The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-08-30
SPEECH OF GOV. PORTER.
Before the Democratic State
Convention.

Convention.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of
the Convention The appreciation of
q people is all that a public man can
hope for, and [ recognize your ac-
tion to-day as evidence of the readi-
ness to sustain an honest and disin-
terested effort to serve them. In
the discharge of my official duties, as
have understood them, I have re-
lied with confidence upon the people
for support and sympaty. and l have
not been disappointed. I accept the
nomination rendered to me by the
convention of delegates representing
the Democratic masses of Tennessee.
and if am honored with re-elec.
tion for another term, ] trust that
upon my retirement from Office at
its close, / can carry with me the
good %%,ll and confidence of the peo.
| pie of the State. In all Of my ac-
tions and in all my utterances rs
Governor of the State of Tennessee,
| have avoided everything like polit-
ical intolerance. l have endeavored
to lead the minds of our people to
the consideration of the present, to
vital issues, and to forgetfulness
of the calamities and animosities of
the past, and am confident that in
DO State of the Union can there be
found a people more fully alive to
the Importance of the diffusion of
education, to the encouragement of
immigration, to the advancement
and development of their material
| interests, and to the rule of law and
order and the fostering of fraternal
spirit; and the facts warrant the as
sertion that the people of Tennessee,
! in good faith and without hesitation
accept the results of the war between
the States as fixed unalterably by
the adoption of the 18th. 18th and
18th amendments to the Constitu-
ton, and that they have no hope or
aspiration that is not common to
good people of all sections of the
Union.
The two years of my admlnistra-
tion have been years of great de-
preston in all departments of in
dustry. The usual burthens of gov
ernment in ordinary times are not
regarded by our people; now they
are oppressive, and the consequence
is that much restlesness and dissat.
isfaction has prevailed. Much oil
this feeling has disappeared with
the prospective return of prosperity
and good government.
This prosperity must be assured
before the tax payers of the State
can submit to an increase of the pub
lie burthens. In my message to the
last Legislature | advised against al
increase of the rate of taxation, and
see nothing in the condition of the
country to warrant a change of opin
ion. The people of Tennessee have
uniformly demanded an economica
administration of the State govern
, ment, and after a careful study o
the financial history of the several
States, / affirm that not one of them
in proportion to population, is ad
ministered with more frugality; an(
, I call attention to one or two fact
in relation to the cost of your OWL
State government as compared t.
f that of certain other States. Th
State of Massachusetts, with popu
! lation of 1. .457.351, expended for tn
] past year $I,749, 800 for ordinary eY
penses. This does not embrace an,
! amount paid on the State debt. Lou
: isiana. with a population of 726, 915
, expended for the year 1875 $736
+ 486 for ordinary expenses, exclusiv
j. of the charge for criminal prosecr
{ tions which is paid by the counties
r the population of South Carolina
726,9f5, the ordinary expenses 70
h 1875, amounted to $751;, ,486. an
q like Louisiana, the cost Of crimins
e prosecutions is charge on th
4 counties.
;. Tennessee has a population of
4 258, $50 souls; the expenditures {
! the present administration for 1877;
! amount to $644.992 per annum. an
!. about cne-third of this is for crimin;
prosecutions for the present yes
: it will be much less, but the who
= sum is more than q million dollar
:, less than is paid in the model Stat
: = of Massachusetts, and about half /
= much, counting the difference in pol
y ulation, as is paid in Louisiana 81
. South Carolina where the States pa
: nothing for criminal prosecutions
u Tennessee pays $500. 900 less ths
:, Virginia, 5000. 900 less than Wiseo
,. sin, 100000 less than Kentuck
rt more than 100000 less than HI
It, souri,, and more that 81, 900. 900 lie
s. than California; and I speak fro
n the record when assert that sin
'ir the Democratic party secured pc
n session of the State Goyernme
" there has been q steady decrease