The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-06-16
THE DOG LAW.
MeGONTGLE TO THE FRONT WITH
HEAD ERECT.
BEECH CREEK. June 1. 1875.

| lHCGOA4U4<A ~ 4&1B R1OH4 VIZ 4
HEAD ERECT
BEECH CREEK, June 1. 1875.
To the Editor of the 1Forristown Ganette:
] will say this in response to thu
talk of Senator Hodges in defenst
of his position on the dog and fence
laws. Perhaps the Captain thought
and still thinks. he did right wher
he voted for these laws; but, witt
ali due respect to his opinions, I diff
fer with him, as do nine-tenths oi
the people in. this county, and the
man who dare come before the peo
pie in the next election with the dog
law upon his banner will be left out
in the cold-let it be right or wrong
He says the seth General Assembly
has lessened our taxes by at least 8
million of dollars. Let US see. We
take the present Assessment law
you elect one Assessor for the en-
tire county, to whom you pay for the
assessment of the county about one
thousand dollars, with the power TO
employ in each civil district from
one to two men to help him, at $1.5O
per day. This thousand dollars goes
into the hands of one man, whereas.
under the old law, tHe magistrates
in each civil district assessed the
property at about twenty dollars to
the district. Now take this county,
and we have. I believe, seventeen
districts, which would cost us but
three hundred and forty dollars /;
take this and the $3.50 per day for
assistants, and you see what We
make or save. over the left. "Oh,"
he will say, " this expense will only
have to be met every four years"
but tell you the personal property
has to be assessed every year, and
the realty could just as well be, and
at no more expense. And then.
again, the old law gave more gener-
al satisfaction. The money for the
assessment was divided among sev.
enteen men in our county, whereas,
but one gets it now. 1t looks too
much like abridging the rights of
the people you give them no voice
in the assessments. and they only
have their remedy at law, and must,
if they feel aggrieved, fee a lawyer.
Well, you did reduce the fees of the
poor magistrates. Why did you not
strike at the big fish? Why did you
not commence at the Capitol and
come down? Look at our Judges,
who are paid their thousands; and
sometimes we pay two to do the
work of one. And / see, too. thai
you put price upon the right of trfat
by jatry. Where nOao does the OPP
preston come in? Why. sir, hear
it whispered that our rights are well
nigh gone-that we are drifting back
to Monarchical power. We have too
much legislation. Away with the
dog law, the jury law, the fence law,
the law regulating contracts. the
squirrel law, the path law, the fish
law, &C., and let us 60 back to the
good days of old-let the people
have a voice-let US put our heads
together, and try to pay our State
debt. Let us take from the bond
holders, the Office holders, the mon-
eyed man, the farmer. the mechanic,
the merchant, and all others, in pro-
portion to their wealth. and pay this
debt, and we will have no fault find
ing. The Captain says he is now.
and has always been one of the
"toiling poor" Glad you have cor
rected us-we had gotten it into our
head that you were the contrary, and
now belonged to the legal fraternity.
t Mr.. Editor, excuse me, 1 have al
ready said more than thought /
would, but there can come no harm
from a discussion of matters that the
people are directly interested in-in-
deed, / would like to hear the views
of every one. Yours,
McGoETsLE.