Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-02

the facts In the case a representative
of the UNION AND AMERICAN called
on Mr.. johnson In the afternoon. In
denouncing the two laws in question
as Infamous" he said he did not
mean that the individuals who framed
or voted for them were Infamous. A
very honest man, from very honest
motives, might be led to support a
measure which was in its
nature Infamous. In fact, he
did not insist ON the application of
this epithet to the bills themselves.
Perhaps obnoxious or oppressive"
would do as well On two points, how
ever, he was positive:
First, that the present State tax of
forty cents is more than the people can
bear, while he said the same is true of
municipal, county and United States
taxes. When asked, in this connection,
whether he advocated the non-payment
of interest on the national debt, which
is depressing the whole country, he
disclaimed the apparent inference.
Secondly, he was positive in the opin-
ion that, even with the present rate Of
State taxation, the payment of interest
could not be continued beyond the two
;nstallments of the coming JIly and
January.
incidentally, Mr.. johnson stated that
he thought a depression of the State
credit would in no wise deter the IN
coming of capital to develop our vast
mineral and mining resources, Of which
his own section. East Tennessee, pos
sesses the lions share. He insisted on
the moral distinction between mere
non-payment and Reputation, the for
merresulting from honest inability while
the latter may be criminal.
In regard to the present assessment
law, as being obnoxious" or ''unpopu-
lar" Mr.. johnson seems to be IN ac-
cord with us and with the masses of the
Democracy, who, while preserving its
good points desire to see some of
its inquisitorial features abolished.
The preservation of the oath
requirement is with many a debatable
point. While no honest man would
object to swearing the true value of his
estate, if all others did likewise, yet
honest men will vary in their estimates
according to temperament, and the
stringency Of the oath does not produce
the desired equality. But less scrupu-
Ions men can measure their taxes by
the elasticity Of their conscience. More
over, our people were so bedeviled with
oaths-taking by the Federal understrap-
pers a few years since, that they have
a preternatural dislike to the operation.
In regard to the obligations of the
State, and our duty and ability IN the
premises. il is needful to inform our
readers that we differ most emphati-
cally with Mr.. johnson, and regret that
a gentleman of his prominence should
side with those who seek to depress ouI
State credit. for the benefit of certain
debtors to the State, or for the purpose
of distracting the Democracy. The
success of these schemes could only re-
suit in restoring Radicals to power
with the certainty of heavier taxation
inseparable from that party, instead OF
any relief. The essence of Democracy
is local self-management, and we should
first see what amount of economy each
man can accomplish at his own door
in the way of town, city and county
burdens. before trifing with the obi
cations of the State. The order of the
elections enables the people to regulate
county affairs first, and the selection OF
good officials may ensure suct
local economy as would satisfy even
Mr.. johnson that there is no occasion
for Tennessee, several years after he
disenthrallment from Brownlowism, Il
relapse into the ways and habits tina
disgraced her name and fame under
that regime. Our present rate OF tax
ton for State purposes is less by L
per cent than that of the nelghbornt
State of Kentucky, which has no deb
whatever. If. as Mr.. Johnson nigh
contend. Kentucky can pay d cent
more easily than Tennessee can pa.
40. the reason must be that our peopl
are less thrifty. We can hardly lool
to the Government to make men thrift
ty. nor is it the function of Govern
ment to put premium OF
the want of thrift. All TIN
burden of debt which hangs over us, /
the direct result of looking to Govern
ment for this, that or the other, whicI
had better been left to private enter
prise. Mr.. johnson, with his Lifelong
views of the curse of public debt, shout
be the last to teach a people to loo
helplessly to Government. If larg
land-holders are carrying more tina
: they can make profitable, and so car
: not paw the taxes on their speculativ
o holdings, the fault is their own, an
o the remedy is with themselve
J. This is, in fact, the elias
v that are most elamorous fc
= low taxes. If it were ii
I spirit of American Governmer
j TO interfere at all, it might be exped
Il eut to enhance the taxation on evel
acre above one thousand. 1t woul
l. hasten subdivision and increase Il
IS number of citizens personally and pc
,e manently interested IN the welfare
30 the community. Neither can We ayr
,e 70 Mr.. Johnson's view that the depre
At sion of our State credit would in !