Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1876-03-09

49,
that if | am elected, | am in favor of the
following which l believe to be of gravity
and Importance to the people of this
State.
list. | am in favor Of q local currency,
that is a currency that will circulate
among our people, pay debts, taxes &c.
This we think may be done by the is
suance of State Treasury notes upon some
basis hereafter to be determined. We
need more money. Land and its products
are ruinouSIy low, taxes are high and
consequently every department of busi>
ness is paralyzed, and the people are des.
pondent. What we need to start a
healthy circulation in business is money.
When we have this, lands will advance,
and the people will at once be stimulated
to diligence and energy in business. Just
how it may be done. | cannot say pre-
cisely, but | believe there is a way, and l
say that if | am sent to the Legislature,
anything that can be devised looking to
that end will receive my hearty co OPP
operation.
End. | am for scaling our State bonds
down to the amount actually paid for
them by the holders. We have out
standing at this time near t~wenty.four
millions of these bonds. They are held by
SPECTATORS who have purchased them at
from thirty to forty cents on the dollar.
The honest Taxpayers who are not respon'
sible for this oherous burden, by their
sweat and toll have paid the interest on
these bonds at par for years past, but
now, after struggling and toiling, we are
unable longer to pay even the semi>an>
nual interest on them. What then will
be the result when not only the interest
but the principal becomes due? The
whole of it is: The people who were inn
pOverished by the war cannot meet it,
they are bowed to the earth with taxes.
They have done all they can, and it seems
almost criminal to ask them to do more.
Hence, we say it is not only just to the
taxpayers, but to the bond holder, as a
half loaf is better than none at all. By
this means we lift from the people a tre-
mendous burden, by lowering their taxes
one half or near that amount.
Sd. | am opposed to the present sys-
tenn of keeping up our public roads. 1t
is an acknowledge fact,tbat we have worse
roads in East Tennessee than almost any,
where else. | am for an improvement in
this direction. and in favor of them being
kept up by taxation. There is no sort
of equality in this system, and why? be-
cause for instance e man owning fine farm
or an iron works, and who hauls his thou
sands of dollars worth of the products to
market, and cuts the roads absolutely to
pieces, pays no more to keep up tie road
than the poor man who lives near them
on the same read, who works at fifty
cents a day to support his wife and little
children, and who takes his turn OF corn
on his shoulder and walks to mill or to
town without injuring the read a particle.
This is unequal, unjust and oppressive.
4th. l am for a liberal system of free
schools. The youth of the country should
be educated, of this, there is no question
But | am opposed to a complicated sys-
tenn, and in favor Of one that will directly
reach the interests of the children without
the Intervention of SO many officials
There is such a thing as having too many
officers to husband o charitable fund.-
Some corrections in the present system
are needed. Just what, in due time, will
be made known.
9Th. The Conventional interest law is
oppressive on the poor man and debtor
class, land we nearly all belong to the one
or the other of these), VIC think q return
to the old six per cent law would be just
and proper at this time. There are very
cogent arguments on both sides of this
question, yet,we believe thai the repeal of
the ten per cent law would be beneficial
to the greater number ofthe people.
9th. We are in favor of repeating, at
the earliest possible moment, that re-
markable law passed by our Legislature,
making the stealing of any sum less than
thirty dollars a misdemeanor only, aud
punishable by Imprisonment in the County
Jail. This is IN inducement to the low
and vile TO perpetrate larceny, so they
DO not steal over twenty.nine dollars and
~ninety,.nine cents. This law might
do for Nashville, Memphis and other
cities where they are able to construct
and manage work ,houscs, but it is