Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-01-03
Increase in lS73....
sT6,69

Increase in lS73..... ................. s776, $50
This difference cannot be charged
to increased value, but is due solely
to the much abused assessment law
the searching character of which has
brought to light taxable property here
tofore unreported to the assessors.-
Be it remembered, however, that this
increase of taxable values, has rela-
ton only to the past year, and how
ever beneficial it may be in the future,
rs a means of financial relief, it must
be left out of view, as a possible agen-
cy in averting the embarrassment grow
ing out of the circumstances of the
past. We all remember, and still feel,
the ravages of the war-the ruined
fortunes and Frustrated business
And these, followed by an infamous
system of reconstruction, studiously
designed to demoralize labor, and to
throw every possible obstacle in the
way of recuperation, are sufficient to
account for subsequent financial en-
barrassment, and that confusion of
monetary affairs which cost DIR. Cobb
so much patient toll to bring into any
thing like ineligible shape. In ad-
dition to these causes of diminished
revenue and its tardy collection, Judge
Tyler, in his late report, informs US
that, in consequence of the war, the
taxable property of the county was
reduced from s10,720,79 in 1860, to
S3,3S9, ZIG in 1866" A county heavily
in debt before, and at the close of the
war, could hardly be expected to meet
principal and interest, or either, in de-
fance of the pressure brought to bear
upon her by such accumulated disad-
vantages-property destroyed, labor
worse than worthless, debt growing
and revenue decreasing.
Still, as is strongly intimated, mat
tiers might be wearing brighter as
pect but for official neglect or incom-
petence. But who are the delinquent
officials? The report says:
1.-The County Court had but to levy
n tax sufficient to keep down the In
terest and to establish sinking fund
TO meet the bonds at maturity, and
the collectors had but to collect and
pay over this tax as required by law,
and all would have been well.
That the County Court has not failed
TO levy a sufficient tax from the end of
the war to the present time, can be
easily shown"
The inference is, that the County
Court is exempt from all blame and,
therefore, the fault is that of the col
lectors. Whilst it is far from our pur-
pose to become the defender of either
party to this financial middle, we are
still DESTROYS that neither shall be ex-
cluded from the benefits of whatever
palliating circumstances may attend
the inquiry. We have already pointed
out the leading facts which made it
difficult to collect the tax that was
levied, and offer them in palliation of
any real, or seeming dereliction of
duty, on the part of the collectors
The report says, 1.-THE County Court
had but to levy tax" but We think
this one act falls far short of its du-
ties and responsibilities. Who selects
the collectors? Who approves their
bonds2 Who is required to proceed
against principals and sureties in case
those bonds are forfeited, and whose
duty is it to review those bonds from
time to time, and see that they are
sufficient to protect the county against
loss, in the event that the principals
prove delinquents?
But the publication of the fact, that
the tax levied is sufficient, if paid in,
to redeem the funding bonds and pro-
vide sinking fund to meet the obi
cations of the county as they fall due
ought to prove a valuable lesson to
both collectors and taxpayers-teach-
ing the former the importance OF
prompt collection, and the latter, the
duty they owe to the county, that their
taxes be paid cheerfully and at the
earliest moment. The past is beyond
recall. Then let us resolve to improve
the future. elimination aud recrimi-
nation can only breed ill-will, and
charitably conceding that none of us
have done our whole duty, let US
charge all our troubles to the war and
profit by the lessons adversely has
taught US.
Governments, at best, are an expen.
sive luxury, but the vieiousness o.
mankind makes them a necessary evil
But under a government like ours, i
the people, for whom it was instituted
and by whom it was intended to bt
controlled, are too ignorant to appre
ciate its blessings, or too careless tt
guard their rights and privileges, OF
are reckless of the consequences tina
must follow their own omissions anC
commissions, power will pass from
theirs, into the hands of few, anC
corrupt misrule and oppression sup
ply the place of wise and effective
administration of the laws. In Oul
history, this point of deterioration L
fairly reached, and the remedy fol
existing and prospective evils is not t.
be found in the inquiry-who is t.
blame? We are all to blanche
mans skirts are clear, and instead o
irving to saddle the blame upon this
or that mans shOulders-upon the
living or the dead, let US resolve tina
the wrongs of the past shall be right
ed in the future; let US resolve t.
euard our rights by placing no man IL
auy Office, who is not honest and ca
rable, aud trust not even such an on
upon the faith of straw bond. Lie
us resolve to pay our taxes promptly
and with the least cost for collection
and to hold the County Court and al
other officials to a rigid account. NJ