The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-05-17

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some other counties was passed; not
allowing to sein or net in any running
suater. Can fish with hook and line,
and use net or sein in lakes or pools.
A law was passed relieving the hus-
band from all liabilities contracted by
wife previous to marriage; but not
releasing anything she may have had,
not exempt from execution.
The penitentiary has given our
General Assembly q vass amount of
trouble. The penitentiary committee
reported bill providing for leasing
for $4,000 per annum, was voted
down, and committee was appointed
to draft bill for state to run it. Pend
this bill proposition was offered to
amend original bill, requiring lessees
topay $50, 900 per annum, and also pay
expenses of all couvicts to Nashville,
amounting to about $4,000 per
annnm. l then supported the bill to
lease; thereby saving to the state
$4,000.
Also, a bill passed allowing all
towns with a population of less than
5000 inhabitants to collect there own
tax. and regulate thir own internal
concerns.
An act was passed amending our
school law, by abolishing all county
Snperintendents, and reducing the
salary of State Superintendent from
$4,000 to 81 800. 1t was claimed by
the friends of this bill that 1t would
save to the children of the state from
$4,000 to $4,000. Many Of the
County Superintendents are mere fig
ure heads; are Of no service. Their
duties could be discharged by intelli>
gent district school commissioners free
Of charge. The bill failed to become
a law for want of the Governors ap-
proval. And we are now asked, who
have worked to educate our own chill
dren, to submit to tax to educate
the children of those who pay no tax
and support a school system that fat
tens Office holders. While 1 fully ap-
preciate the Importance of an educa-
tion-and all who know me are aware
that | "have shown my faith by my
work"-yet l cannot and will not be
party to foster and encourage, and
force upon our people system of free
schools to uphold so many officehold-
ers, and such a system as now is forced
upon US.
A bill was offered, but failed to
pass, reducing the number OF Judges
from 55 to %. Reform is certainly
necessary in that direction.
A bill was introduced, and to my
recollection it passed, putting down
salaries of State officers. The Gov
ernor failed to approve or / am mis-
taken. As to its passage, l support
ed it heartily, and regret it did not
become law, for Fit is very evident
to my mind reform is very essential
in that direction.
A bill was passed fixing the State
tax at ten cents on the one hundred
dollars worth of property, for 1877
and 1878, and forbidding Courts
from levying greater tax than forty
cents for county purposes.
The State debt, the great question
that has excited so much interest all
over the State, ,and in our halls of leg
islation is vet unsettled. Our Legis-
lature sent Commission 10 New
York to confer with our bondnolders,
and learn upon what terms they are
willing to settle the debt. Parties
representing about SO, 900, 900 of our
bonds propose to settle at go cents on
the dollar, with six per cent until
paid. Pending the report of Com-
missioners a motion was made to adj
Just the debt at above rates, but little
more than corporaPs guard voted
for the proposition. / still entertain
the same views | did last fall when l
was candidate, that fifty cents on
the dollar is all we should pay, and all
we are able to pay, and 1t is certainly
all l auiW vote to pay. am aware |
will be called low tax mani am
and probably a repudiationist by high
tax men, and by those who have such
a holy horror for going back on bond
holders, and are awfully alarmed
for fear odium and reproach will be
brought upon our proud old common
wealth. Don't be alarmed, gentle>
men, l am no repudiationist; no one
believes stronger than I that all con-
tracts should be carried out in good
faith, where it is in power of parties
contracting to do so; but sir, we are
not able to pay our State debt with>
out inpoverishing ourselves and chill
dren. When this debt was created,
(all but about $4,000, ,000) we owned
S110, 100000 worth of slave property,
who were made liable for taxes, and
in part basis for this debt. Where
are they nowf as free as you or l;
made so under the plea of military
necessity. Our cotton was burned,
millions of dollars worth of horses,
mules, cattle, and everything else
movable was taken without compen-
sation. Labor has been greatly de-
moralized. Our lands have depre>
eiated in value from 25 $50 per cent.
1 think the present assessment will
show perhaps falling off of $50, ,0o0,-
600 and more. A large majority OF
our people are poor, and are hardly
making g living, and for me to say
that the people | represent, after they
have sustained such heavy losses,
shall be compelled to be made chew
ers of wood and drawers of water" all
their days. and their children after
them, or slaves for a bonded aristoc>
racy, 1 neper aciu consent to amy such
thing, and can assure those | have
the honor to represent if they wish to
pay full price on these bonds, or any
sun oUer fifty cents oa the dollar, they
ho,e o,,I,I IN e;o,,it;u s,,cb desire and 4