Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-19
PUBLIC ROADS.
Correspondents ON She subject.

Correspondence ON She Subject.
SENATE CHAMBER, Nashville, March Is,
1673.-Mr. s. Pointer, Thompson's Station
Dear Sir: Knowing that you are man
of great deal of experience and consider
ab,,y interested in the subject Of working
and Keeping up public roads. enclose you
a bill on nat subject, and respectfully re-
auest Won IT, give me your views on this
important subiect. Respectfully, ETC.,
T. F. P. ALLISON.
REPLY OF GtR POINTER.
MARCH II. 1S73.-rIon. THos. F. P.
AIIIsoN-Desr Sir: HAVING received the
road bill alluded to in your noe ana gwen
it due consideration, hope to ~ eXcu Cd
for the following comments l oPp.,se IL
first, because it is altogether impractl cal.
Who among our worthy men will serve
either as commissioner or overseer, If he is
forced to give a bond OF 500, with two
securities? 1t has been almost impossible
heretofore TO induce the right sort Of men
to become overseers when no bond was re-
quired; indeed, Knight add that nearly all
had to be forced. How can you force
man to give security for an office when he
does not want the Office. Second-It Is
Unjust, and imposes burde11so11e tax upon
the property holders. Who is forced to
give the roads and keep up expensive fences
upon both sides? Certainly it is the land
or property holder. Who uses the roads
most Surely he is the laborer. Under
the present system the laborer not only has
to haul his own half of the crop over the
roads, but by contract agrees also to deliver
the landlords portion thereof to market.
In addition, they certainly outnumber the
property holders greatly, and consequently
ride over the roads much oftener. Then,
why should the land owner be forced to
give the roads, keep up the fences, pay this
| outrageous tax, and at last be compelled to
work as much as the laborer? Third-Be-
| cause the new bill repeats all other laws
togsliag the case, and reduces the fnefrom
| two dollars per day with nothing exempt
from exeeutions) to one dollar, and gives
the road hsrds the benefit OF the exemp-
ton law. Where is tie man, black or
| white, who will WORK on the road
| while it is impossible to make the
! fine out of him. In short,
the landlord alone will be forced to work
| the road, give the land upon which 1t runs;
keep I'D his fences on each side and pay
this enormous tax-to go into the hands OF
additional ofice-holders. In other words,
| if this new bill becomes the law, we had
as well knock out the bottoms OF all the
roads and be content to stay at home.
4. Because it is stealing plank out OF
the Radical platform, in the last canvass
/ (ssthat the wealth of The country shall work
the roads and not the laborers,") and IS
simply the hobby of political sspirants here
after to buy popularity with the negro and
the lower white classes; for which, friend
Democrats, you will be snubbed-as you
were during the Brownlow canvass when
YOU in. Convention posed the resolution
(going ahead of the R3dic2ls) to allow
negroes to become witnesses and sit upon
| jurles. ION u.
5. We Oppose il because it is passed in
lieu of the old law which is altogether salts
factory and entirely perfec', except so FAR
as it fails to reach the OUerSeer. Amend the
old law and attach fine OF one hundred
dollars upon each owner who fails to VOTE
his road well twice year, make 1t the duty
1 Of the Grand Jury to send for the Masls
trates OF any other witnesses OF each dis
trict; and swear them directly as TO whether
the Overseers h2vs ae.e1 in accOrd1uce With
this amendment, and all difficulties will OF
at an end, ard no more litigation required
1t would also be well to reduce the age 0
road hands and include all from 10 10 D
years. Again, if the Old law gives too muel
power ID me overseer in forcing his hand
to work too many days, it might be web u
limit him TO twelve or fifteen days dGTlDi
the year. However, have never heard o
but one instance in which their power IL
this respect was ever abused. Those re
marks in regsri to political aspirants l DC
not mean to apply TO you IN any manner
for L have had q sufficient expression IRON
you to know that you do not desire to con-
tinue in political life.
In haste, remain most respectfully you
obedient servant, ;. A. POINTER