The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-09-03


out issue of reform. They talk OF
the accumulated surplus in the
Treasury and substitute the ideas
of free trade, but | say no; they
call this, too, a corrupt fund, and
that in the presence of the fact that
the Republican Senate offers to do
nate seventy seven millions of that
SO called corruption fund to educats
ing the masses, and it was passed
and went to the Democratic House
and was there lost. Fifty millions
of this would have come to the South
but the Democratic Senators voted
against this, and on the ground that
they have conscientious scruples,
and believe in the strict construc-
ton, and do not believe in Federal
aid to- educate, The Democracy
would allow this surplus to rot and
rust in the vaults of the treasury
instead of going out to the people.
What reform has been inaugural
ed here Gov. Bate, two years ago,
under the 50-3 settlement, came be-
fore the people deploring their con-
dition of taxation and promising to
tighten this burden. When the
Democrats got into power they res
pealed the 60-9 and forcibly settled
the debt without the consent of their
creditors, at 500. This act de-
creased the debt half, but increased
therate taxation from 80 per cent.
to 40 per cent; this difference has been
wrung out Of the sweat of the labor
ers, and the surplus that has thus
accrued to their treasures is again
loaned out to the dear people at IL
per cent. per annum, and they have
loaded down the people with other
taxes. The little Draconian law,
called the back tax act, was passed,
and officers were sent around and
lots were designated for which tax
es were seemingly unpaid, to take
up defaulting owners of property.
Those parties charged failed to show
or find the receipts, and ask, why
don't you proceed to using law &C
ton against the State officers who
have failed to collect those taxes.
Where now, has Bate ever recoms
mended any reform in this direc-
ton? He has urged the convict
lease system, because he said the
State was unable to lose 100000
from Mr.. Cherry, the great Demo
cratic boss.
This illustrates the protection and
free labor questions. Free trade is
slave labor. Protection is for bene-
fit of the workingmen as distinguish
ed from the convict labor. In the
Seqeatchie Valley, for instance, all
was prosperity and happiness and
a beautiful city was built up until
this convict lease system was in~
troduced. Then free men were
turned out of employment, and con-
victs, fed upon hard bread and
tacks, were introduced and put in
to the minds to work, and the city
{, went to ruin, grass grew in the
/ streets and prosperity was gone.
The home markets, too, were all
/ gone. This convict lease system is
the viIest thing in the world To-
night in cell are probably con
fined a vile convict and an inocent
little boy. Their cell is small be-
You'd the approval of sanitarians,
and yet these two human beings lie
there these hot August nights and
swelter. The politicians themselves
would stand Mortified and aghast at
the disclosures that might be made
upon investigation into the system.
Talk about reform Gov. Bate
has pardoned fifty men for carrying
the murderous pistol, but how many
of those little boys have been par
dcned-not one that he knows
The Legislature recommends them
to the care of the Chaplain. The
report of the Warden under Gov.
Hawkins recommended that these
young boys should be turned out of
this hole
I Bate has sent in only one mes
sage to the State Legislature, and
that was largely upon the question
Of the State debt, and not one word
about putting these men on the
county roads instead of hiring them
out to compete with honest labor.
Do you men know that nearly all
the expenses OF the State grow out
of the criminal prosecution Of this
State of felonies Little boys ar
rested and arraigned and tried be-
fore fqries of twelve men with board
and expenses to be paid, the attor-
neyAgeneral's fees and the crimi-
nal's board bill must accrue and be
paid-when the boy should be
spanked and sent home These
crimingl prosecutions accumulate
one-t third of the States expenses,
and yet Gov. Bate had not one word
to say about this in his message to
the Legislature. a'
The convict lease system is a blot
and shame upon Christian civil
cation. Cansider, like good and
true men, and your blood will eur
die in your veins. Little boys are
associated with murderers and 9th
er abandoned criminals in the peni-
Tertiary at Nashville, ar possibly in
the mines of tbs aequatchie Valley.
Only six of these boys have been
pardoned where fifty men have been
pardoned for carrying pistols
Does Gov. Bate favor the extern
sion longer of the bargain with Mr..
Cherry =? Let him answer that. A
bill had been introduced and re-
manded to the Committee on Reso-
lutions, and there had been lost, to
discontinue this bargain. Let Gov.
Bate answer if he walta the con-
vict labor to compete longer with
our honest labor
Col Savage's Railroad Commits
sion required the grain of this State
to be transported at from five to
twenty per cent moro than the Gen
IL Al