Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-05-06

a Change Lhat Mnst he Mnde

The present constitution contains
several provisions which are 50 grossly
unwise as to demand a change. One
! Of these, TO which we are conscienti-
ously opposed, and which is palpably
unjust 10 its Operations that itnshonid
at once be abolished. We refer 70
that clause which exempts one thous-
aud dollars worth Of property 10 tho
hands Of each tax -payerffom taxes
Under Its operation two glasses Of
people are compelled 70 pay all the
trxes, while others are exempt from a
lust proportion of the public burden.
Real estate and privileges are paying
almost the entire revenue Of the State.
This is, in tho present condition Of
our State finances, unfair, unjust aud
an Democratic. Weha no duarrel
with the convention that trained the
constitution. In the confused and an.
settled state of affairs which existed
at that time, il was perhaps the Beat
that could be done, especially when TIE
heterogeneous c0mpositi0nof the con-
vention IS taken into account. But
now that we are compelled 10 come TO
hard-pan, and every possibln measure
must be adopted which will proDerlv
distribute public burdens without IN
Justice or discrimination to any class;
It becomes Us as a people 10 adopt
constitution, broad, fair, non-discrimi-
mating and just. The demands against
the State. outside Of the regular cur-
rent and necessary expenses, must DO
met and should be promptly met.
The important question must force it,
self upon every thinking man III Ten
nessee, how can this be done, aud az
the same time be the least burden
some to thepeople2 First. we answer,
by rigid economy aud a careful hus-
banding of our resources; secondly by
a fair and just distribution Of the bur-
den. fars r a.T
Now we respectfully submit; is there
a man worthy to be recognized AS a
citizen Of the proud State Of Tennes-
see, who would shirk his share Of the
burden. and thereby throw il on the
shoulders of his neighbor2 III here
aud there individuals might be- found
so destitute of true manhood, aud an
intelligent recognition Of the duties
and responsibilities of good citizen
ship, We feel very certain that he be-
longs to a very small class. How can
a proud man ask TO be relieved OF
bearing his share Of the expenses of
while he is the recipient
of all the benefits equally with those
who bear them, unless il be upcn a
plea of pauperism2 But our consti-
tuition virtually makes paupers Of
half Of our citizens. Fully one-half
OF. our population pay no taxes, unless
it be apoll-tax, and many not even
The people have not asked for this
exemptions; they are not paupers.
neither do they wish that real estate
and privileges be overburdened. The
State constitution, as il now stands,
does this very thing Every species Of
should be subject 70 taxation
at a fair valuation; aud no discrimina-
ton should be made. If one man
owns only one hundred dollars worth
OF property, he should pay on that
amount, no matter ia what form that
property exists. III another owns n
he should pay upon that
no matter in what form that
amount OF property exists. This
would be exact justice, and non dis
When this change shall
be made the taxable values Of the
property will be found TO be fully
double that now taxed. Then our
Legislature can reduce the rate Of
taxation almost or quite one-half; the
current expenses of government DO
raid and the public debt met punctu-
ally and paid of in less than half the
time now required. 1a Al
We want all bonds and every form
Of profitable Investments taxed, and
All property irrespective Of its class or
character, taxed according to value.
To do this requires constitutional
convention to amend.
We are unalterably in favor of that
thing, and hope our next Legislature
will call it.-Pdgis Intelligence.