Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-08

ginning, II this is improper legislation. if
It has been brought improperly upon The
country by inconsiderate or faithless legis-
istois, Is 1t not time it was swept from your
statute books? And, as some may have
voted for it as Legislators, but, from time
and experience, now believe that it was
wrong, does it not exhibit a degree of
moral courage on their part to advocate its
repeal. 1t seems 10 NE that this is but
just
But it is said by some that if you inter
fere with the taxes, and always when YOU
talk OF that character Of legislation that is
raised.
If you talk about reducing the taxes.
why the fear is that the Democratic marty
IS to be disrupted. Ielaim to know some
thing about the thing YOU call Democracy.
and claim to have been Democrat some
time before some of those who are so scru-
pulous now about the Democracy, were
bonn (Applause and cheers.) L state.
furthermore, that when they put their fin
ger upon one single leading principle,
and cardinal point of Democracy in the
proper sense OF the term, from which de-
parted, VIII agree never to appear before
tne pubic again. (Applause). Yes, if
those measures are not ignored, Democracy
is TO be disrupted. Let me ask all here to-
night, irrespective Of party, when dad any
OF you hear that a proposition to redeem
the taxes OF the country, to relieve the peo-
pie irom the oppressive burdens that rested
upon them, was an anli-DemOcratic meas
ure? Is this tax bill, is this assessors bill.
is this funding bill taken and
constituted as one of the tenets
of the Democratic party? If thew are
tenets OF the Democratic party am free to
say tonight that my comprehension of De-
mocracy is entirely wrong. Democracy is
not responsible for them. They are not
Democratic measures, and a Democrat has
no right to talk about disruption, when we
say We want those burdens taken from tlle
peoples shoulders. 1t is only pretext to
get up the idea that somebody wants to dis
rupt the Democratic party; then they will
cry out Reorganization and the thing is
settled. | have never been out Of the party
proper, and never expect to be out of
| it. (VOice-That' right, stick to it,
and loud laughter.) When others get out,
who are much younger than the person who
addresses you here tonight, they get
out with the intention of disrupting the
Democratic party. So far as the thing
called Democracy is concerned, | am a
Democrat in principle, and not in mere
profession. l am Democrat with those
who agree in Democratic principles, and
not simply in the name.
Suppose you reduce the peoples taxes,
and by reducing them you suspend part
or all the interest on these bonds for a short
time, would that be Reputation? Would
that be anything wrong? You want an
item of a million aud half of dollars to
pay the interest upon your bonds. Suppose
you bring your assessment down to 20cents
on the 500; you pay three per cent on this
debt, and, as many of the holders Of these
bonds bought them for fifty and sixty
cents on the dollar, they will then
get six per cent on their invest
ment, and this would relieve the
great mass of the community to a con-
siderable extent.
| would recommend this same rule Of
reduction to run through your counties and
| corporations, and give the people relief
eOnespondingly. But it is said that this
tax question must not be touched. Now,
l am for Cancellation and reconciliation,
but it seems to me that this proposition to
reduce taxation is one of the best that
could be submitted to people Of all parties.
1t seems TO me thai this is one plank in
platform upon which We can all stand.
In this State men say they want harmony
between the Cheatham men and the john
son men. Would not this question be the
best one in the world upon which 10 unite
Cheatham men, johnson men and Radi-
Gals? Would they not come forward and
embrace each other around a measure that
would relieve the people from oppression?
say to ali, and extend open arms to every
one, irrespective of what his opinions and
with me and stand upon this as one plank
in the platfOrm-tO reduce the peoples
taxes and correct this assessment law. Is
there anything TO create discord in the |
party in doing this?
In these days we have rings and eombi- |
nations that take charge of everything. If |
you don't agree with these rings, you are |
put on the outside, and hear the CIV "mad /
dog, mad dOgn We have close corpora
tiOns in this State, and they ap- /
ply their standards and lay down their |
rules by which every man is to be meas
ured, and if you don't help to put these |
men back in office after they get out, vi by |
you are a diSOrganizer. When / look at /
these close corporations, l am reminded of |
the story of the old man who drank a senti-
ment at a public entertainment. Taking
up his glass, he said: "Here's to me and |
my wife, my son John and his wife; us four
and no more Laughter.)
Those that don't come to the standard of |
these rings are '.read out.n Well, when
they undertake to read me out of the
Democratic party, / am inclined TO think
there wont be much of the church left.
Laughter.
Let us come together in a spirit of unity,
and quit talking about party so much, and
have something to say abont country. Let
us lay down our cardinal points, and after
they have effected a lOdgment in the mind
Of the public, the public will have a stand
ard by which to measure public men.
We have heard quite an ado about seve-
raj gentlemen who met in Nashville and
had a consultation, the result Of which they
put in the shape of resolutions, which they
have submitted for the consideration of
their fellow citizens. They say they think
taxes should be reduced, the assessors bill
should be amended and the funding bill
considered. These things must have a
start-must have beginning. Suppose
one man had sat down and
had written an editorial on this
subject, or letter for publication, the re-
suit might have been the same, but there
would not have been wrong in it.
But would have had these gentlemen
make one other suggestion. / would have
had them recommend to the Legislature the
propriety of having our United States Sena
tor elected directly by the people, instead
of by the legislature. l would bring our
Representatives in Congress into closer
relations with the people, so that they
could be watched more closely. To-day
Legislatures are bought and soldlike sheep
at the shambles, but the people of this
State could not be bought, and better men
would, therefore, be elected to the United
States Senate.
The proposition has been recommended
to Congress, and two or three States have
adopted resolutions proposing to have the
President and Viee-President of the
United States elected directly by
the people. We used to think, in the day.
of Clay, Jackson James \. Polk, Critten-
den and Felix GFundy that this was good
Dem ocratic doctrine. Let the people take
this measure in hand, and elect the Presi-
dent and Vice-PresidGnt, and you will find
the trouble and excitement now attending
the election of those officials dole away
with,
I do not believe in so much paper