Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-01-06

lie welfare requiring 1T.
The report of the committee was,
after full and free discussion by a
full meeting, unanimously adopted.
FARMREs AND TAXES.
Judge Jcrc Blacks Letter 30 the
Patrons of Husbnndry.
At the meeting of the Pennsyl-
vania State Grange at Harrisburg,
on Dec. IL, 1882, the Secretary read
the following letter from Judge
Jeremiah s. Black on the subject of
taxation
A neighbor and near relative OF
mine has shown me the letter IN
which you express your strong de-
sire to see and hear me at your
meeting on the 18th instant. With
much reluctance, and only for lm-
peratiye reasons, deny myself
the honor OF uniting my voice with
YOURS in the loud demand which
YOU and other patrons of husbandry
propose to make for equal ana falr
taxation. Ihope you are accurately
informed upon the operation ana
effect of the present system L am
not. but / can hardly be mistaken
in supposing that the products OF
land and agricultural labor are tax
ed directly and indirectly nlne or
ten times as heavily as the average
of the burdens imposed upon otner
classes. Why should not this De
remedied? All our public lnstltu-
tions. including courts, jails, schools,
Doorhouses and country roads,
could be supported, and all the
proper expenses OF the State could
he paid by a tax laid with even
handed Justice upon all classes alike,
and the share of the farmer would
he reduced 80 per cent, below what
II now is. Why should not the far
mer be taxed according to the pro-
duets of his business, and other per-
sons at the same rate according 10
theirs. IfIam right "a fund suth-
cient for all purposes to which pup,
Iic money is now applicable could
he raispd bv the State without ta-
ling from any class more than one
tenth of what is now paid by 1arm-
ers and owners of real estate prop
erty. This fund, when raised,
could be easily distributed among
the counties according to their pop
ulation. and the onerous local taxes
would be wholly abolished. Ii IN
addition to that you could reduce
the excessive and arbitrary exact
ions of the railway corporations to
the reasonable and uniform rates
which the Constitution requires
YOU would get the blessing of every
inst man in the Commonwealth
doubtless it will require some la
bor. care and examination to make
nature perfect plan for carrying
out this principle, and you mus
expect the opposition of poweriu
persons who are interested in pres
emf abuses. My lack of Statistical
facts, as we'll as want OF time, pre-
vents me from going into oetalls
Now is the accepted time 10 pres
for Justice and equal rights: IN
party coming in cannot be falthles
+ to the pledges 1t has given so freely
, If the Independents are really In
dependent, and half as honest as
. take them to be, they will CIV
, their utmost aid to your cause.
BE JUST, BUT CHARITABLE.
} AS to the old, hibitual enemies
Y good government, they are on thel
7 death-bed, protesting a repentanc
which, hope, is too serious to pei
| NIT of any new sins which Nigh
f add to the shame and agony OF thei
e noIitical dissolution. The new pow
o ers that be (or will be in ie'
g weeks) are worthy of your genert
: confidence. They will probabl
j commit some errors, but. let p'
e tience, hope and charity be exhau
r ted before your faith gives wa.
e Sometimes, perhaps, they Will seer
e to he wrong when they are mo-
II wait for the light, and see that yol
conclusion is clear before you COZ
l. denim them. Make due allowan'
n for the difficulties OF the task beio
d them. Eleform is always up-hl
II work, being hard and slow con
k pared with the descending grade.
rt which vicious adininistratlo
ID travels down so easily. But watc
n these new rulers in the executl'
l. and legislative departments. Wat'
r them we'll, and censure them free
p for every dereliction of duty,
al they come short of their pia
IN duty, or wilfully break the yo'
lg they have made to sound prime
10 piles, from fear, favor or affection
as the rings that have robbed y
heretofore, show them TO mere
We but scourge them back into the
rs tirement from which they ous
nd never 10 have emerged. Unde
cir cheap and economical goyerme
he (if we get such IL one in Penns.
zee vania), by which taxes are impos
m only for public purposes ara :
lected with horizontal equal
is from every class alike, agrieult'
eff will flourish rs ii never did bef0
to The tax-eaters may not fatten gu
ch as rapidly as they do at prese
ed but the land will smile with pien
de If You have more than you Wi
nd YOU need not part with It to
he greedy millionaire but think
ny the unfortunate laborers, starV
or and striking in the mines ana
be tories all over the country,
lch tshake the superplus to ther