The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-05-19
ANOTHER BEECH CREEK
JERKER" SPEAKS.
DOWN ON THE DOG Law, AND
WANTS 70 HEAR FROM HODGES.

To the Editor Of the MoERIsrowR GAZETTE
BEECH CREEK, May 8, 1875.
From my reading. I am led to be-
lieve that newspaper men are fair
and liberal-hearted men, and be
convinced of a wrong. You will
agree with me when / say that pub
lie sentiment is influenced q great
deal by the press. 1t is necessary
then that they should be fair and
honest in their sayings. and from my
little reading of your paper, I believe
you to be one of these sort of men.
You opposed the Civl Rights Bin.
In this you did right but, as it should,
it fell harmless at our feet-the me-
groes are just where they RI But,
now listen: We sent to Nashville a
set Of lawmakers. What have they
done? Their record speaks. Have
they lessened our taxes? Have they
broken up rings, &c? Have they
worked where the wrong is? Nc. In
simple words, they have passed laws
to Cypress the poor class. The Serfs
of Europe will be nothing to the poor
of Tennessee, if these wise law.giv-
ers of our last Legislature had a con
tinuance of power. Let US take the
dog law, and say nothing of the fence
and hunting law, which are capable of
Just as much ventilation. We will
call him Jones a poor but honest
man. married-has just married the
pride of his heart, built him a log
cabin up in the mountains OF East
Tennessee, where ever the travelling
book agent has not the fortitude to
90. His first outfit consists of him.
self. wife, DOG, gun and a meagre
supply of house keeping implements.
Now, it is necessary for Jones to
work by the day for his neighbors
for his support. He rises at 5, leaves
his wife in charge of faithful Tray.
who is ever on the lookout, and gives
warning ofintruders. She feels safe.
No rufian can cross the yard fence
unless she bids him. Knowing this,
Jones works with q contented mind,
and returns at night satisfied that
the wife of his bosom has been in no
danger. Tax Jones' dog-be is not
able to pay his dollar. What must
he do? XII him, of course then
his wife is left to the mercy of the
worst of men. Poor Tray, the "faith-
fuI friend Of man." Jones a do
without so many hogs. Tray guards
his corn-feld, keeps his neighbor's
breaky stock out. and has saved him
many dollars but poor Tray is dead.
Jones tries to do without him to sat-
isfy those lawmakers of Nashville.
His corn-feld is destroyed. His
neighbours stock did it. He mnst
institute a suit against him must
fee a lawyer, which he does not feel
Efmselfaable to do. But he brings
suit ne pays a fee of twenty-five
dollars Tecoyers nothing, and pays
the cost. sis neighbor, more tricky
at law than he has outed him. Then
again, JonesEhaA some fifty or more
fowls, which poor Tray kept watch
over. The "Udrmints," of which
there is an immense number, of the
t~tcO-Ieqged sort, have left him none.
Well, he used to, in the good old
90 hunting Of nights, and poor
Tray would find meat enough to last
him days, but not sc now. Jones
was out with his gun to-day, and had
to run the squirrels up the trees him
self. and pay his neighbor Duncan
half he killed for the privilege of
hunting on his land. Jones does not
think well of the men who made these
1t may suit the tOaCR TOP. 1t
may bring money to support the
bOn6holders. the kid-glove gentry,
but it does not set 9reU with the hon
Rst-hearted Turner, the poor man of
the country. Tax Injuries yes, so
saw; tax the bondholder; tax
everything that is not of absolute
necessity tax silk and fine linen
unused by the poor; tax the
carriage {; yes, and tax the dog where
ne is kept as a luxury by the town
for instance. But let US have
Dne dog TO the head of each family
exempt from taxation. Let rs not
to make the poor poorer; let us
to raise them up. / would like
o hear from our Senator Hodges.
From what l know Of him l believe
linn to be an honest man, and hope
.e did not UOte for the dog tar. L am
Tot half through. but will quit for
his time, with the wish that you
nay live to be a hundred years old,
md devote the balance of your life,
f it takes that long, to have the
yrongs Of the dog law Legislature
Yours,
McGoNGLE.