Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-01
A WORD TO THE NEW LEGIsLA-


TURE-
Thomas Jefferson, who was in Paris
at the time, attributed the first Reign
of Terror to the one fact thatthe mem
bers of the Constitutional Convention
had, in their excessive honesty, de-
clared themselves ineligible to any POI
sition under the new government which
they framed. This one measure dis
qualified nearly every man who was at
all conversant with public affairs, or
the mode Of conducting public bust
ness. The new Assembly was COM
posed entirely of new men. They
seemed at first honest enough, earnest
enough and intelligent enough, but
they were mere tyros, continually blum
dering except when led by the nose by
designing lobbyists. Bloody despots
saw their chance. and were all too
quick in awaiting themselves of it. The
Assembly knew neither its weakness
nor its strength. They met without
experience in a crisis that called for all
the helps which experience could posi-
bly, give. Twenty years of atheism and
blood followed.
The newly elected Legislature of
Tennessee, assemblies at time critical
with the burdens of the past, and with
the glorious, newborn hopes and posi-
biities of the future. A panic, which
seven months tinkering by Radical
Congress did nothing to relieve, has
made our people feel more keenly than
ever before the Brownlow legacy of
debt; yet we must sustain our credit.
When public credit is gone, private
credit viii not tarry long with us.
When a government sets its people
pattern Of dishonesty, weak human
nature viii initiate with all facility. In
adjusting the necessary burden among
the several classes of taxables, legisla-
tors viii be apt to find themselves be-
set by lobbyists of all sorts, except the
poor mans lobby. The rich man Will be
ready enough to denounce as inquisito-
rial, anyassessment law that gives prom
Use of unearthing his bonds, mortgages
and notes Of hand. The merchants
will endeavor to obtain what relief
they can. The large real estate owner
Of corner lots, on which be has resisted
the payment of taxes for years, Will
groan over a peremptory law, and,
with crocodile tears, beseech members
not to enact law that would sell
poor mans shanty over his head. But
the poor man is always promptest to
pay his taxes. 1t is the rich men,
owing the State thousands, who fight
the tax collectors year after year. draw
ing twelve to eighteen per cent. on the
money meanwhile, and ultimately Sc
curing profitable compromise, or get
ting of scot free through some defect
Of the law. The Legislator should
look solely to the interests of the
classes who are not represented in the
lobby, and who constitute the real
people, the bone and sinew of the State.
It is for these that Legislation is de-
signed. The classes who can organize
lobbies are always able to take care of
themselves.
We speak thus plainly about these
matters, because our new Legislature
is composed almost entirely of new
men. Able, honest and earnest, the !
majority of them can hardly be as ia
miliar with parliamentary usages as
might be wished. Honest error some
times works more mischief than dis |
honesty, because less easy of detection.
Members elect should prepare them
selves as far as possible TO deal intelli-
gently with the great questions on
which they must decide During the
past campaigns. our State finances
have been exhaustively discussed from |
every standpoint. In the way of |
reporting speeches, we have, sew
eral times over, detailed the |
views of both friend and foe. So |
of every other issue that entered the
canvass. Never were the affairs of any |
State ventilated more thoroughly than
those of Tennessee during the past
eight months. For this reason the
new Legislature viii be expected to do
good and efficient work. If they fall |
short, the people may become disheart-
ened, and lapse into the apathy that
begets corrupt rings and rascally
rulers. Let every member, therefore,
endeavor to prepare himself for the
intelligent and efficient performance Of
the duties imposed on him by a strug-
glino DpODle