Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-09

with some feeling In the north. The Ell
ioIts OF iow-tax advocates and repudia
uonists have not been without etfec
upon the public mind In this direction
ADDED to this is the cry O
hard times" and the prostrstion O
trade, ard mechanical and manufactur
ing industries. ] find that there Is
general feeling in the State that 9Th
people" will be unwilling to endure
heavy rate OF taxation. This idea is du
more to general distrust and want c
confidence than to inability to pay. ]
is evident that the convention mex
Wednesday will not favor an increased
rate Of taxation. 1t is possible, though
not probable, that fifty cents may b.
recommended, but this depends alto
gether upon the personal views oi the
delegates. 1t is certain, however, thai
the tex will not be lower than at present
| cannot learn Of anything like an ef.
fective opposition to the present rate Of
taxation. Taxation has always been;
and dare say will he, the great subject
matter Of complaint. There are people in
| Tennessee, as in all other States, who
would complain Il the tax amounted to
but ten cents. The cry of few or of 8
DOZEN leaders OF the people upon this
sui Jsct cannot be an index CT What the
people Of the whole State are able to do
In this respect. The commercial dull.
ness, financial stri1geney And aSri5cI-
tural listlessness Of She country, the ab.
sence OF capital and the wait Of system
| IN farming; the State debt and the Fed
ersl taxation, are all SO many causes
That induce spirit OF opposition to sny
Il flank
/ m0ny IN the Convention and that the
present financial rIstform will be re.
tanned, Many have anticipated trouble
and boisterous session, and yet the ap-
pTehension of this agitation and the
/ probable Ill effects upon the State
Democracy have aroused keen,
| and ] must say patriotic,
desire to make the convention as ar
mOnious as possible. OF course there
will be an effort to lower the taxes, and
! the effort will be made under the name
OF Democracy, but it can hardly come
in the form OF an expression of POPULAR
| sentiment, OF in any systematized at
tempt that expects success. On the
whole, spirit of fairness will pervade
the convention. The Democracy cannot
afford to have any dissension now, and
they to whom the convention, with its
Platform, is intTus ed, appreciate this
fact, and realize the value of united
and effective party organization in the
approaching election. However far re-
moved may be the idea of public ethics
from that OF public law, there will al
ways be found q coincidence of political
interest arising from the application of
the one and the execution Of the other.
1t is for this reason we see that bad or
a useless law becomes q "dead letter.
so to speak, in the land. Aud it ia for
the same reason that certain ethical
principles cannot enter into and become
an element in the framework of juris-
prudence, which looks to the govern
mentof communities and the regulation
Of social affairs. Hence we see that in
the absence OF any compulsory power OF
law for Tennessee to pay her debt, there
is still keen sense Of honor remind
ing the people of their obligation to
to discharge this as public duty. 1t is
no wonder, then, that repudiationists,
while listening to the cry Of "hsrd
times,n speak but receive no response or
Endorsement of what they advocate.
This is the true state of affairs in Ten
nessee, and the people, with all the mis-
fortunes incident to the present condi-
ton Of the Union, are still true to their
public obligations. So much for the
State finances and the work Of the con-
vention. l am gratified to know that
there will be general desire to main
tain harmony in the convention. Below
l give series of resolutions, indicating
this effort st harmony, which will be
offered in the convention. 1t is unnec-
essary for me to comment on these
nt3-fi II toll 10,
q great extent what will be the senti.
ment OF many prominent members OF
the convention, TIE resolutions are as
follows:
Resolved, That we are opposed to re-
pudiatiOD, aud will maintain the honor
and credit of the State inviolate by the
payment of al! just demands against it;
but, owing to the reckless eXtension OF
the State credit by the Republican par
ty when in power in this State, the
stringeEcy in the money market, the
arrangement OF our finances produced
by the unwise contraction OF the curTen-
cy eneC. ced by the dominant party, the
wild, extravaganza, wasteful and dJshOn-
est expenditure CT the public revenues
at Washington, the high tax on all arti-
cles Of absolute necessity, the oppressive
and onelous protective tariff under
which We are now suffering the shrink
age in the value of real estate, the citi-
zans of the State of Tennessee are una
BILE, without ruin to themselves and lam
lilies, to pay higher rate of taxation
than at present assessed.
ResoiUed, That the most rigid econ
omy should be mex .rably enforced in
every branch Of the State government,
and retreDchment adopted wherever 1t
can be without injury 10 the public ser.
vice-our watchwOrd being economy,
retrenchment and reform, both in the
State and Federal governments.
Resolved, That, without regard to past
differences or party affiliations, we
cordially invite all who bslieve that the
government should be arrested from the
hands Of the present corrupt admins
tration-who seek a pure, honest and
economical government, by honest and
capable officials-to unite and CO. operate
with US in driving the present party
from power.
THE GUARDIANSHIP.
1t is reported that East Tennessee is
to have the temporary Craftsmanship of
the convention, and for this position l
hear mentioned, as l stated in my dis
patch, the names of Colonel Sam Ivans
OF the Athens Post, Colonel John Flem-
ing of the Knoxville Tribune, and Mr.
IngersolI, q well known citizen of East
Tennessee. The name of James d.
Richardson, of Murfreesboro, is general
IL mentioned as permanent chairman,
and / would not be surprised to hear Of
his election. He is O well known law
yer Of Mu:freesboro, where he is assOci-
ated ia the practice of his profession
with General J. B. Palmer. Mr.. Rich
srdson was member of the house dur
ing the session of I871-72, being at one
time speaker and also a member Of the
State senate in 1875. II elected he will
make a competent presiding officer.
THE GUBERNAToRIAL QUESTION
will not arouse unusual interest, as Gov
ernor James d. Porter will be renomi-
mated on the first ballot. OF course you
can hear Of some opposition here and
there, but it amounts to nothing. In
quiTy fails to ascertain anything like an
organized system to oppose his nOmina-
ton, though dare say many q patriot
could be found and persuaded to be gov
ernor OF Tennessee.
THE ELECTORS.
The candidates for electors for the
State at large, whose names are men.
toned, are Ex-Governor 1sham G..
Harris, of Shelby; Colonel James E.
De- e HaparaI