Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-27
OUR LATE LEGISLATION.

IO Inc OlAOu onu
The late assessment law seems to be one
of the principal topics OF conversation
among the people at the present time, and
many are the objections offered to the same,
and [ fear that il is a sort of systematic at
tack on the law set in motion by some OF
the members of the Legislature 10 influence
the Governor to call an extra session, bat the
Legislature had ample time to have perfect
ed good revenue system If they had had
the ability and 8 disposition to do so, and
were repeatedly urged by the Governor to
do so, but they chose rather to frolic away
their time, and let the interest of the people
90 uncared for, and now what good could
we reasonably expect would be accomplish
ed by calling these same men to ether
again? If he law is defective let it remain
as q monument of their weakness aud want
of patriotism, and as a warning TO the
people to be more careful who thy elect in
The future. But | am satisfied that the
present assessment law is not haf so de-
factiye as great many people are tau hit to
believe, and that their objections could with
greater propriety ne arrayed against the
State Constitution, than TO the lGl1, which
is framed in strict accordance with the pro
visions of the Constitution.
u6 OOlcblJullO1 pAONAACo theso Wv - W
eytu. real, personal and miJed, shall be
taTed, with certain exceptions expressly
enumerated in the Cons tuition itself, and
LeaUes nothing discretionary Nth the Leg
iSLdtGITe.
1t further provides that all property shall
be taxed according TO itS udLue.
Itfurther provides that the UdludtiOR shall
be dscertdiEed IN such manner as the Leg
isLdtltre shall direct, so that the UdtudttOn
shall be equal and uniform throughout the
State.
1t further provides that no one species o.
propertu, from which tar mag be collect
ed, shall be taxed higher than any OtbeT
species of the same UGlue.
Each member the Legislature takes sol
emn oath TO support The Constitution
which cannot mean less than to favor the
passage of such laws as they b2lieve are
calculated 10 carry out its expressed pro
visions.
Now, what is there IN the law not IL
.strict accordance with the provisions of the
Constitution herein before mentioned?
Uniformity in the assessment of property
has long been desire5 by the people
Uniformity in the assessment Of property
has long been attempted to be enforced By
the Legislature.
And nothing short of uniformity will ever
secure justice to the taxpayers of the coun.
ty. No law which provides that equal END
exact Justice shall be done to all men, cal
be a very bad law. Does the present as
sessment law seek to accomplish anything
more?
When am assessed with $1,000 wort
of taxable property, | I'm charged will
S4.OO for the use of the State, $l.OO for th
use of common schools, and sCch sum 3
the County Court may think proper TO i'm
nose on that sum for county purposes. /
INV property is OreT-rGted / am charge
with more than my proportional share c
the puOlic burdens. If it is under estimates
lam charged with less than my proportion
al share, In the first case justice is nc
done TO the taxpayer; in the other case
Is not done to the public, swear as you ma
about it. If justice is not done, or yer
nearly approximated, what is the cause
tP The fault is either in the law or Il
enfoIc .ment. The Legislature is respon
sible for the law, and the men charged wit
its execution for its enforcement, and ever
evasion of duty encourages Insubordina loI
and offers a reward for crime. II 1t is
bad law let us try 10 live under it until II
next rsgular meeting OF the Leglslatur
and we will more highly appreciate the in
portancs of trying to make proper sele
tion of our representatives., and If goo
law. we will find it out and be better qua
fed 10 decide whether any or what amen
ments are necessary to make TO the sam
Some of the ohjectOrs 10 the law remln
me of the men who have continued to Vo
for Gen. jackson for President at eve
Presidential election since 1924, and THU
he is still President. They seem
be ignorant of the fact that great cbanj
has taken place in The Constitution ID rel
ence to taxation, and that the laws must
made to conform to it, Notwithstanding u
change has been made for more than UF
pears, but they seem to think that horst
lacks, pianos, watch S, jewelry, money
interest, etc, ought to be listed under Sc
arate heads and taxed as heretofore; and
might not be any great stretch OF !
Imagination to suppose that some OF I
members of the Legislature still cling
the same opinion, from the clamOr ma
against those provisions in the law VIII
were necessary to make it conform to t
Copstitrtion. If the objection is agair
tdring all personal property except Sl,O
north, let the war be made on the Cons
tuition, and not on the ld1o.
A TAX-PAYER