Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-10-09

Many changes are needed, only a
few will be now suggested:
l. MepotiSn,, the scandal alike of
empires and republics, should be pro-
hibited so that no future Hawkins
should be allowed to appoint his
brother or any relative to Office, I'M
less so far removed that he might act
as juror to try his lawsuit.
I'd. 1t is written in our Constitu-
ton "that right and justice shall be
administered without sale, denial or
delay" yetw vebefore our courts
thousands of causes that cannot be
tried for many years. The error is in
thesystem, which should be reformed.
The present Judges should be re-
tanned, if not reelected, to dispose of
the business now in court.
Sd. The Comptroller, Secretary of
State, and Treasurer should be elected
by the people to avoid the danger and
scandal of matters like the "Hobbs
affair" and the last elections in 1881.
4th. The Legislature should be ex-
pressly prohibited from issuing So
called bonds, or creating any debt
without levyinga tax for its payment
within two years, unless first submit
ting the question for approval at the
ballot box by a majoritity of all the
qualified voters in the State.
9Th. In the language of Bacon, let
the Constitution declare sit is an
everlasting law that no human law
shall be perpetual" orirrepealable.
9th. That no Legislature, or other
agency of the people, shall have
power to make any contract, or pass
any ordinance or law notsubject to al
teration, amendment or repeal, or
that shall depend for its execution
upon any other sanction except the
faith and credit Of the people.
7th. That the charter of all corpora
tons, public and private, shall be
held subject to amendment, regula-
ton, forfeiture and repeal, when no
longer in accord with the general
welfare, and the Legislature shall
have power to pass appropriate legis-
lation for this purpose.
Some say it is the law that if every
member of the Legislature should be
sent to the penitentiary for bribery,
that the act, though it may enslave a
people, will stand. Such is not the
law. To provide against danger LET
the Constitution declare that all acts,
grants of property, appropriations OF
money, agreements, contracts and
franchises procured by bribery, false
hood, or fraud shall be declared void
by the courts, at the suit of the State
or any tax payer of the State.
Sth. War is moneys opportunity,
and the poor mans misfortune and
sacrifice. The poor conscript can bt
hunted like wild beast, placed il
the front rank food for the enemy's
cannon, his wife and children left il
poverty and withoutprotection. Thi!
is all legal and right with monie(
aristocrats, but if you touch a dollar
or bond, the price of the blood o.
the liberty of a people, you will heal
a howl that will shake a continent
This is all wrong. Heaven will no
smile upon such men or such laws
Let the Constitution of Tennessee de
clare that all contracts hereafte
made, of which our courts can hav,
jurisdiction, shall cease to bear inter
est when the war drum is sounded
If such a law could be made to rule
the world, it would disband armie
and bring universal peace. TO begin
such policy would give to our peo
pie more real honor than all the lau
rels won upon the battlefield. AnC
aside from this, it is self-protection
A war now would double the wealth
of railroads, spectators and capita
lists by the transportation of armies
supplies and munitions of war, ant
increase the numbers and misery @
wretched, helpless people withou
limit.
That the highest duty Of a State i
to educate the people. Ante bellun
private schools having persisted, pub
lie common schools, sufficient to Civ
each child a practical business educa
ton is preference claim upon tn
revenues after paying current eX
penses, and the Legislature SHOULD
have power to dedicate perpetual,
money that may accumulate in tn
Treasury above currenteXpenses, an
to levy special taxes, for that purpose