Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-07
THEo. B. MASTERS, sec'y.

IHEO. Ii. MASTERS, Sec y.
Having united as a society, known as the
Cltlzens' Protective Association, 1t is meet
and proper that we should give to the public
platform OF principles, especially as il is
our desire to have all of our fellow citizens
join with US in our laudable undertaking.
l. We are convinced that the taxes and
business licenses imposed upon our citizens
are in many instances Onerous and oppressive.
and beyond what they should Justly be re-
CURED to bear. We are convinced that these
taxes, whether directly imposed upon pro-
perty or required to be paid as business
licenses, are unequal, and should only be as
sessed strictly on the lad valorem" principle.
which places the poor and the rich alike upon
the same footing.
2. We deprecate and hold as entirely de-
structiVe of Democratic principles the law
passed by the Legislature of our State ap-
pointing commission to receive and register
the names of the voters who are eligible to
vote at our municipal elections. These COM
mlssiOners were selected not by the consent or
with the knowledge of the citizens of Sayan-
nah, but were chosen in surreptitious and
secret manner, and have been fOisted upon
the citizens by few persons who acted sole
" on their own motion, without asking if
their action would meet with the views or
approval Of their fellow citizens. This
commission thus appointed is dan
gerOus to the rights of the voters
OF our city, and utterly at variance with every
principle of Democracy, because they are re-
sponsible to no one for their actions, and I'M
der the law appointing them can fill all va
cancles occurring IN their board by their own
votes, thus making their tenure of office Dpr-
petual They are absolutely made a quasi
star chamber, who can SIT in judgment upon
the elective franchise of any citizen. and can
register or reject whoever they may. desire
without being required to give their reasons
for so doing. We deem it right and proper
that this law should at once be repealed and
that 1t should no longer disgrace the statute
book of our State.
3. Being aware that some IRRESPONSIBLE
persons who have attended some of our public
political meetings have shown a disposition to
interfere with the free discussion of nronosi-
tons advanced, by endeaYorinG to cry down
those who may honestly differ with them on
the merits of the proposed action of the meet
ing, we hereby declare that the laboring men
and the mechanics of our county
have an equal right with the
highest of our land to a respectful hearing at
ali public meetings; and that we hereby in
ylte them at an times to fearlessly express
their views on all questions raised, and that
we promise them that any attempt that NAV
be made to interfere with their right Of free
speech shall meet with our open and earnest
rebuke, and that they shall be heard without
interruption, or attempts to sneer them down,
4. We deem the punishment often inflicted
upon prisoners who are convicted of the
minor onenseS OF 1ntOXicatiOn and assault and
battery In our county to be too severe and de-
grading. We think that chain, which these
prisoners are compelled often to wear, is cal
culated to eradicate all moral feeling that
may still be left in them, and that instead OF
tending to reform these prisoners tends to
harden them in crime. 1t also leaves a last
ing disgrace upon their children. These limo
cent children are liable in after years to be
tainted with the expression: ''Your father
was once prisoner and wore a chain upon
his leg" The punishment Is not in keeping
with the ofense committed and should be
modified
5. That whilst we are true believers in hay
ing our laws strictly administered, we depre-
cate the wholesale prosecution of a certain
class of our population to the exclusion of
others who may be equally violators of the
statutes, but who are permitted to pursue the
even tenor Of their way without molestati on
or interference.
6. That we are convinced that every district
of our city should be individually represented
in the Board Of Aldermen; and, as lust COM
plant is made By large number of our citi-
Zens, alleging that the Aldermen are selected
from one or two districts to the exclusion OF
the others, we declare ourselves in favor of
the four militia districts of our city being
equally represented in the Board of Aldermen.
In order to carry into effect this measure,
we desire to have three of the board selected
from the voters of the First district and like
number from each Of the other three districts
thus selecting the twelve gentlemen requisite
to form the Board of Aldermen. And that
these nominations should be made by dele.
gates sent from each militia district by the
voters thereof in meeting assembled.
z. That we are strict adherents of the prin-
clples OF Jeffersonian Democracy.