Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-01-09

WHAT WE WANT.
We find in the Dyersburg Progress
the following important subjects to be
considered by the present General As
sernhiy, addressed by DIR. Harris to the
vQters Of Dyer county:
THE STATE DEBT.
On the assembling of your Legislature
the first Monday In January next, your
Legislature will have to provide for the
payment Of past-due debt amounting
70 over six millions OF dollars, to say
nothing Of the large bonded debt Of over
fifteen million dollars. And when /
tel you that4he whole revenue of your
state docs not exceed two millions Of
dollars, does it not present an alarming
pictU e to taxpayers of the State? But
the question is: How are we TO meet
this large debt? In my opinion there is
bot one way Il can be done without seri-
o'Jsly embarrassing the people with tax
alton, and that is to husband all the re-
sources Of the State, pay as much of the
debt as we can without increasing our
taxes, and fund the balance in the shape
Of coupons, 10 run twenty, or thirty, or
forty years, aud provide for the payment
Of the interest on the bonds as best
We can. With these facts, then, star
well organized system of labor in the
State that we can rely upon. would it
not he impOlitic in your Legislature to
enter upon any grand scheme of univer-
sal education, TO be supported by levying
a tax upon the taxable property of the
state" I think il would, and unless
otherwise instructed, viii oppose any
such legislation. Whilst might be in
duced 20 favor a liberal measure for the
education Of the white children Of the
state, ] would regard il as al act Of
great injustice to the taxpayers TO bur
den them with the expense of educating
the negro children Of the State. j am
inclined 10 think YOUR former Iegisla-
lures have acted wisely in referring the
matter to the several counties in the
state. As the law now stands, the
people in each county have the right to
vote a tax upon themselves for public
schoQzs if they want them, and ! am OPP
posed 20 thc~Legitlature meddling with
this question now tnat il is in the hands,
Of thc people.
THE MERCHANTS TAX.
Ii was charged upon me in some
localities during the canvass, that / was
opposed to taxing the merchants, and i'm
favor Of abolishing all trial by jury,
Both OF which charges were wholly gra-
tuitous and unfounded. Those who
heard me well understood my position
upon these two questions, and it was
only where / failed Of an opportunity to
address the people that my views were
perverted or mlsconstrue9. / held the
doctrine then, as well as now, that
every man, 10 matter what his condi-
ton might be, rich and poor, should
r-Has l. Al. L
ties of legislation. and that all should
bear alike its burdens, IN proportion to
their ability. That all men should be
taxed alike. according TO what
they had to be taxed; and
thar il was wrong to discriminate
against any class Of individual in the as
sessnlent Of taxes. Tax the merchants,
then, like all others are taxed. If he
has real estate, tax it. II he has capi-
tai, lax il. But don't tax his credit or
enterprise. Ii is unfair and invidious,
and falls at last upon the consumer, and
works great hardship upon the whole
sale merchants of our State, whOare un-
able 10 compete with merchants outside
of our own state from the fact that we
tax their credit as well as their credit.
II il ID the interest of every man in the
State from the fact that we are large
consumers TO buy our goods cheap. But
If We impose heavy burdens upon the
merchant-mor than we would be will
ing 10 bear Ourselves-we compel him,
az matter Of selfdefense or protection,
TO charge high prices for his goods The
tax reflects upon the consumer. Better,
then, for the common welfare, to deal
justly and fairly with all classes.
JURY TRIALS.
Upon the subject OF jury trials in our
Clrsuii Courts, have long been Of the
opini1n that the trial by Jury ia all civil
cases might lee dispensed with with