The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-10-14
CIRCULAR.
To the People of the Second Sena-
tOriaI District of Tennessee

t.
tits right, for this reasoh, that should
make known to as many of you as prac-
tical, what manner of man am; and my
views as to legislation needed, to adj
vance your welfare.
1 was born in Claiborne county, In the
year 1837,-raised there; and since have
arrived to manhoods' estate have lived
in what is now Hamblen county. So
that nv life, so far, has been passed
among the people of this district.
I was raised "between the pillow
Misunderstanding been placed at work
regularly in the corn-feld, at six years
of age. Most of the years of my life
have been spent on the farm While it
is true that I studied law, and for
number of years practiced that pros
fession Still it is true, that am now,
and for several years have been chiefly
engaged in farming.
NY experience has thus been such
that I think understand the necessities
of the masses of. my people. know
feel their burdens as they do And l
know they need legislative aid be- |
Iicve that no country-no class in any |
country, can prosper when the chief in
terests of that country are not prosper
GUS The agricultural interest of this
State is so far its chief interest that 1t
over-shadOws every other interest. All
others are dependent upon it. There
fore, whatever benefits the farmer bene-
fits all classes,
Believing this position to be sound, 1
ask, h ow may the agricultural inter-
ests of the country be advanced? an
swer;
Any law that reduces taxes, enhances
tho value IF real estate and the products
of the farm, jh'Iaces immigration,- will
do lhis.
The question theh drises'
How may taxes be rttiuceds
The State debt, which is large, is to &c
paid, at least so much thereof as is found
to be just, after investigation. The gov
eminent is to be carried on, ard this re-
quires Il large sum. How can taxes be
7 aduced?
answer in several ways,
There is about one-fifth of the PROPER
~ of th State that has never been tax
ed-the IA ilroad property. Tax this, and
Won reduce your taxes one dollar In
every five.
Bn+ be,1r in mind that your county
taxes are Il. ,avier by far than your State
taxes. The chief reduction must be
made Il, vo,,r 70 unity taxes.
How can this be done?
Ianswer, in many ways
1t costs you too much to prosecute |
your criminals. would so l1odlty our |
judiciary system as to give Ju7tIces OF |
5he Peace jurisdiction over m sdcmean-
ers, and let such cases be finally dlSoos-
ID of before them, giving them the light
f need be to cmpannell Juries for The
purpose. Thus would be saved to every
county, thousands of dollars, in the way
IF costs With such modification as is
suggested above we need have no more
han two terms Of Circuit Court 8 year,
md perhaps not more than one Grand
Jury term year. We might also find
men, who would be willing
% serve as Judges for less than the
salaries paid at present.
A proper modification of our judiciary
system will save more than ten per cent.
If our taxes, State and county.
A large number of our officers, such as
Sheriffs, Clerks, &c, receive far more
or their services in the way of perqui-
ites, allowances, &c, than men of equal |
can make on the farm, at
nvil or at the workbench. 1 believe
here are good men in every county who
would fill these offices for us for much ! i
ess than the incumbents receive at pres t
mt, and who would turn the excess over
good paying salary into our county {
Thus might there be saved
o the taxpayers thousands of dollars. ]
think this would be right. |
Some officers we have, whose services
night be entirely dispensed with, and
heir pay saved to the taxpayers
All these things count in dollars and
ents; and believe they may be made
0 count to the extent Of fully half of our 1
resent rates Of taxation, without any in
ury whatever to the public service.
If the next Legislature should be able ?
o reach this result, they will have done
nore to ''preseroe tie credit Of the State" :
han all the funding bills and assess
lent laws ever passed.
Such a condition in our financial af- q
airs, State and county, would soon be- q
ONE known to the world Then would
oreigners turn their eyes hitherward in |,
earch for homes. Until something like ,
his is brought about, all our efforts to 8
induce immigration will be in vain. This
7ill bring capital and labor to our as S
istance. When men from other States v
nd countries begin to search for homes
our lands will begin to rise in v
rice and value. Money expended by 4
hem for our surplus lands, will remain I
mong US, as surplus money, and will be
nvested in better stock and tools, better
ouses and barns; or in manufacturing
nd banking institutions,
Thus also will the mechanic find more
FORK to do, the railroad more freights to
AIRY, the merchant a greater demand S
Or his goods. Thus will every interest
f the country advance together on the
Dad to greatness.
Now, please examine and think of the O
ositiOn have taken, and see if it is not
0und am sure it is. am sure there G
no other road to prosperity, am sure
lis road leads to it, when travelled
ther by an individual or State.
My position is simply this: N
1. Tax at its just rate, every taxable Il
alue. =
2. Cut off every needless expenditure. P.
FROM these two the rest all follow. tn
i i ca