The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-03-02

it sticks to her like the poisoned
shirt of Nessus-and it would pay
that State yet to pay her old debts,
as old as they are. And the damned
spots will not out until she does.
We protest against any policy which
even squints at a Sinking of our
obligations. If our creditors, Of
their own motion, should believe it
to their interest to abate in some /
manner the amount of their claims
upon the State we would, of course,
be glad of the relief. If they |
should, for instance, in view of the
extraordinary hardness of times
and the oppression that would be
consequent upon the collection of
tax sufficient to meet the full in
teresL upon the public debt, think it
best, for both parties, to accept a
lower rate Of interest, it would be
such an adjustment of our indebt
edness as would be honorable on
both sides If our creditors should
propose to accept four per cent. up
on our bonded debt, payable
promptly, it would be such relief
to our people as would be sensibly
felt, inspiring a new feeling of indie
pendence, and stimulating them to
increased industry. just 50 sure
as ''the borrower is servant unto the
lender" is it that the debtor cannot
put forth the full measure of his
strength while he is CALLED and
hampered with debt. He is like a
blind man under a weight If our
people had only their State debt to
carry, we would not care three
straws for that Twenty-Five mil
lions is a mere bagatelle to Tennes-
see with her million and quarter of
people, but we have in addition, the
vast national debt of $2,4I2,949,OOO
"a debt of $500 and upwards for
every man, woman and child i'll the
Union; while the ordinary expenses
of the government are over SILL
100000, annually. We do not dare
to make a guess at the amount of
stealing done by all the rings, which
further increase the burden upon
the people. The estimates that we
have given above, that are wholly
reliable, in round numbers, show
that it would require sixty dollars
per capita to pay the public debt,
and about one dollar and serenity Ve
cents to pay our State debt. The
latter amount, from each inhabitant,
would discharge in full our State
bonded debt. 1t will be remarked
that we do not take into this est
mate the debts of our counties and
municipalities which are considera-
BILE. 1t might seem to some that
the great Commonwealth of Ten
nessee should not balk at this seem
ing small tax of one dollar and
three quarters upon each inhabi-
tant TO maintain its credit by pay
ing up in full, but it is not the first
but the last feather that breaks the
camers back. There were bags OF
them on before the last and they
were very heavy.
And such is the situation. We do
not feel like criticising the Legisla-
ture, for it did, probably, the best
it could. 1t is not the fault of Gov
Porter's administration that the in
terest on the public debt is not
paid, for the Legislature did not as
sess q sufficient tax to meet it. The
Treasurer, DR.. Morrow, cannot pay
9 when he has not the money to pay
! with; and, but for his skilful man
agement of what little he did get
the last Legislature would not have
had a dollar to buy the coal that
' warmed the shins of its members,
to say nothing of their per diem
which they would have had to wills
tie for. We have no special remedy
! to suggest for our difficulties except
e to send sensible member to the
next Legislature. We mean men
e with ''heads on their own shoul.
ders." We must just quit the
fashion of voting for representatives
for the sole reason that they are
''such clever fellows" In general
we are very particular as to whom
= we employ. We are careful in mat
ters of the slightest Importance, to
' engage those who are presumed to
know what they are going to do,
= and how to do it. And, strange to
say, in the election OF public ser
wants, whose votes will affect our
personal interests so seriously, the
least consideration is ha& Many a
man is sent to the Legislature who
to employ a trite, but very forcible
expression, sis not fit to carry CUTS
to a bear" And it is an awful
satire upon our republican govern
ment. Let us turn a new leaf, and
place those only in charge of our
affairs who are the pOssessors OF
qualifications, and then we will be
able to see daylight
E We had the honor to publish in
e our preceding issue a letter from
? Hon. jefferson Davis to Judge
r Lyons, of Richmond, Va, wherein