
to the greatest of the European States the
contagion spread. Baden, Bavaria, Bel
giumS Holland, Prussia and Switzerland
adopted free school system. Denmark
and Sweden and Norway fell into line
France, yes, bloody France, proud and
6OdsgW England, and Ireland, the mother
of wit and oratory end eloquence, together
with Ireland, Austria, Italy, Spain and
Portugal, was added to the list of States
determined to drive ignorance from their
borders. And Turkey, too, with her SUI
perstitlons and Mohammaden religion.
has system offree education Why, lust
think of it; the very mention of a Turk
brings to the mind an idea of heather
gods and anti-Christiana and uncivilized ma
tions. Our mill-boys, to hear the name
| Turk would naturally turn aside, as though
meeting savage foe? And yet Turkey
has better free school system than Ten
nessee. Despotic Russia, likewise, pro-
vided for the education of the poor chill
dram of the Empire. In the language of
an honored son of a sister-Southern State.
Europe is solid on the subiectn of educa-
ting the poor who are unable to educate
themselves. He recapitulates theachieve>
ments of free thought and the growth of
I'll Na