The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-03-17

of people, whose valor is historic?
In justice to those who sweat and
t0ii-the laboring eiass--E must i'm
sist that the tax be reduced. To
increase it now will blight our future,
desoIate thousands of once happy
homes, and forever darlen the pros
poets. financially, of once free peo-
pie. To increase it now, will bring
upon us the collector, bearing to our
households ruin, woe and misery.
To increase it now, will fasten upon
rs the stigma OF unfaithfullness and
infidelity, because, Mr.. Speaker, the
people must sink under the load, and
two years hence will send their
representatives pledged TO cancel all
outstanding bonds, by repudiating
the debt, about which there is so
much said and that the people will
adjust, il they only have an oppor-
tunity to recover from the pressure
that rests upon them. Reduce the
tax, give the honest laborer time to
lift his dropping head. Do not for
the respect you have for Tennessee's
distinguished sons. who sleep in
honored graves, force upon us re-
pudiation Eet US suspend for a
time only, the payment of the inter
est; levy tax sufficient to pay
necessary expenses, lay off the burd-
en-, that is pressing apon our people,
and once again we will take up our
line of march to prosperity and hap
piness. There is not one upon this
floor, who does nos feel a glow of
pride arising in contemplating the
joys that await us, if we are only
true to the principles enunciated in
the platform. Shall we fill the land
with mourning, and send throughout
our borders clouds Iadened with
gloom, or throw around the toiling
poor man a protecting arm, to shield
him from the many tax gatherers'
that infest the country. Methinks
/ see your bosoms heave with the
pride of your ancestors, as the query
is put, and | feel that relief will
come to the many whose eyes are
turned imploringly toward this
mighty building. Pause, reflect and
for the love you bear your buried
kindred-for the love you bear the
tender babe nestled upon the moths
er's breast-show yourselves willing,
as friends of the oppressed, to meet
the issue, that your names, when you
have crossed the stream and gone
to your Creator, may be lisped by
infants yet unborn, as men who dar
ed to do Your duty. and upon the
result, meet a noW-distressed con-
stituency. Though our sky is be-
clouded, and darkness hoovers
around, we are bonnd by every hon.
est sentiment-by every sacred i'm
pulse to face the monster, and, by
a herculean effort, rid those we repre-
sent of this ponderous load, that is
pressing them to the dust. All F.!
yes, our future meal is at stake, and
we should reduce the tax, make a
people happy, and they will ere long
reach the goal they long to claim.
The farmers have the burdens to
bear. They who go forth cultivating
the soil, and by their honest labor
hold together this proud Republic
they who go forth battling with the
of life and by their
energy and industry save from ruin
and overthrow the liberties that we
enjoy. Their burdens, Mr.. Speaker,
are almost intolerably. and unless
there is some change, human endur-
ence must yield, and they fall. Talk
to me of European oppression
Why, sir, to-day the taxpayers of
this State are in more deplorable
than those who live beyond
the ''surgihg pillows of the rolling
deep - All that is calculated to
depress hangs around in darkening
folds, and aside from suspension. the
brightest intellects of the age fail to
present a correct solution. We are
tending to bankruptcy. The honest
yeomanry of the land are discourage
ed, Taxes are Onerous and now,
sir, the "bone and sinew'' of the
country are lettering beneath the
weight. There must be a reduction
Or the star that once glittered bright
among the galaxy of States, must
wane and sink forever. This proud
old State that sent forth her IONS in
former years to die upon fields of
gore in the vindication of rights
upon, and more recently
lost mid Ere and smoke. Some of
her bravest men is passing through
an ordeal, more depressing than
ever called upon to undergo before
What is to be the result? We must
come forth united-the eastern, mid
die and western divisions struggle
for the common veal, or pain an
yuish and poverty will certainly at
lend our paths through life. Think
Of the suffering already incurred Go
gaze at the homeless Go
gaze at those who once lived in af-
1uence and at ease Behold their
altered conditions, and ask, how
come you to this? In many instances
The reply will be, oppression taxa
ion" and as a tear bestuds to
vrinkled cheek where once rested |
nope and smiles, your will think of
other days. before the land we love
vas drenched in blood, and what we
might have BEEN" By all that is
'acred, looking to the happiness of
hose who are to live after us | make
he appeal, and ask that you care
'uHy consider this matter, and let |
Is leave to our children the heritage
hat we would proudly claim.
There is Mr Speaker, about seven
hundred thousand dollars due by |
taxpayers Why is this2 The
country is impoverished. Real es-
ate is decreasing in value. There
$ no money here, and it is impossi
lie to collect. Let US be true to /
true to our ancestors. and /
rue 10 the interests of the people of /