Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-14

johnson appointed r. @. Payne, Of Maury
county, his warm political and personal
friend, TO look after these matters, and see
that no railroad companies received bonds
without being legally entitled to them, and
if anything wrong was done, Mr.. John
sons administration is to blame. These
bonds have been recognized by every Leg
islature that has since met, and III there
johnson say SO In some of his messages
to the Legislature?
III he ever opposed the internal improve
ment system, or the issue of bonds, let
him produce the message in which it was
done. In his message Of 1855, he says,
"Our various works of internal improve
ment are steady and rapidly advancing by
the timely, judicious aid of the State.''
COUNTY AND CITY TAXES.
He said in his Shelbyville speech that "a
large proportion of the farming lands are
being sold for taxes" and soon the people
would be landless because of taxation.
"Tsxes in Memphis upon lots were four per
cent. last year. The COUNTY and State tax
was two per cent. more, making a total of
six per cent In these statements he is
equally unfortunate. He omitS TO state
that the State tax is only one-bffh as much
as the two per cent. county tax which he
mentions, and one-fifteenth of the city and
county tax. He cannot affect the county
and city tax; that has TO be settled by the
people there. A reduction of the State tax
and reputation of the State debt, would
not relieve them to any perceptible extent.
A reduction Ofthe State tax, as he proposes,
would be only one-tenth of the county tax,
or Onethirtieth of the city and county tax.
This would be selling the honor Of the
State for trifie.
As matter of fact, 1 deny that large
proportion of the farming lands, even in
Shelby, are being sold for taxes. | venture
the assertion that he cannot find ten men
in that county who have lost their land
permanently by tax sale. He does Shelby
county gross injustice. But if they are
sold, either farming lands or town lots, it
is for city and county, not for State taxes.
These latter he cannot change. That is
left to the people. 1t Is doing Tennessee
gross wrong to say that large proportion
OF her farming lands are being sold for
taxes when it is not true, and when il is
calculated, if not intended, to affect our
individual as well as State credit.
Tennessee is in nothing like so bad
condition as he represents, and even if she
were so, it would be because Of city and
county taxes, since her rate of State tax
alton is lower than in any Southern State,
and in nire-tenths of the Northern States.
Gov. johnson says that 1 voted in the
Constitutional Convention in favor of a
property qualification. l did no such
thing. The clause referred to was not in
tended for that purpose, and would not
have that effect. But he is the last man
that should say anything in regard to prop
erty qualification, after writing the follow
ing letter to Gov. Sharkey, of Mississippi,
which is official, and dated August ID, 1865:
'1f you could extend the elective franchise
TO all persons Of color who own real estate,
valued at not less than two hundred and fifty
dollars, and pay taxes thereon, you would
diSarm the adversary and set an
example other States will follow. hope
and trust your consideration will do this,
And Inow, fellow-citizens, if let alone,
am done with this controversy. 1t was not
Of my seeking. have acted only in self
defense when assaulted, and if any injury
should result to the Democratic party
although l trust it will nOt), the fault
must lie at the door Of my asSailant.
[ Rspturous applause.1