Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-06-27
A WORD TO TAX PAYERS.

The discomfort manifested by many, |
at the amount of cost charged against
those who fail to pay within the time
prescribed BY law, is an evidence of
thoughtless injustice towards the Of
fcials to whom the law confdes the
duties of tax collectors. We suggest
that those who complain, ask them
selyes-who is to blame for the heavy
costs? The law is explicit and posi-
tive in its requirements that those who
fail to pay within in specified time
shall be forced to submit to the sale of
their lands. 1t also declares that
those lands shall be advertised, giving
timely warning to delinquents, of the
penalty annexed to non-p payment
Neither the officer nor the printer can
afford to work for nothing, and the
law requires that they shall be paid by
those who make the sales necessary,
for the collection of dues that should
be promptly liquidated without re-
course to extreme measures. But our
chief purpose, in this article is to i'm
press upon delinquents, the fact that
the sales will come off as advertised
that much of the land will be bought
by individual bidders, and that the
present owners may be dispossessed, at
any time, with much loss and, incon-
venienee. 1t is for them to say
whether they will avoid this loss, by
immediate payment, or take the
chances of retaining their homes with
out paying the cost of collecting taxes
which ought to have been paid without
| the Intervention Of compulsory sales
The law may be oppressive-it may be
unconstitutional. This is matter
not within the jurisdiction of the col
lector, or printer, and if the tax payer.
are discontinued with the laws, lie
them remember that the government
is theirs, and that it will be good, o.
bad, just as they give intelligent at
tention to their own interests, or con
fide them to selfish demagogues, with
out wisdom to frame good laws, o
, without higher motives than to occup
, positions of profit and ease. At tn
! very time that printers and collector
, are being damned, without faint praise
many who curse them, are working 70
: the restoration of Radical rule by en-
, listing under the banner of aspirin
3 leaders who, to win office, would sim
: their blind followers into hopeless pc
! litical and pecuniary ruin. Instead @
d abusing laws and law officers, reforr
D the administration of your government
5 by selecting and electing hceest an
e capable men to fill every pcsi sou. hol
them to a strict ACCOUNTABLE. y, bu
: but first do your duty to your
S selves. Be men-frm and united o
f purpose, and until you reach this fir:
e stage in the progress towards reform
4 bear patiently the consequences {
5 your own neglect of duty, as NOM
/ nally free, and nominally self-goverr
: ing people. Rise, in your might, an
: order self nominated candidates t
: stand aside until they are wantet
a make your own selections and stan
: squarely by them in spite of the effor
? of disorganizers. Until you do thi
g don't clamor for economy and low ta1
: es, for every complaint you make is
: self-rebuke, and every appeal yo
e make, will be answered by derisiy
d laugh from those you have promotes
! and who despise the weakness and sin
II plicity with which you have listened
i their artful appeals to your prejudict
d and passions.