The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-09-10

the roll OF course, twas my own
fault, stupidity, iDcompreheHsibility or
dizziness of perception that led me to
not see things as others saw them, and
thus forced me, under my own consci-
entious CO nvictions of duty, to the con-
clusien reached, the step taken. |
% Now, as to my democracy, as editor
of the Shelby IN Co Banner from June
VI to September'76 present the fol-
lowing heading, and personal and pri-s
vate platform, clipped from file of said
paper which /, brought here with me,
and other evidences:
2 SHELBY BANNER.
VIM. C.. DURHAM, EDITOR. -.E s.E. T. i
Thursday, August 26, 1875.
-a.y OUR PLATFORMS: -.aIuE.
strict construction of the constitution; the
Sovereignty of the People; the rights Of thu rstes
eminent IN its Who'll yigor: Faith.
iui r.. economical Administration of National
and State Affairs, that Labor NAV be lightly BUR
dened, and agriculture, commerce and mechanics
the military authority; equal and exact justice to
all men, exclusive privileges to none; the sacred
rights OF mir critics, and a peaceful ae4u1escence
in the decisions OF majorities; the d1nuslon OF
knowledge, and arraignment of all abuses at the
bar of public reason; freedom of religion; free
speech; freedom of the press; freedom Of person.
under the protection of the sacred writ OF ns-
beas corpus, and speedy trial by juries impair
tally selected.
In September, 1882, the fall before
came to Morristown. as an independent
candidate for the lover house CO 40
Legislature from Cleveland, the banner
democratic county of the State (there
being no nominee, but three other in
dependent democratic candidates fer
the same position, and no Republican
in the field, as the regular democratic
majority was from 1 200 to 1900, I
issued the following card or circular to
the people, which I will explain in
brief, as fellows: l - sii# q @l
Prior to the Legislatures of '76 2 the
people of the respective counties elected
board of county commissioners, con-
sisting of five members (Which boards.
. 10 many respects, took the place, as
sumed the functions and performed the
duties Of the old county court, such as
we have here. but which, under the re-
construction convention of 1868 was
abolished3 and justices of the peace; but
said Legislature, under and BY authority
of an ordinance of the convention and
new constitution of 1875 ITO which
body an older brother, since gone to
his reward, had the honor to belong)
allowing the Legislature to- legIslated
upon this county government question,
took the right and privilege of electing
said officers from the people, and con-
ferred upon the Governor. by and with
the consent and approval, ratification
and confirmation of the two houses Of
the General Assembly in joint session 8
the power to appoint justices of the
peace who, in turn, should appoint or
elect ~ commissioners, from three to-
five, for their respective counties, with
the privilege of choosing from their
own number or outside, as they saw
ft-7thus dividing a proud, sovereign
State, whose able,7 eloquent orators and
statesmen have often, grown hearse,
since the war in speaking to the people,
from whom they themselves have now
taken this right, in behalf of local self
government, into as many petty oli7i
garchies as there are counties (96) in the
State sob, consistency, thou art
jewell' s
Well do we remember, as boy edf-
tor, amidst the ku-klux prosecutions
and fluctuations ndescribable, how eur
brain was fired and our hand rapidly:
peuned our almost illegible editorials in.
denupciation of the vandalism, over
throw aid dispersion Of legitimate.
peaceful Legislatures by the military
authority of the Government which had
forsaken the paths of our fathers, over
ridden the constitution aud endeayored
to throttle the voice and sacred righta
OF the people by thus interfering with
the local affairs of sovereign States,
whose Legislatures had been elected
and assembled according to law. and as
such were the sole judges or arbiters of
the credentials of persons claiming
rights to seats in their bodiesl v,-..,
But TO the little Oligarchles: one
| third of the magistrates time expire
every TIVE years, consequently others,
or. as is always (now and then an ex-
ceptIon) tile case, they must be re-
elected (g)-but in order to pull through
they must pull for their .sold friend"
the former member TO the Legislature.
The game is, in other words, "You
tickle me and TIT tickle you" The
commissioners elected by.these nagis-
traies, in joint session with the magis-
trates themselves. among other things
levy. the taxes upon the people, to whom
they are in no wise, or at least remsteiy
amenabIe. So they-thcse 30 aristocra-
cies, have 1t in their power to lord II
over the people regardless OF their
rights. wishes or welfare For this
reason we opposed the present, the then
ilpresenf system, of county government,
with all the vim, ability and lrish love
Of freedom 10 US.