Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-06-10


its bonded debt is assuming a degree Of
prominence now in the canvas, which
will increase as the 9th of August ap-
proaches. On that day the party must
speak authoritatively aud say without
whether it IS for a high or
IOi1 tax. 4 few weeks ago we published
Col. Colyar's speech on the side Of low
tax, and in favor of a conference with
the bondhOlders with view to an equit-
able adjustment of our indebsedness. In
the speech, besides giving the
people light ubOn vital question, we
threw it out as ''fcelcr" In order to de-
veloP pnbIic sentiment. The people have
responded and the indications are un-
mistakabIe that they will submit to no
increase OF taxation now, and that the
bondhoider will be invited TO confer
snce, and proposition to him to reduce
or abate 4 portion of the debt will be
made. This viii be, in our opinion, the
ultimatum Of the people of Tennessee,
and whatever result this may lead to, it
is al that an impoverished State is now
ready to offer. The fate of the high tax
party 10 oLdAGti3 anu We WYNN eNANA9N
such men as Col. Bailey to abandon that
'hobby" as u means TO reach the United
States. It will prove a source of weak
ness, and cause him TO be badly beaten,
an event under other circumstances,
we might deplorc as a calamity to the
State. The democratic party has been
called to meet at Nashville on the 9Th of
August to nominate candidate for Gov
ernor and electors for the democratic
Presidential ticket. 1t will be composed
of delegates fresh from the people, and
they shall be charged with most deli
cate and important mission. Never
since its establishment as State has such
vital question been presented TO her
voters, and we are solicitous that the
Convention shall be so representative in
its nature as to reflect the viii of the
people. We want Porter reelected. He
has made an able and honest Governor,
and his administration shines out bright
ly on tho pages Of history. a failure to
nominate him is a virtual impeachment,
but then he must not come TO US as an
apelogist for the exactiOns of the bond
holder, nor as defender of Wall street
against the ''bone and sinew'' of the
State. Tho people in this section cursed
with short crops, grOaning beneath pri-
vate debts, and sweating under mortga-
ges are in no condition to be roweled and
Quilted by tax gatherers. They can't
pay what they owe the State, and to add
to that would be species of legislative
luRaey that would invite revolution,
and it might come through the ballot
box and it might come otherwise. Much
of the indebtedness of Tennessee was
predicated upon negro property. That
disappeared by the"act of God and the
public enemy IL cannot be replaced,
and by so much has our poverty in
creased. But destruction of property
has brought no reduction in taxes. 1t
seems rather to have multiplied The de
vices of Legislative iniquity whereby
nothing is exempt and no business or
profession Is unrepresented on the as
sessment roll. We have first the Fund
ing Bill, an illegitimate founding left
on the doorstep of onr State Capitol and
begotten on the bodies of corrupt legisla-
tors by the bondholders of Wall street,
and not content with this prostitution of
our sovereignty, this harlotic body again
submitted to the embraces of the bond
holders aud spawned the assessment bill
which comes to US uglier than the night
bag lured by the smell of infant blood, -
and sucks its sustenance cut of the hard
earnings of every taxpayer in the State.
Our legislation has been unwise. We
have forgotten to what straits we have
been driven by the war and crop failures,
and have forgotten, too, that that is the
best government which is the least gov
erned, and which charges the citizens the
least money for its protection. At last
the government is only delegated pow
err, and when it passes by the process of
usurpatiOn to a despOtisms then it be-
hooves the people to say, how far it
shall be changed, altered or reformed.
The people are thinking of these things,
and we have discovered that since the
introduction Of the Graugers that they
are better posted than heretofore, and
less disposed to comply with tile be-
hests of demagogues until they have sat
isficd themselves as to the facts of the
particular case presented.