Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1873-03-11

= of system established by God himself in
i the Theocracy of the Jews. Free educa-
f ton was part of the Jewish economy,
/ from which, be it said to their credit, that
: remarkable people have never departed.
r In the revival of letters, after the dark
hges, 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
bestral impulse and habit Next to Scot
land, came the German States of SaxOny
and Wurtemburg, whose love of educa-
tion and devotion to the principle of gen.
eral 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.
las far back as 1870, lone. fourth of the
reuenues of this State a0ere laid out in
maintaining free schools for the children
iof the State" And now, in the light of
THE nineteenth century, we find men
lgrumbling, and making complaint at a tax
of one mill on the dollar for educational
purposes. 1t is urged that the people are
xridden-oppressed with debt; and un-
liable to contribute this small pittance to
the God-like purpose of instructing and
refining the minds and polishing the
Iintellects of the bright-eyed boys and girls,
who will otherwise grow up in ignorance,
md 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
Idemagogues' 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 ofthe State of Maine, for instance,
is $555.35 to each individual. The aver
age of taxation per head is 1888. The av-
erage wealth of Tennessee is S395.S9, with
in less than 500 of that of the State of
Maine. Yet, the taxation per head of the
people of Tennessee is S2.69, 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 part of the pic
ture TO be drawn from these two States
Maine has taxation of SIS. SO to every ST.
| 600 valuation of property. Tennessee has
| tax of $6.79 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-
pcrty than Tennessee. And, notwithstand-
ing this, it has become common for our
people, following i'm the wake of office
seekers, to scold at the supposed 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
lower rate of taxation that Tennessee,
while there are thirty-four States which
have higher rate. Pennsylvania pays IS
cents less to the 81 900, and Delaware pays
$40 less to the 1000 than does Tonnes
see. Again, Tennessee contains 9,O00,-
600 acres of land of which only 6,OOO, 600
are improved" Take it for granted that
there are still 10, 100000 of acres suscepti-
BILE of Improvement, and what q picture of
wealth falls upon our Imagination [ have
not time to pursue this picture farther.
But, Mr.. Speaker, when / hear man
aUIsining 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
nature has assigned them as citizens of
Tennessee. The comparison with Maine
might be extended to other States, but time
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 i'm blaze of
intellectual grandeur. From the smallest
to the greatest of the European States the
contagion spread. Baden, Bavaria, Bel
GUM, Holland, Prussia and Switzerland
adopted a free school system. Denmark
and Sweden and Norway fell into line.
France, yes, bloody France, proud and
boasUM England, and Ireland, the mother
of wit and Oratory end eloquence, together
with Ireland, Austria, Italy, Spain and
Portugal, was added to tho list of States
determined to drive ignorance from their
borders. And Turkey, too, with her SUI
perstitions and Mohamm alden religion,
has system of free education. Why, just
brings to the MUD an idea of heather
gods and anti Christian and uncivilized ma
tons. Our mill-boys, to hear the name
Turk would naturally turn aside, as though
meeting a 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 sister-Southern State,
Europe is solid on the subjectt of educa-
ting the poor who are unable to educate
themselves. He recapitulates theachieve>
ments Of free thought and the growth of
intellectual vigorin this beautiful sentence.
From free switzerland, despotic Austria,
depraved Turkey, gallant France, mighty
Prussia, enervated Spain, sagacious Eng
tons and Celta, from Catholics and Pro-
testants, from North and South, comes the
same practical testimony in favor of the
universal and public education of the peo-.
pie" And he might have continued un-
til he had embraced in his enumeration
Asia and Australia, who have also adopted
free schools. Nor need We stop here. We
have I'll heard of the "Heathen Cninee,"
who,
For ways that are dark
/ And tricks that are VAIN