Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-02-13
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

We publish to-day, Governor Port
er's first message to the Legislature. |
and commend it for its brevity and
point. its plain, practical common
sense Whilst he omits no topic de-
manding the grave consideration of the
people and their representatives, he
dwells upon no one of them longer
than is necessary TO give clear idea
of his meaning. Of the various SUBJ
jects to which 'he invites attention,
none should receive more cordial en-
dorsement than his recommendation
that corporate property be taxed. 1t
should become the settled policy of
the State that whatever is protected by
its laws, shall contribute its quota to
the support of the government. If
one class of property holders is al
lowed exception from taxation, where
is the principle ofjustice that will deny
the same privilege to all.others And
what makes such exemptions the more
Objectionable is the fact, that corpora
tions are generally. more able to pay
taxes than the mass of individuals,
and that every dollar lost to the reve-
nue., by mistaken fayoriteism, increases
the burden imposed upon those less
able to bear it.
In regard to the enormous cost of
the administration of the criminal
Jaws, the Governor wisely recommends
that petty larceny be made misde
meanor, and that warehouses be pro-
vided for its punishment. This being
done, there will be more wisdom and
justice in the further recommendation,
that thecounties be made to pay for the
prosecution Of their criminals. This
last arrangement, might have the effect,
to make the people of each county
more vigilant over the administration
of the criminal laws and the action of
grand juries, as well as more watchful
of the department of their judicial
oficers-to this extent the innovation
might be an Improvement, otherwise,
counties Astounding in petty offenders,
may be made bankrupt by the effort to
maintain law and order. It seems to
us that to extend the jurisdiction of
magistrates over petty offenses and to
make that jurisdiction final to reduce
the costs of transporting convicts to
the Penitentiary, and prescribing some
limits to the right of appeal in minor
cases, is about as much as can be done,
In this connection, until more advanced
ideas of moral right and political JUS
tice obtain among the masses of our
citizens. Still we are not prepared to
take issue an toto with the Governors
recommendation because we can not
forsee the workings of the experiment.
But we agree so fully, with the Cover
nors views on all the leading questions
raised in his message, thatit may seem
likecaviling to dissent, even by sugges-
ton, on this single point. We are con-
tent therefore to leave the document to
speak for itself-requesting the reader
to give it careful perusal, and to
weigh Its recommendations, with an
earnest desire to arrive at their truth,
and to profit by the wise conclusions
to which they will lead those who
thoroughly digest them. The one
great truth which they will develope
is, that reform must be the work of
the people themselves. As long as the
laws are violated, the offenders must
be punished at whatever cost, and the
laws will continue to be violated until
self-respect and love of honesty re-
strain the thoughtless and vicious
within the pale of the law. To restrain
the vicious, punishmentmustb be speedy
and certain, and the offender deprived
of the hope of escape through the
'laws's delay" and its numberless de-
vices for shielding guilt that the law
yer may prosper whilst justice ard vir-
tue and society suffer Legislators
may prescribe rules of action, wise
and comprehensive, but to make them
efficient in practice, is the business of
the people. Ignorance must be en-
lightened, vice repressed by punish
ment. and all taught the important
truth that the wisest and freest system
of government may become the most
corrupt and oppressive, provided the
people are Indifferent, ignorant, or cor
rupt. Intelligent virtue needs no rule
of action save the law of its own ma
ture. and vice can be cradicated by no
legislative enactments until an over
whemling public integrity brushes
and shames it out of sight, if not out
of existence. Then let us rely less
upon legislators and more upon virtu-
GUS example and watchful Preside
training; less upon the courts and
more upon well regulated schools. In
these, consist the true secret and source
&C rosnrn,