Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-18
TENNESSEE In THE TOLLS.
what Turks Behind Ihe Republication

What Turks Behind She Reputation
Movement.
Nashville Correspondence Of the Louisville
Cour.er-J Ournal
In Tennessee there are 1,634 miles of
railroad enjoying an immunity from taxa
ton. They are all quite wealthy and fully
able to bear a heavy taxation, yet, from
some influence or other, they have never
yet been taxed. In this time of need, when
the people begin to talk Of a Reputation Of
their honest liabilities, it seems to me that
they should turn their attention to the ex-
empted property, and see if the revenue
may not, by a judicious levy, be so in
creased as to Obviate the dire necessity Of
repudiatiRg. Let us see what those rail-
roads ought to nay, if taxed at the valua-
ton of $4,000 to the mile, as is done in
Kentucky. This valuation, assessed at 40
cents, which is the present rate, would an
nually increase the State revenue Sl3O,T2O,
which would go far towards relieving the
pressure.
And why should they not be made to
pay? They are, Of all corporations, the
most utterly soulless. A great Organiza-
ton has, within year or two, sprung into
existence, most of all because Of the exer-
lions of railroads. If ally sane man can
tell me that a railroad should, for any rea-
son known to-day, be exempted from taxa
ton, l would be glad to hear from him.
The people who annually pour into their
Golfers millions of dollars pay taXes-why
should not they? To one who believes as
l do, that no piece Of property, Of any de-
scription whatever, should be exempted, the
puerile explanations of interested parties
sink into utter insignifcance. And yet
there are men here in the General Assem-
bly, to-day who will sit down upon
the throne of the demagOgue and
gavely propose to repUdiate the honest
Indebtedness of the State, but would
throw up their hands in a holy horror
at the bare mention of the taxation of a
railroad. Do you know that selfish politi-
clans and a railroad or two are really be
hind all this talk Of getting rid of the bur
dens of high taxation? l think l have said
as much before in my letters. Behind the
selfish demagCguery Of a coterie Of design
ing politicians stands the power OF more
than one great railroad combination ready
to aid them in thrOttling the State. Ten
nessee Writhes to-day in her tolls. Will
sheescape? l hope 50, indeed, believe SO,
because l trust aud honor the brave State
mense. and l know not if there are enough
good men and true on the floors Of the SEN
ate and House to sound the alarm and keep
watch and ward over that sacred treasure,
the honor of Tennessee.
People here speak so lightly of repudia-
ton, that / fear their sensIbilities are
dulled, and they lose sight Of the high
character Of this solemn debt Of honor.
Because L cannot pay to-day all that l owe,
gives me no right to say that | will not pay
at all. Ill am financially crippled to-day,
il is my duty 10 say so TO my creditors, and
arrange terms with them for future pay
ment. viii any Of these gentlemen deny
this? Is there any good reason why the
same rule will not apply to State? Ger
tainly there can be none. l DO not believe
Tennessee is seriously involved. Design
ing men have swept through the State
CRYING 'Wolf," until every door is
barred AGAINST the imaginary evil, which
really has no existence even in the busy
brain that gave it circulation. Tell peO-
pie they are poor and on the verge Of star
walton, and many of them will deem il at
once a duty TO grow hOllOw-eyed and
cadaverOus, as il they were really starving.
Some of the most oily-tORgUed statesmen
of this country have told them these fear
full stories. and they have blindly heard
and still more blindlY followed. They are
no worse of than some of their neighbOTs.
Why up in Kentucky l never heard muir
muir against the fOrty-hve cents Of State
tax in my life, save on the floor Of the
House or Senate, from some poor, misers-
bic, designing old demasogue, who wanted
a hobby 10 ride into Office again and again.
Tennessee, on an average, is not poor. Ii
has as fine cotton lands as any State in the
South; it has here in Middle Tennessee
corn and wheat lands equal TO those Of Illi-
nOis, while in the eastern portion Of the
State many Of her valleys blossom like the
rose from very richness, and her hillsides
yield the grape, the peach and the apple
from which is made their bewitching wine,
or still more seductive and bewildering
brandies. Her hills are bUrdened with
coal and iron, inexhaUstible in their riches,
and vet the State must cover itself all over
with infamy because. fOTsOOth, a debt Of a
over 81, 100000 rests upon it. Fie on
YOU. gentlemen Of Tennessee,