Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1873-10-16
THE TAX QUESTION.

For years the Legislature has employed
II largo part Of each session in attempting
to devise means for collecting the State
Revenue in a way that will be more GER
tain and less burdensome to the people,
but as yet the members Of the several
General Assemblies have failed either to
secure the one or TO increase their own
popularity by providing for the other.
Certain it is that a considerable amount
of money is required to run a State Gov
crnment and to provide for the innumera>
blc necessities that arise from tine to
time in the different counties, but how
TO raise it without expressing the people
is tho question, the solution of which has
cost 30 much time, to say nothing of the
expense necessarily involved in deciding
it No doubt there is some show Of
truth in the assertion, and some cause for
the popular feeling that there is more
time than intellect employed in settling
this intricate but important question.
The last Legislature in attempting to en-.
e--~~ ."llentions hy"taking the hull nv the
horns, and applying the strong arm of ar
bitrary power in the hopes of subduing
the obdurate animal, has, instead of &C.
complishing that much desired object
only succeeded in raising a storm of in.
Litigation about its own ears that will
cause those appendages to ring for some
time 10 come.
Under tho new law the Collector is re,
quired in cases where taxes remain due ant
unpaid on the first day Of June Of the yeal
following the year for which the taxes are
due to make a complete list Of all UNPAID
taxes, and after advertising the lands for
three successive weeks and IF not paic
before the day Of sale he must proceed
70 sell the same in the usual manner, anc
at the next term Of the Circuit Court b,
must report said sale when a writ of pos
session may issue at ono to the purchase
on application which entities said purchase
TO all tho rents and profits Of Lis purchas,
for one year, when if it is not redeeme,
lie gets an absolute title to the property
1t will be seen that this is . much NOR,
arbitrary course than has heretofore beer
adopted and in the present condition O
the finances a large amount Of propert
will be necessarily sold under the provi
sions ofthis act. r.
II will be utterly impossible for man,
Of our farmers to meet their taxes at The
prescribed tImo Even anon the best o
them many will be found who not bein,
able to cash their produce will be force,
to submit to a sale. This is a sad coudi
ton of affairs and if no remedy appear
will have a tendency to force many of gu
best citizens to sell out at a sacrifice an,
leave the country. But what is the rem
edy? We confess we SEQ none cxcep
through the body which created the odi
ous act. Would il not be we'll for the G "
crnor in this terrible crisis of fnancis
matters to call an extra session Of III
Legislature TO see if SOM means cannc
be devised BY which the people can b
relieved at least temporarily. If the
can do nothing else they can suspend tn
action Of the law until times improve j
some measure. Under the present condi
ton of affairs we doubt whether the reye
ucs Of the State will be to any G,
tent increased by a rigid enforcement,
1t is plain that il our people can not Sc
their produce for cash they cannot CON
ply with the demands Of the tax e~ollectoI
and it is useless to subject them to pcr
alties for failing to accomplish an impossi
bility.