The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-05-26
THE DOG LAW.
HODGES RESPONDS TO
MGONTGLK7f AND TALKS
OUT LIKE a MN
M0RRIsTOWN, MAY p, 1873.


MoGRIsTogN. May p, 1875.
To the Editor Of the Morristown Gazette:
Your correspondent, MeGonigle.
in his felicitous Communication about
the dog law and other acts OF the
39th General Assembly, says he
would like to hear from me-be be-
lieves me an honest man-hopes l
did not vote for the dog tax. A rose
might be known by its fragrance,
even IN q darkened chamber. So |
think I recognize MEG onigle. though
lie conceals his name. l apprehend
that he is not a farmer, but might
rather be classed as one of the kid
glove gentry, in contradistinction.
| will say to him, be he who he
may, that / did vote for the dog tax.
[ voted also for the reduction in the
height of a lawfal fence, Evoted for
both in the interests of the toiling
masses. The difference between Nc
Gonigle and myself is, that / was
raised as one of the toiling poor
have always lived among them, as
one of them, and understand what
they need, perhaps, better than he.
The arguments of your correspon-
dent about the dog law, and the pic
ture he draws of the poor young
(hunter orr farmer Il don't know
which, in the mountains, loses many
of its deceptive tints from the light
of the letter from "a Granger coun-
ty farmer" published on the ana
page.
The idea that anywhere in Ten
nessee, the dog is really valuable as
an aid in procuring meat for the
family" could only have been ex-
pressed in seriousness, by a member
of the kid-glove fraternity, or some
other learned profession. The day
when he could be thus useful here.
passed away with Davy. Crockett
and his compeers, and will never re-
turn.
The idea that a dog-the average
cur or hound of Tennessce-can
protect, the mountain farmers fami-
ly when he is away, from the assaults
and abuses of a r%uffian, must be the
idea of one who does not understand
either the dog or the ruffian. The
dog is truly sometimes much in the
way of children sent ON errands, of
neighbors paying friendly visits. and
such, but the man bent on evil dis
poses Of him as readily as he does
the cobweb which may chance TO
hang across his path.
Begging to refer McGonigle to
your Granger county letter. / have
only TO say in addition that l have
no patience with the average Ten
nessee dog. l think him an ugly,
unpleasant kind ofluxury Especially
when he is wet that genuine tastes
do not much enjoy. | think further
that no farmer who sticks to his bus
mess as he ought, can find time to
make him useful. A rather extern
sive inquiry among farmers in differ
ent parts os the State satisfies me
that the Legislature did the right
thing when they passed the law, and
that there is no sort Of danger of its
repeal. l thought l did my duty
when l voted for it, and must decline
to offer any excuse or apology on
the subject.
l can't precisely understand what
McGonigle means by his reference
to the hunting law" No law was
passed affecting anybody'g right to
hunt in East Tennessee, except in SO
far as it is done by the act passed
March 22nd. That act makes it a
misdemeanor to hunt in the enclosed
lands of another without permission.
is right, and does no harm to
anybody /; but much good will grow
out Of it. The Act of March 23d
pp 213) refers only to the counties
named in the 9Th Section.
When McGonigle asks, as to the
Legislature, "Have they l~esseped
our taxes?' l answer, yes; by at
east a million of dollars in the a9-
gregate. When he says "they have
passed laws to Cypress the poor" he
counts without his host. Not
IN act Of the last Legislature will
rave any such effect or tendency.
Let him specify, and show where the
oppression comes in. 1t is not nice
send your servant out to do a
,iece of work for which you pay him
lalf price, and when he comes back,
condemn the job without having ex-
it. But some men are con
t~itutional fault-fnders and scolds
nd if the Saviour of the world was
N earth, they would scold if he did
lot declare a vacancy in the apos-
Ollie college and constitute them
one of the twelve"
Mr.. Editor. ! did not start 10 write
IL this but l am writing altogether
5 a private individual, and not as a
legislator. l shall always retain (if
CAM perfect freedom to entertain
DIV own opinions, and express them
fhen it is necessary. Ishall do this
Ist as L did in the recent session OF
he Legislature, without any refer
nee to popularity.
Respectfully,
j. g. HODGES.
That Calico Hop.