Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-08-01
THE GOYERNORSHIP.
Hon. Dorsey b. Thomas ON the Lead.
ing Issues OF the Canvass.

To the ConservativeandD Democratic Voters
OF Tennessee:
Without my agency my name is be-
fore you as candidate for nomination
for Governor. Justice to you and my
self demands that should make known
my views upon questions of public
policy.
L am in favor of the substitution of
legal tenders for Nationll bank notes.
and of. maintaining the present volume
of currency to prevent a further di-
minution In values, at least until the
country is in more prosperous con-
dition than now.
am opposed to the present tariff
laws, that foster and protect by special
import duties particular interests at
the expense of the many; to land sub
sides to railroads, by which so much
of the public domain has been given
to create vast monopolies at the ex-
pense of and to oppress the people;
to the Determinations against the
claims of the people of our State for
money due them on property taken
for the use of the Government; to the
further interference by Congress with
the domestic relations within the States
and particularly to the provisions of
what is known as the Civil Rights
Bill, and to the general extravaganza
that peryades almost every department
of the Federal Government.
l am in favor of perfecting our sys-
tenn of common schools; of eneourag-
ing immigration to our State of skilled
mechanics and artisans, to aid in the
development Of our mining and manu-
featuring resources, and of outstanding
our own population to prevent migra-
tion. 1t is intelligent homogeneous
population that gives prosperity,
wealth and happiness to a country.
L think the assessment laws should
be changed. Property should be taxed
but once. 1t is now often taxed twice
or more. 1t requires a taxpayer to
swear to the value of his property,
and then it may be set aside at the
option of the Assessor. This is GER
tainly wrong, and should be repealed.
The provision of the funding law that
makes the interest upon the State debt
preferred obligation, should be re-
pealed. The maintenance of govern
ment is the first object of legislation.
The expenses of the State government
should be first paid, and the balance
appropriated to the payment of interest
on the bonded debt.
The rate of taxation with the ap-
preparation of the revenue arising
therefrom, should be left to the imme-
diate representatives of the people in
each succeeding Legislature. / am in !
favor of paying all we honestly owe,
when we are able, without serious OPP
preston, to do so.
| am in favor of an equalization in
the salaries of officials, and reduction |
In many cases, to an amount equal to |
that paid for similar services in the or !
dlnary transactions of the country. |
The salaries in many of the offices |
created by prequisites, may thus ex-
ceed the salaries of our highest officials. |
This certainly should becorrected, and |
the surplus, after paying a reasonable |
compensation, should be paid into the |
State Treasury.
The expenses of our courts have so |
increased that they have become ex-
eeedingly burdensome and oppressive, !
and demand radical form, even if it |
has to be done by change of the Or
ganic law.
These, with many other items of re-
trenchment and reform that might be |
had, would, in my opinion, authorize |
a material reduction in the rate of tax
alton.
To the many friends throughout the |
State who have suggested my name for
that position, | return my sincere |
thanks. l ask of you, that in your
localities, You will see that |
the will and wishes of the people are
fully reflected in your Representatives |
to the convention the 10Th of August
If this be observed it will secure har-
mony.
If selected as the candidate of the
great body of the people, l shall do all
in my power to restore fraternal good
feeling among our people, to unite the
good men of all past political parties
in the consideration and adoption of
measures for the development of our
material interests-the Inauguration /
of an era of prosperity, contentment
and happiness within our State.
Respectfully,
ID. B. Thomas.