The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-01-05
TEE DOG LAW.
So McGOnigIe'' has a word to say
in reply to MIR. Starnes.

BEECH CREEK, Hawkins county, Tenn,
December "a, 1875.
To the Editor Of the sIorristown Gazette:
Isee in your last issue Mr.. Starnes,
the Representative to our last Leg
islature from this county, comes to
the front in defense of his vote in IA
vor of the "Dog Law" I imagine
this subject has much concerned Mr..
S., knowing, as he does, the effect it
has had upon the poor, but honest,
country people, who helped to give
him the power to impose this unwise
law upon them. In trying to mend
matters, he only makes them worse.
He says it was not to raise revenue
that the law was enacted, but to rid
the country of many worthless
ours" and to encourage wool grow
ing" &c. Now, let us see how this
is. A poor mans dog is valued next
to his wife and children, for many
reasons, well known to every think
ing man, and consequently but few
dogs have been killed by this class
of people, and the tax will be paid
if it takes the last farthing and, ac-
cOrding to Mr.. S., three thousand
dollars or more will be paid into the
Treasury of the county from this
source alone-not from the rich
mans pocket, but from the poor j.,
with Mr.. SIS supposed idea, that
their children will be benefited there
by in the school-rOom but quite the
reverse. Our school fund, as man.
aged in this county, is of very little
benefit, except to the privileged few,
or many, / should have said, (the Of
fce-holder). do not know of sim
gle well-to-do school in this county,
except those that are carried on by
private parties. Then he says anoth-
er idea of his in casting his vote for
the law was, to encourage wool
growing" What an idea! How
many sheep have been killed by
dogs in this county in the past five
years? l say with safety. there has
been but few, whilst hundreds, and,
should say, thousands, have per-
ished for the want of proper food
and shelter, for the most of the sheep
in this county are turned out after
shearing time to the woods, with the
exception Of a little salt, to "root
hog or die," and from exposure and
the want of food, many die and are
lost; and should not Mr.. S. have had
law passed to remedy these evils
as well. The dog law does not ef-
feet those living in towns, for they
have no use for him; but in the
country it is the reverse there is no
well regulated farm without u dog /;
he is priced by all as a general guard,
and is many times called upon to do
/ service. Not long since had occa-
sion to go to the house Of q colored
citizen Of this district; | found no
one at the house large dog lay in
| the yard, and forbade our entrance,
| and upon further search we found
Jack and his family out in the field
az work, and had left the house in
charge of Tray, confident that all
was safe. said, Jack, are you go
ing to pay the dog taxi" "Yes
sir;" was his reply, Il would rather
do without my cow"
With all due respect for our neigh
bOrs Of the towns, let me say, whilst
you enjoy yourselves at the theatres
concerts, and many other places o.
amusement. and dress in the best
style of the day, let us enjoy our
selves at our rail-splittings, fox-hunt
ings, &c. The most of us dress il
home-spun" jeans, Notwithstanding
there are so many "curs." Then
we ask you, in the next election, tC
help us elect man with u soul big
enough to tower above the dog. ST
Mr.. S., let the people be heard from
that live in the country at the mex
election. and those that put them
selves forward, with the Dog Law
upon their banners, will step dowl
and out" So let us say no NOR,
about this matter until then, bu
send for the Washington county In
vestigating Committee to work int
our finances. What say you, Mr.
GillenWaters? Yours, &C.,
MCGoNIGLE.