Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-09-02

opposed TO the present system of con-
Wet labor as practiced by the Democ-
racy, as degrading in its tendencies
and oppressive to the interests of the
honest, toiling masses of the people,
and that we favor the immediate re-
peal of all odious legislation, and es-
pecially the unjust and unequal tax
laws of the State.
Resolved, That we are opposed to
and emphatically denounce the policy
of the Democratic party of Tennessee,
that has resulted In squandering our
railroads, in sacrificing the lien the
people held on them for the money
expended for their construction, by
and through which policy the tax
payers ofthe State have been defrauded
out of more than ten millions of dol
lars.
Resolved, That we regard the con-
duct of the Tennessee Democracy in
collecting forty cent tax and then
refusing to meet the interest on the
State debt, while accommodating fund
for which no legal use has been pre-
scribed or is proposed, as unjust and
degrading to the honest tax payer, and
as furnishing the character Of our peo-
pie abroad.
We demand a revision of the State
revenue laws, and more just and eff
| ficient enforcement of them, so that
the collection of all lawful taxes may
be certain and speedy. The effect of
the present system is to make the pay
ment of taxes voluntary merely and
the consequence is that all who pay
willingly, pay the proportions of those
who refuse to pay at all and in pro-
portion as the taxes levied are not col
lected, the rate of taxation is unnec-
essarily increased.
We are In favor of a repeal of the
legislation which levies upon the mer-
chants of the State license tax In ad-
dition to the tax ad valorem on their
capital invested. The present system
| is double taxation of mercantile capt.
tai and the consumer pays the tax,
as the merchant necessarily adds it to
the price of his goods besides, our
commerce is crippled, our merchants
being unable to compete with the mer-
chants of other States who pay no
such onerous tax.
Resolved, That we are opposed to
the prostitution of the State peniten-
tiary from the reformatory purposes
for which it was originally founded
by making it an institution for specu-
lation, in bringing convict labor in
competition with the mechanics and
laboring men Of the country. We say
Imprisonment should be of such char.
acter as to elevate and reform the pris.
oner instead of sinking him beneath
the degradation of the slave, and in Sc
doing degrading the innocent poor
who have to make their bread by the
sweat Of their brow" by forcing them
to compete with convicts and felons.
We demand honest and fair cleo.
tions. and to secure them we insist
that the next Legislature shall pass d
law prohibiting more than two Of the
judges and one of the clerks being Of
the same political party; and, in the
absence of such legislation, we ask, as
right from the County Courts, the re.
cognition of this principle in the ap.
pointment of judges and clerks Of
elections. As further security fol-
freedom of elections, we ask the pas
sage of law requiring that all ballots
shall be written or printed on white
paper having no marks, devices or dis
tinguishing features, and making all
others void.
While cheerfully recognizing the
unquestiOnable right of our opponents
to exercise their own judgment upon
all public questions, to vote as they
please, and to express at all times and
everywhere their sentiments, we de-
mand the concession of the same
rights to ourselves. We denounce all
prescription, all ostracism for opinion s
sake, and proclaim all attemps to in
fuence the elective franchise by
threats, intimidation or bribery as ut
terly subversive of the fundamental
principles on which a government by
the people is instituted.
Resolved, That we demand a reform
In the administration Of the State gov
eminent, lessening of the number OF
general officers, and thorough reor-
ganization of the judiciary of the
State, so as to require our Judges to
perform service more consistent with
their salaries /. and that to this end
we recommend that all the Chancery
Divisions and Judicial Circuits of the
State be reformed and enlarged, thus
| leSSenl0g their numDer.
We are for limiting the pay and
emoluments of the various clerks of
the courts of the State, and of the at
torney generals, tax collectors, county
trustees and sheriffs, to a maximum
sum to be fixed by the Legislature, and
all sums of money over and above said
maximum received by clerks should
be paid into the State Treasury, and
all sums of money received by the at
torney generals, sheritfs and trustees
should be paid into the treasures Of
the counties respectively.
We are opposed to the onerous and
unconstitutional tax imposed upon the
people of the State by the last Legis-
lature known as the dog law" and
demand its unconditional repeal.
This platform, it appears, could not
be adopted without struggle. First,
the dog law was bone of contention,
and little dog fight ensued between
DIR. w. p. Jones for maintaining the
law and Mr.. Costing, of Bedford, for
repeating 1.-THE dogs won.
Squire Yardley, of Knox, wanted
the constitution altered in favor of
mixed schools and miscegenation, con-
tending that the clauses forbidding
these objects were Incompatible with
the spirit of this enlightened age, and
against right justice and equality"
This proposition was promptly laid
ON the table on the motion of Colonel
| Waters.
Hon. n. H. Harrison then attempted
to get State credit plank inserted !;
everybody opposed it and Mr.. Harris
on withdrew it for the sake of har-
mony.
Capt. Rule then moved the previous
question, and the platform unamended,
with dog law retained and State credit
left out, was adopted.
The white ticket, the 10 per cent.
law and other points were discussed
without result, and Squire Yardley
protested against all the electors being
white men, saying You rely ON the
strength of 10000 colored men for aid
and assistance. | had hoped you
would allow one eolored man as Elec-
tor in ono of the Congressional dis
tricts. If you want their votes you
Il thar, 70