The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1882-01-25

boat, and TO Terry persons ana properly
without unreasonable delay whenever
in the hands of such persons and force
il is safe 20 do so, and, on failure is re
sPonsible for all consequential damages.
But the duties incumbent on these
read officers are SO few, so plain and
simple, that Conscientious and compe
tent persons, (and NO others should as
sumo the discharge of these or any 9TH
er official Duties need not hesitate to
undertake them. Reasonable diligence
and skill are all that is required, and
these every man is bound to exercise
even in the management of his own per-
sonaf movements and property go as not
to injure others. But these are requir-
ed, and for default in the exercise of
which liability, both criminal and civil,
viii accrue.
As we have said, no one who is not
competent, should attempt the discharge
of the duties Of public Office. Public
offices are made for the good of the peo
pie, not for those who may hold them.
nE1 4AC maui DCNo0SC thO PAOPOA -
ercise of their functions is necessary TO
The administration of government and
public economy, and he who tbrusts
himself into office, without the requis-
ite qualifications and proper motives,
is an enemy to his country more hurt
full than an Invader For the consider
| alton of brief exercise of authority,
some pecuniary benefits, some external
exhibition of Difference and respect,
such are willing to become the object
of the slow and moving finger of scorn,
and to expose themselves 10 the inter-
negative malediction,
sis there not some chosen curse,
Some hidden thunder in the stores of Heaven,
Red with uncommon wrath, TO blast the man
That owes his greatness to his country's ruin"
/ Our new road law is justly regarded
and conceded To be the most beneficial
statute that has been enacted by our
Legislature within many years. If ex.
ecuted properly it will secure US good
public highways, without which there
can be no public prosperity. Good men
should not only not hesitate to take
upon themselves the execu ion of its
provisions, but should seek the oppor-
tunity of thus serving the country. John
Tyler, after the expiration of his Presi-
Dental term, and return to his home,
became one of the best road overseers in
Virginia. Thomas Jefferson, after his
retirement TO the shades of Monticello,
and George Washington, in his final re-
tirement to the seciusion of Mount Yer
non, both gave much personal attention
to the minor works of local improve
ment in their respective neighborhoods.
In Gov. Senter, of our county of Ham
blen, we find q man who has neld high
political offices-the highest in the
State, who is now discharging the du-
ties of road commissioner. The offices
of road commissioner and road-overst eT
are no mean positions. They involve
responsible trusts. and the exercise of
sound judgment and intelligent skill
Public highways and thoroughfares,
we'll constructed and well maintained,
| are the constant concOmitants of ad-
vanced and advancing civilizatien.
| They are at once the means and the
badge Of all prosperity, comfort, con-
venience and luxury. Without them
agriculture does not pass the line of
mere local subsistence, and trade and
commerce, mean and paltry, do not ex-
tend further than the demands of phys
zeal want. In their absence education
languishes in the ''old field school, +" and
the truths of religion itself are but slow
ly diffused. 1t is true that the itinerant
scheme of the Methodists, the great in
strument and pioneer of civilization in
America, made much progress, through
the painless woods. and into the deep
recesses of frontier life, but its success
| was exceptional. -
] There is no member of society, how
ever poor and humble, who is not bene-
flied, whose convenience and comfort
are not promoted. BY the construction
of easy and safe ways of travel, of in
accommodation, OF ingress and
egrcss. Those who are more fortunate,
and who possess property, are, Of
course, more deeply Interested. But,
while snis is so, there is compensation
in the greater burden resting upon them
These are required to contribute pre-
cisely the same personal labor, or its.
equivalent, an the former, and also of
their property. The man who has no
property can be required to contribute
six days work; the msn vino WINS ten
thousand dollars worth of property, can
be required to contribute tventy-one1
days labor, six ON account of his per.
sonal obligation, and fifteen in respect
Of his property. The burden of
| maintaining these aEeppes of travel is
so admirably adjusted and distributed
according to the benefits derived, that
the law is most just and equitable ons.
The result to be reached by faithful,
honest, skillful and intelligent .execu.
tiiQa Of itg provisions will UNNECESSARILY
repay the cost. sa
Good roads, we'll preserved, shorten
both time and space. They bring closer
to our homes the church, the schools
house and the physician. They make
Of easier access the court-house, the.
store, the mill and the shop of the me-,
chapic. They shorten the, way to the
railroad station, and depot, securing ia
the purchaser the lowest, and to the ag-
ricultaral seller the highest prices. All
this necessarily implies much decrease
in personal labor, and much saving in
the wear and tear of vehicles and In the
deterioration of the value of animals.
And last of tho many benefits which
dow from the facilities of safe. easy and
rapid transit here to be slated, but pot
the least in Importance, are .frcquent