Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-02-05
THE DOG LAW.
A Member OF the Legislature Rises
ana Makes q Few Remarks.

A Member OF the Legislature Rises
ana Makes a Few Remarks.
We never hear about the dog law down
in this end Of the State. The people pay
the taxes generally without grumbling.
But in East Tennessee it is different.
Nearly every week we see articles pro
and con upon this subject, and occa-
sionslly a member who voted for it rises
to defend himself. At first the anti
dog tax howlers had the best of it, but
the benefits aud justice Of the law begin
to be conceded, and the dog tax men
boldly defend themselves. Mr.. John Z.
Starnes, who quietly and efficiently rep
resented Hawkins county in the Legisls'
ture. lately replied through the MorriS-
town Gazette to one Of his anonymous
traducers in this brief style:
Idon't wish to become troublesome,
but | hope you will bear with me and
give me another place in your columns
for an answer TO the would-be honorable
McGonigle's notorious letter, although
it doesn't deserve a common notice.
However, l personally know him to be
an aspirsnt for the place | have lately
occupied seat in the Legislature.
Now, sir, he commences by saying
that a poor mar values and loves his
dog equally as we'll as he does his wife
and children"
As you know, | have no wife, but /
hope should | ever be so fortunate as to
get one l want to get one that ] care
more for than | do for a dog; and If the
would-be honorable McGenigle's esti-
mate Of womsn's nobleness ia not above
that OF a dog, wouldn't be make a noble
citizen, much less that Of a representa-
tive7 Mr.. Mac will be mistaken, if be
thinks he can ride into the Legislature
on a big yellcw dogl he has taken the
wrong side Of the question, and will get
to stay with his wife that be has no more
leve for than the CANNES.
Mr.. Mac speakssss though the citizens
Of our toWa controlled the thirty ninth
General Assembly. BE is barking up the
wrong bush. They are willing that Mr..
Mac continue his rail splitting and fox
bunting. as they have not the least doubt
he would be more in bis right element
than to have a seat in the lex Legisla-
ture. The citizens OF our town, and L
have no doubt q great many in the coun-
try, are willing for you to wear your
home-spun jesns, as it is more durable
for your rail.splitting, fox-hunting, etc.
| would advise you, Mr.. Mac, as you
have so much fine land and ii takes such
q quantity Of jeans to make you a suit,
to try and keep your sheep on grass SO
they will grow you more wool, so it
will not take more than the wool Of Of
twenty head to make you q suit; and we
will try and protect them, provided you
pay your dox tax on fret notice
Now, Mr.. Mac, l am a poor man my.
self, and / am a better friend to the poor
mar than you are, but if the poor men
oil our country prefer to pay the tax on
the many worthless dogs that the rich
man, as you say, a and does do with
out, instead Of killing them, it is their
own lookout; and from your version Of
the matter, you would destroy the many
good men Of the country who pay the
revenue, and let those 20 free who keep
80 many worthless dogs, pay no revenue
and care nothing for the protection of
the sheep Of the country.
Now Mr.. Mac, who pays2 and from
what source does our revenue Gomez
From met who make their living from
%foK-hunting2 or, honest farmers OF the
country Sir, you know who | am, and
that | don't live in town, nor do | 20 to
theaters often, and should | choose to 20
10 q thester instead OF %foK.huntiug, |
certainly have that privilege. Every
man has q capacity and standing 10 soci-
ETY., and any man can tell Mr.. McGoni.
gle's. If he prefers the company Of dogs
instead Of better society, he must have
that privilege; as the old woman said
when she kissed the COW. every person
to their own taste.
Now, Mr.. Editor, you see from Mr..
McGonigle's letter that be would like 10
have the privilege Of being our next
legislator. He might succeed in some
county where be is not known, but when
the good citizens and voters Of old Haw.
kins 60 to the polls to vote they want an
honest mar. Not one like Mr.. Mac. who
puts -four in the ends OF the barrel and
corn meal in the middle, and sells 10 the
hard'working farmer and mechanic as
all -four. Does be remember when he
made money in that way7 One would
suppose he could afford something a
little finer than jeans. he sage but lev
sheep have beea killed in Hawkins
county. II is only necessary to refer
him to the statistics on that subject, and
he can satisfy himself as to the number.
Ask the energetic formers Of our county
why there is 80 little attention given TO
sheep-gTowing, and the answer Is because
we have no protection from the many
sheep-kllling dogs throughout our county.
Why have Pennsylvania and Kentucky
so many more 6ne sheep than wa baye2
Because they have a dog law. Had not
the poorer men, as Mr.. McGonigle calls
them, better have more sheep and fewer
dogs7 II The rich man can do without
dogs, although they hays more property to
protect, why not the poor uaan1 Does
The would'be honorable representative
want 10 keep them always poorg At two
cents per meal it will cost twenty-oue
dollsrs q year 20 iced one dog. Invest
il 10 sheep, II will boy al least ter sheep.
Don't any man, with comuon resAos.
zee Who is the poor mans friend. All
J well may he desire nothing more said