Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-05
Federal USurpatiOn Must be De-
nOunced and Repealed.

the elaborate message Of my immediate
predecessor, coupled with your action,
covers the entire field Of legislation, and 1
viii only direct your attention briefly to a
few questions, most Of which are already
embodied in bills now pending before you,
and as paramount to all other questions /
call your attention 20 the fact that in all
sections Of the State the people complain
Of the burdens Of taxation, Federal, state
and local, aud while they are willing to be
taxed for al necessary and legitimate pur-
poses, they have such confidence in your
wisdom and discretion, and in your knOWl-
edge Of THEN present great necessities as 70
make them feel secure in the belief that
YOU will avoid any legislation looking to
extravaganza or 10 the advancement of
private speculation. The people Of Ten
nessee never possessed so little ability to
bear the burdens Of government IS at
present. The very general failure in all
the staple productions Of the State, to-
gethsr with the great industrial depression
resulting from the financial disorders of
the country, has reduced the condition Of
the people TO such a point as TO require the
exercise Of economy and watchfulness in
every appropriation made by their Repre-
tatiyes.
THE STATE DEBT.
The attention ofthe Legislature is called
to the necessity of making provision for
the interest on the State debt, and for the
necessary appropriation 10 meet the current
expenses Of the state Government.
IL is too late to discuss the wisdom Of
the policy under which this debt was ere
aled, bat how 20 p.Sserve the public faith
and credit without an increase IF the pub
lie burdens, Is the question of the greatest
concern 10 the tax payers; the rate Of taxa
ton cannot be increased without iIhiCting
Irreparable injury upon the people, and
while this fact cannot be questioned it must
be understood that the people Of Tennes-
see viii neyer Tepudiate the legitimate
debt Of the State. The question was fairly
presented to them during the late canvass,
and they pronounced against Il. They
know that 'repudiatiOa does not pay a
debit that it Goes not discharge the debtor;
| that IL does not modify adebt SO that it is
not always binding in law as we'll IS il
morals, ana that it adds q sort Of disrepute
to acknowledged inabi ity;' but while the
mass of the people viii not consent to the
| iulic-iOu Of this stain which we ought to
feel worse than a wound there Is an i'm
| p~erative necessity for = prompt reduction IN
| The expenditures Of the State government.
4 If this IS done, no doubt can exist Of the
/ a5ilty Ofthe State TO meet promptlylall its
/ Obligations.
AD5uEIsTEATI-E or CRIMINAL LAW.
The expense incident 10 the administra-
! ton of the criminal law IS the subject of
| criticism and complaint in all parts of the
! State, and il is believed that this large eX-
| penditure can be greatly reduced by amOd-
| lfcItiOn Of the statute in relation TO sthe
| crime Of larceny, so as to make petit iarce-
ny q misdeueauOr. There are now in the
! state p~euitentiary about five hundred con-
| yil-s. convicted Of larceny. chiefly Of the
| lower grade, the Oil5use Of many was for
/ stealing sums ranging from eight cents 10
five dollars, gutail.ug directly on the State
in many cases an expense Of over two
hundred dollars for the delivery Of the con
Wet a. the State Prison. The reduction Of
the grade Of this crime would save many
thousands Of dollars 20 the Treasury; the
punishment OfthOse convicted of it by con-
fnemeut in the county Jail or wOTk-hOuse
would be adequate, while the morals Of the
convict would be improved by this change
in the manner Of his punishment; and l
suggest for yOUr consideration the prOpTie-
~ al imposing by law, upon the several
counties, where the crime is committed,
the pay ment Of the cost now chargeable to
Tie State; the adoption ofthis policy would
De- q great relief TO the Treasury. and
would doubtless induce greater watchfJl-
ness upon the pant 0fthe citizen,and arouse
a more active interest in the suppression Of
every character Of laWlessness.
FEES AND PEBQUIsITEs.
Much complaint is made by the tax-pay-
crs Of the State at the amount Of fees and
parquisites received by many ofice-holders
in Tennessee. The compensation of all
public servants should be reasonable, but
L0pIaca should have attached TO it such an
income as viii justify the employment Of
corrupt means in obtaining IL, andIrecOm-
mend tie PASSAGE of q general law limiting
the incomes Of all officials to a certain
amount, and providing that all fees in ex-
cess Of the prescribed limit shall be paid
into the public treasury.
THE STATE PESITENTIARY.
The lease Of this institution will expire
the lst Of December, 1876, and the duty
deyolyes to you Of determining the DISPOSE
ton to be made Of it.. The present policy
is q very questionable one, but If it is to be
released, the manne and terms Of the
lease shouIdbe definitely settled, ~andshould
be made in time to enable the lessee to
10 provide the necessary material and sup
plies for prosecuting the business Of the
establishment.
The peuitcHtiaTy building is wholly in
adequate for the accommodation Of the con-
yicts now occupying il; no proper system Of
discipline can be enforced, and no sufficient
provision can be made for the health or
moral condition OF the prisoners; the en-
largament of the present buildings is not
desirable, because Of the location. and l
recommend TO the consideration of the
Legislature the proTriety Of selling the es-
Enlistment aud erecting a new one at
some point outside Of the city Of Nash
vile. with accommodations suited to the
wants Of the State; but our financial en-
barrassment will prevent the construction
Cf this much needed improvement now.
unless q sum sufficient can be realized from
the sale Of the buildings and grounds.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The people Of Tennessee recognize the
necessity Of aiIording free education to all
the children Of the State. The system now
In operation is a wise one in many re-
ct-el-r da4A bA-As ~ NC AaauE LiAE EAuf-Eb 0A
the most friendly legislation. such legisla-
ton rs viii make every child in the State
its beneficiary. The general sentiment of
our people Is favorable to the cause of pop
ular education. Our prosperity depends on
the maintenance Of tie system ~inaugurated
two years ago, and, If any change IS made,
it ought only to affect the details in such
manner as will afford increased educational
facilities.
I herewith transmit a memorial from the
TENNESSEE State Teachers Association, on
the subject Of the public school system of
Tennessee. The recommendations therein
made are entitled 10 the highest respect,
and viii, ] doubt not, secure that consider
alton they so eminently deserve.
J also transmit q communication received
from the distinguished Dr.. Is. Sears, Gen
elal Agent OF she Peabody Educational
Fund, on the subject Of the estab lshment
Of "a State Normal School. The offer made
by him IS a muuihcent one, and l recon-
mend that It be secured by the apprOpria-
ton Of the required amount Of money; if
necessary. tine sum can be appropriated
from The school fund, without increasing
the public burdens. With the establish
meGt Of this schooi, good teachers, o