Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-22

and political rights. Confidence was re-
stored between him and the native White
man. The carpet-bagger, having no sp0lls
upon which TO prey, had fed, or was rapidly
Kidding the country of his presence. As
consequence, the negro, becoming eontented
and happy, was fast yielding to an alliance
with tile white Sotitherner in enterprises OF
development and production, which prom
Used beneficial results to both.
But the agitation is renewed. The ne
gro's Imagination, disappointed long ago
Of its wild longing for the promised mule
and forty acres of land Qaughter), taxes
wings in search OF new will-0'-the-wispt
Again be forsakes the fields and the work
shops for the fatal hastings, and with
credulity singularly part OF his nature,
he listens to the syren songs OF his worst
enemies, in the guise of friends, and more
than ever before, permits himself to be be
trayed into hostility to those who have fed,
clothed and housed him. / need not ask
the result. 1t could have been foretOld
without the aid of prophecy. The insidi-
Gus plotteTs of the schemes know the re-
suit. They bargained for scenes OF vio-
lence and lawlessness. They had no con-
Germ for the fate of the poor negro-the
victim of their hellish schemes, to retain
further lease of power. They never ex-
pected to benefit him. They knew he
wOuldIbe the sufferer, rather than the ben
eficiary.
1t affords me the greatest pleasure to bear
testimony TO the fact, that the great mass Of
| Republicans in Tennessee are not respOn-
sible for this agitation. They deplOre it.
The Lewises, the Maynards, and a few Of
| their associates who are afraid of sinking
| to their just level of obscurity, together
with reckless and desperate negro leaders,
who have taken their cue from worse white
men, are responsible for the whole Of our
| trouble.
But Mr.. Maynard says, in his speech ac
cepting the nomination at Chattanooga,
that he does not think it proper, nor does
the Civil Rights bill contemplate mixed
| schools. That is the same delusive song
that has lulled us into sense Of self-se-
curity at each advance step taken by this
party in the revolution of ruin to which
they are hurrying us. Listen to no such
| honeted words. Mr.. Maynard knows full
well the force of language, and he knows
| that bill means negro equality in schools
and elsewhere. And he was the friend Of
that bill, and voted TO take it up in the
House last winter.
REDUCING ENPEEsEs
Il comes Aith po5r grace from Re
publicanS TO talk about eXtravagant expen-
ditures. Every department of the State
Government exhibits retrenchment since
the days of their power. The fees and sal
aries of officers remain as fixed by them,
and while one new office has been created
since the Deth6crpts assembled to power,
many others have been abolished. The
Judicial expenses have been very much di-
unfinished, notwithstanding the Supreme
bench has received the addition by the new
constitution of three Judges. But wise
legislative action can materially lessen the
eXpenSesof administering the government,
and il Is sincerity hoped prompt measures
may be inspired to that end. But it is be-
lieyed thesh reforms titay be Effected by LEG
islatiye action.
For example, the General Assembly can
abolish any of the Law, Criminal or
Equity courts that ire wants of the county
may justify, and thereby cut off all the iu-
dicial salaries If redundant officers. Ifthe
lees Of clerks, sheriff., iaileTs: eonStablas,
or other officers OF thai class, are excessive.
the General Assembly can reduce them.
The General Assembly can abolish the
Office Of tax collector, and impose the duty I
of collecting the revenue upon the county
trustee, end allow him one commission |
Only--thus preserving bart OF the revenue |
now cnnsgIuedi BY double Commissions. |
he trustee being constitutional officer |
could not be displaced by legislation. But |
the results would be the same.
The General Assembly could and should |
materially lessen the expenses attending |
the administration Of the criminal law. !
We hate ai old ststile. but fresh in the |
minds of every criminal lawyer, which per- |
mits defendant, charged with any felony, |
however small, TO continue ut the first |
term, upon making an affidavit, Ono mat |
ter how false the court may know it 10 be), |
that there Is too much excitement to his |
prejudice to go to trial at that term. This, |
in each case, entails Itpon tile State, all the |
COSTS Of a term, and if the defendant is not |
on bail, the addition of four months Jail |
fees, which, at 80 cents per uay, is S72OO |
in'each case. This statute ought to be so
modified as 90 rest the application on the |
enlightened discretion of the presiding |
judge. This reform, i is believed, would |
save the State over $4,000 per annum.
But much larger reduction still would |
result from establishing in connection with |
every county iail w6rkhUuse for the re-
cepiiun OF those cont icted of all minor felO- |
MES and miSderieanois, work these prison. |
ers on the public roads and bridges of the |
county for the full teun OF their sentence, |
and then as much longer as would pay the |
costs and fines, if any.
THE TORBETT ISSUE.
This is not now the subject of legisla- |
ton. Its validity, as against both the |
bank aud the State, is question for the |
courts, where it is now undergoing investi- |
gatiun. And all, both Republicans and |
Democrats, must abide the result. ANY
attempt to bring that question into the pre-
sent canvass is very cheap and absurd tin
pan thunder.
THE AssESSM MINT LAW
was not the law desired, or recommended. |
1t was Tepugnant TO the Constitution, and
| did not feel authorized to veto il. In
some respects it was all Improvements
upon the old system. The bOndholders.
the money-len' 'er, aud the cwrer of stocks,
bills ana notes, under the Old law hid his
wealth behind locks and iron doors, while
the farmer and other industrial classes paid
the taxes. This class of persons were
caught by the new assessment law. and in
that respect the Law is an improvement on
previous legislation.
While there NAV be be better methods of
asse-sing pf6pertS, tle following extract
from my message to 3Sth General Assem-
by embOdies my views on that subject:
Il therefore recommend that, as an
amendment to the present system, the
county courts be required to appoint, for
thElr teepestlye corHtiesj a Board OF Reye-
nue. Assessors, consisting of three or i've
men, who shall be charged with THE duty Of
assessing all taxable property in their res
peCtiVe counties, aud that they shall be re-
quired TO base their valuation Of all lands
upon the written evidence, in the form OF
dispositions, of not less than three resident
freehOlders of the civil district in which
the lands are situated, touching the value
of each tract of land in their district; said
dispositions to petaken In the civil districts
where the land lies, before sOthe iuctiee OF
the peace of said district, by whom the de-
positions shall be returned to the board Of
assessors, on or before the day of -
in each year, and filed by them with their
returns to the County court.
"And. inasmuch as there is generally no
standard of CASH values affixed to lands, the
value upon certain credits to he fixed by
law; should first he ascertained by thci as
SCISSORS from the proof, and then they should
reduce it to a cash basis Wy a uniform rule,
to be prescribed by law. No freehOlder