The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-01-07
SHALL re HAFEADOG LAW2

SHALL RE HIFE4DOG LAH2
Under the above caption we find a
thoughtful, able communication in the
Lebanon Herald, the salient points OF
which He copy. Every argument in
it wi apply t this section as well as
Middle Tennessee. We hope no one
will refuse to sign the petition which
is now being circulated, asking the
Legislature to levy a tax on dogs, rs
we firmly believe this is as important
as any measure that will come before
that body.
The farmers have long demanded
from our lawmakers this simple act
of justice; but, for some reason best
known to themselves, Certainly 10 10
one else, they have f..iied to pass the
Law, and the wool growing interests
have long suffered. The law Was
proposed ny the last Legislature, and
m.ny hoped that it would De passed
without delay; but they received ii
with fear and trembling, discussed ii
with I3ited breath, and, nr oider To
shirk an imagined responsibility, / =
terred it to the County courts; aha
tnGs was the most important me sure
proposed to the last Legislature dis
posed OF. But | d not seek u quar-
re-. 1t is Il thing Of the past. We
have only the future to improve; and,
forgetting the past, with It's toiiics amt
errors, watch no midl c.rn remedy, tie
farmers Of Tennessee demand o1 the
next Legislature a-speedy passage OF
the bill. Ii is simply an act OF jdstl, e
that this law SHOULD ue enacted, ana
Justice should he done though the
heavens fail.
Regularly, year after year, the tax
assessors visit the fiImer, assess every
single piece of property that can be
found, neglectiHS only the worthless
ours that bark at his heels. " by Is
this 50? Is the dog property? Ii
so, he may he taxed with as much
Justice as the COW or horse. And ii
he Is not worth taxing, Ii he is the
property of no one, why does the law
allow my neighbor fifty dollars dam
ages il, 1 should Kill 50 worthless All
animal?
1t is estimated that the loss Inflicted
on the wool-growirs interests Of the
United States 10y dogs alone amounts
to mere chan three million doll.le
annually. When We tIIng INTO This
calculation the la-s sustained yearly
by ali classes, Ill consequence OF the
fact that 50 many f.ylmcrS decline 70
engage III this branch OF husmmdry
because the strong arm OF law docs
not shield their Interests, the figures
become appalling. Ihe money thus
lost oUld III few years pay the IA
tiOual debt. 1t would soon discharge
the State debt, aLoUt which our Law
makers are puzzllng their brains to
devise some way u1 paying. In less
than a century II would circle the
globe with academies and churches,
and educate every child in \ merica,
clothe every orphan, iced every widow
and leave Il remainder sufficient to
BAY eve. dog Oh the globe at Il rea-
price. ... go.
] have animated that all classes
suffer v hen the wool-gIowing interests
are neglected. No iogsc Is needed 10
prove this assertion. ii Il small
amount Of wool is growu, then tie
price OF wool rises ln proportion to
lis scarcity, and the Prices of WOODEN
goods go Up with that of wool. Ibis
question then Genres up with lis much
interest to Tie merchant, The banker,
the lawyer and tie mechanic a. to the
and the indignant demand OF
an injured people should he sounded
in cur legislative halls anti Justice is
done the woUl-grOWer, even though
every dog IN the onion is sacrificed.
The wool-grower demands nothing
bat justice. Ii, after Iull mivest-
CATION OF the demand, they hnd that
it does Injustice to amy Que, they will
not demand its passage.
But viii II inJure amy one? No oHe
contends that 1t viii. The hiiteicSt
Of opponents of The proposed law do
not contend that the Law dies them
injustice. No ioN-hunier oppose Ii,
la on this grouLd. Ills opposition
arises from the fact that he his r,ght
to keep dogs if be wishes. But ii;.s
he that right? Fave Il 9ghl 10 Auti i
{ dozen halt-starved ours lthe huBtri
,OntendS that his hounds viii n0t Iuu
L we'll fed TO destroy my nei hLoI.
sheep? lave Il right 10 Tiie ovei
ais growing crops AT tue hour ut midi
ligAt, and lay his fences 10 the ground, |
my nelghyorS ana nay OWL
stock to his premises? Have | Il
right TO do this, even thUugh ii foris |
me- great pleasure to dose! -Doas not !
Justice require that some E,w should /.
De passed requiring me either TO pay
a,nieIhlng for The privilege OF keeping
ny dogs or Kill item, aud Hot allow /!
.iirm 70 destroy my ncis hJor's shecl! /
let the di-intercsted, il tlleie be any,
reply TO the question. !
Bat the t0X-nuHte;S are not the Onl, /
1Ees who oppose the law. HulIdreu, |
II negroes All over the Land, who own I
lozens Of dogs to the family, oppose
1 becduse Nero, Tiger, Lion, Aiaju. /
nd Dexter Will all he consigned 20 /
HAT pace where tie wicked cease /
rom troubling and the weary afe 1T !
est. We migHt mention othcI reaSuns ,
way he coiored man and brother does
act wish the law passed, but, r fer.
hat the present Congress insight at /
empt TO reconstruct Us, We deeist.
These are Tie oniy oppo.-er, # the
Measure These and the Legislature