Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-20

HE rauntation. its fidelity 10 the laws and
n the constitution of the country. When
We then. gentlemen, of the old Wing party
coked around Us, we beheld two Organlza-
ions occupying the political field-the one
he Republican party, better known as the
Radical marty; the other the old Democratic
marty. Where could we go? Where
rouid 60? Without hesitation |
we made our choice between The |
two, and without hesitation We marched |
under the banner Of the DenOc.atic party, |
Applause upon whose folds we read, true
to its name: ssThe people rule"
The constitution as IL was hand
ed down to us by our fathers,
rather than under the banner Of that party
which proclaimed there was higher law
than the Constitution of our fathers, to
which they owed superior allegiance, obii-
CATION and obedience, no matter how IL
might come i'm conflict with their oath to
support, maintain and obey the Constitu-
ton of the country. An infamous doc
trine. proclaimed by men whose thirst was
murder and whose hoTrid joy was TO wound
their country and their kind destroy, who
commended their deluded votaries to mid
night assassination, and to march under
the torch Of seryile instruction to the car
nival of death and the baptism Of old men
and women and young children in their
own blood around their family affairs. IL
was that party, bent on producing the ire
irresistible conflict, which forced us to fly
10 arms in defense of our rights,
which forced upon us the dreadful
choice, either to stand still and
die, or defend it by force, as constitutional
guarantees were denied us, be robbed of
our property, to submit quietly to the over
throw of our political institutions, or
change our political relations, and to die
in the assertion Of our right.
We chose the latter. The world knows
the result, ami impartial history will some
day pronounce its judgment upOnth right.
These are some Of the reasons why l and
vast majority of the old Southern Wings
are Democrats now, and the world will be
hard to satisfy, if it is not fully satisfied
now, We were right in the choice we made,
under compulsion, either to submiA like
towards, or die like heroes, die in defence
of our rights.
With these preliminary remarks, turn
to the discussion of matters which lie near
er our homes. The public debt IS now as
certained to be about S2l,OOO,OOO, created
by the State, mainly to organize and COM
piete our system Of railroads. Though
they have cost the State vast amount of
money, they have wonderfully enlarged the
wealth, expended the commerce, and de-
yeloped the resources of the State. How
far behind the advanced civilization Of the
world, would we be without our system Of
railroads now, and how could We get along
without them?
The interest upon that debt amounts
to 81. 900 per annum. The aggregate
wealth of the State amounts to $500, 0O0,-
600. the annual value of productions are
worth 40,000,0O0. So great is the wealth
and SO valuable the productions, the brain
almost reels under the calculation Of
them; when We consider this wealth is
steadily increasing from year 70 year, 1t
would seem We ought to he able TO pay the
interest upon that debt for the present, and
to Iquidate the whole debt as it falls due
With careful husbandry Of our resources,
and with prudent economy in the admins
tration of the State government for a few
wears, our troubles will be over. Now
our debt, and make provisions
future, or shall We lacking faith in our re-
SOuTGtS OAlL duAllLN ~ Hdl Jul hCDlo
lacking faith in our nerse 10 face the
music, repudiate our debts altogether?
These are questions we will have to answer
at the bar Of public opinion.
On this subject Uf the taxes permit me 10
say, the rate of taxation ought az all times
to refer to the payment Of the public debt;
and the sacred obligation that is upon US,
to uphold the faith and credit of the State
and TO provide the means for an economical
administration of the State government.
The lowest possible tax that would supply
those demands should be adopted. II
would be right and proper, gentlemen, TO
do 50. Not one cent should be collected
from the people beyond what is absolutely
necessary to protect the credit of the State,
and to run the State government, admins
tered strictly on economical principles. We
want no splendid government and tax
ridden aid impoverished people
Gan honest yeOmanry, their cOuntry's pride,
When once destroyed can never be supplied"
The rate of taxes should bear
direct reference to the great question of up
holding the faith and credit of the State,
and 10 make that as easy 10 the people as
possible. ] would reform every abuse,
chaStise every malpractice that IS prevalent
and apply the knife to every ulcer that has
grown OH the body polite. Nor would 1
stop here. would reduce the enormous
expenses of the courts, and the salary Of
every officer in the State from the Governor
down, and exact rigid accountability from
every revenue officer Of the State. Men in
a republican government should not seek
Office for the salary if bestows, but for the
honor of the position. Washington
gave a good example to his country
men when be was President. He
charged for his services, his actual expenses
only. From closely observing the tenden-
ey TO extravaganza in our general Govern
ment, am we'll satisfied, indeed painfully
convinced, high salaries are RnEspablican
and the prolific mother of corruption in
every department of the Government.
AYsrice is a monster whose co-mOrant APP
petite Is never satisfied, but grows by what
il feeds Oh.
Whenever public men become more
greedy Cf money than Of honest fame
more ambitious to fill their pockets than TO
fill the measures of their country's glory,
tie days Of the republic are numbered.
EHhsI the sentinels who are put on ward
and watch, in tbs temple of liberty, sleep
upon their posts, thert Is danger. BIT how
much more is that danger increased whsn
they themselves plumber it of its revenues,
and rob it of its precious jewels; nor are we
without evidence that such is the prevalent
distemper how IN every department Of the
Government al Washington.
Taxes, in a republican or desp0tic gov
eminent, should never be higher than what
is absolutely necessary to raise money
enough to pay the public debt, sustain its
credit, and carry on the Government
economically administered for the benefit
and in the interest Of the people. These
are the only legitimate objects Of taxation.
The citizen will willingly submit to them
for the blessings the State bestows upon
him il the protection it gives to him and
his posterity of life, liberty and property.
The question then reeurs, are We willing
to submit to such tax as will sustain and
uphold our credit, and maintain a State
Government economically administered
Or are we in favor of staggering on, keeping
the word Of promise to the ear and break
ing it TO The hope, till at last we
we cap the climax by an open repudi4tfon
of our debts, thus sinking down in the en-
brace Of an infamy we have invited, and
which we cannot expel or repudiate. Zap
plaGse.]
The present rate of taxes in Tennessee
is forty cents on the Ohs hundred dollars
worth of property. There are only three
States in the Union which paw less and all