The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-05-25
The Opinion of an Old Citizen
upon the Dog Law, COnven-
tiOnaI Interest, &c, &c.

tiOnaI Interest. &c, sc.
EDITOR CITIZEN 81 will intro
duce myself as an old citizen, born
upon the soil of Giles county be-
fore the first court was organized,
and with the first pioneers grew to
manhood, and as old Giles has been
the home of my entire life, numer-
Gus kindred, and family ties having
sprung up which naturally bind all
my aims and hopes for the peace,
quiet and prosperity of my country,
would be sufficient apology for Civ
ing few brief views in regard to
the principles which our coming
candidate for the next Legislature
should entertain. First, our Rep
resentatives should use their ability
to repeal the 10 per cent. rate of
interest. As a mass we are an
agricultural people, and knowing
that the products of the soil pro-
duce nearly all the wealth of the
country, and that all legislation ia
voring monopolies, granting extra
privilege to the associated wealth
of the few, will surely tend to op-
press and grind down the toiling
thousands, and as an agricultural
community we cannot prosper with
a rate of over 6 per cent. interest,
which should be established, and
which in my opinion would advance
the interest of all classes. Then
with industry and economy we
would soon bring up arrears and
establish general prosperity and in
dependence. Our present mode of
assessing taxes should be abolished,
and re-establish the former mode
by the Justices of the Peace in their
respective districts, with some mode
of equalizing as near as possible
throughout the county. And our
former law to elect tax collector
for the county with a reasonable
salary on the amount of taxes col
, lected, or give the sheriff the col
! lecting of taxes. The county trus-
tee and register should be consoli
: dated, and a law making it the duty
of the register to put on record in a
well bound book every marriage,
5 birth and death. And the dog law
should be modified so as to allow
l the head of every family, house
e holder, one dog free from tax-all
e others taxed and liable for the
? damage or destruction of property,
' and that no tax assessed on dogs
shall be RENTED, Creating so much
: trouble and vexation to the col
: lector). Much leyity and sport
1 has been made by the people be-
e cause Of the dog IaaO. We should
not make light of such law, when,
n we remember long since, the British
t Parliament, a body of profound
= statesmen, saw the necessity, ma
n tured and passed a similar law, but
Il more stringent than ours. Thou
; sands of people have more dogs than
? hogs. All who oppose such a law
! as proposed should be stripped oil
5 his woollens and blankets mot the
It women and children, but the vo.
Il ters). Our Legislature should, II
= possible, sustain the credit of the
. State. No one l presume within
the borders of the State, but would
submit to an annual tax, to sink out
our State debt without dishonor
The fathers of our country should
never do an act, looking to repudia-
ton; thereby bringing disgrace
upon themselves, and modification
to posterity. Then with honest eff
forts to this end, we shall in the
future be able to stand up with I
clean sheet in the great congrega
ton, am not sufficiently informe,
in finances to spend an opinion a
to the policy Of funding our Stat
= debt, as recommended by Elk Gov
J. c. Brown and passed upon b,
= our Legislature. 1 have no doubt o
the honest effort then made, for tn
best interest OF the State under til
e then heavy burden of debt, and yer
= few would have performed the labo
and reduced the State debt half s
Z much IN the short space Of time, a
4 did Gov. Brown; and the people {
q the State should appreciate his L
bors, so well done. 1t require
business qualifications and energ
:, to perform 50 much in the space {
: time. What has been done sincei
= Ny anxiety for the lettering OF I'll
condition Of the people by who'll
some laws, and encouraging indu
= ny and economy, and leaving
2 clear record unburthened with del
81. for posterity, is my apology for th
gn hssty letter II 4. 4,
ng Old Lynnville, May 10.