Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-17
THE ASSESSMENT LAW.

/
l have read with interest several publish
| ed documents, some in defense and others
against the present assessment'Iaw. The
strongest article that | have read was
| signed ga Tax Payer" published in the
weekly UNION AND AMERICAN in its issue
| ofthe Sd inst 1t is difficult TO decide whether
the writer was making war on the last Leg
| islature, the assessment law, or the State
| Constitution. He reminds one of snake
| in dog days, striking at sounds but not see
| ing wink. He first makes q sweeping,
whitening attack on the members of the
| Legisiature-not greasy spot is left Of
| them. Then he attacks the State Consti
tuition. 1t is little muddy a, this point.
| He does not decide whether The Legislature
| did wrong in passing the assessment law or
whe. her there is defect in the State Con-
| stitution. should like TO hear from him
on that point. He is able, 10 DOUBT, to
make it clear. l hope he will give his
name.
For fear the article referred to has cs-
| capped the notice of some taxpayers, l will
quote few paragraphs as specimens of his
| ability. He commences, "Tbe late assess
mentl3w seems to be one Of the principal
| topics of conversation amOag the people at
IiIG p1tStDl IlG1C3 cst4A dc IL4O ODjOA-
| tions offered to the same, and fear that it
| is a sort of systematic attack on the law set
| in motion by S, me of the members of the
! Legislature TO Influence the Governor 10 call
an extra session, but the Legislature had
ample time to have perfected good IeVe-
| nue. system if they had had the abb ity and
| q disposition TO do SO, and were repeatedly
urged by the Governor to do so, but they
- Il- 70 1rclia fhaip INN end
let the interest Of the people 90 uncsred
for. Aad now what good can We reasona-
by expect would be accomplished by call
ing these same men together again? Ii the
law is deceive, let it remain as a monu-
ment of theiI weakness and want ofpatriot
ISM, and as warning 10 the peo-
pie to be more careful wh) they
elect in the future" (WITHERING). "But
am satisfied that the present law is not
half so defective as great many people are
taught believe and that their objections
could with greater propriety be arrayed
against the Stale Constitution, than to the
law, which Is framed in strict accordance
with the provisions of the Constitution" "a
dead sLOt.) He then quotes some OF the
provisions Of the Constitution in defence of
the law and states "Esch member OF the
Leg Statute LAKES q SUI OoGH " ouppOlG
the Constitution which cannot mean less
than to favor the passage Of such laws as
then believe are calculated to carry out its
express provisions. Now what is there in
the law not in strict acc0rdalce with the pro-
visions Of the Constitution ETC." The MEM
bers of the Legislature ought 10 be and
doubtless are very much obliged for that
suggestion. He then proceeds, ''lf justice
is not done, or very nearly Appropriated,
what is the cause Of it? The fault
is either in the law or in its enforce
ment. The Legislature is responsible for
the law and the men charged with its exc
cution for its enforcement" That is as
clear as the. noon day sun. "lf it is bad
law let US try to live under it until the
next regular meeting Of the Legislature and
We will more highly appreciate the import
ance Of trying to make proper selection
of our Repr, sentatives, AMI if good Law
we will fad it out and be better qualified to
decide whether any, or what amendments
are necessary to make to the same" That
is as clear as mud. He then continues his
Weigbty argument; IS me Of the directors
to the law reminds one Of The men who have
continued 10 vote for Gen. Jackson for Presi.
dent st every Presidential election since 1924
objection have to that argument is l think
he ought to have informed these men tn t
Gen. Jackson was deaI and not permitted
them to remain in ignorance for so many
years.( "Fhey seem 10 be ignorsnL of this
fact that great change has taken place in
the coust tuition in reference to taxation etc"
and then continues: '1t might lot be
any great stretch of the imagination 10 sup
pose at some Of the members of the Leg
isature still cling to the same opinion, from
the clamOT made against those provisions
in the law which were necessary to make
il conform TO the constitution"
bsve quoted enough to convince any
reasonable mind That the writer is man Of
ex traOrdinaIy parts and if he lives in my
di strict AID should be candidate "a seat
10 the next l. agislat1re will certainly sup
port him provided be will lei me know how
he stands on the assessment
law ard The constitution, and provided fur
Their there is no candidate that l prefer to
him. Ii hs should be elected his services
would be invaluable to the State. After
reading the article reCited will not I'm er-
take to defend either the Legslatu g, the
assessment law or The State constitution.
| think there are more objections u ged
against the assessment law than are well
founded.
In my judgment there are Objectionable
features In the law, but there are also some
good provisions, SO far as the assessment is
concerned. The plan Of assessment can
not work much hardship upon The poorer
classes aud especially upon the small
farmer, who has nothing but
his land. This would be
reached under any law. Land cannot be
well hid. There has, however, been 9
large amount of personal property in the