Daily Republican., 1890-01-30

tionslity Of the assessment law Of 1879.
and II seems to me that 1t 10 time that .
should, without regard to party distinc-
tioDs, look the matter square In the lace
and ask ourselves where are we tending.
II may, and Will NO doubt, seem to mauy
like presumption for . farmer, without
any claim 10 legal know ledge, and with
but meagre education, to talk Of con-
stituiiopal law, but even farmer may
apply his common sepse to few plain
aentsnces In the Constitution, and ths
nrst shall notice 10 that the constitution
10 the fundamental Law OF the State, aud
under the Consultation OF the United
states is the suprems law Of the State,
and hence that the law maker and the
court ss we'll, being sworn 70 support
ths Constitution, are bound to do ali THAT |
they eau to give iorce TO the principles
laid down, aud to protsct, by law and |
Judgment, every citizen 10 all the rights |
guarantee d by that constitution.
Now, tho constitution gives TO every |
male citizen the rlghtto voto st every
election by paying tsx Within two years,
which shall have bsen assegscd at
least six mouths before the elcctfOu. BJ
what authority eau tho Iaw-making
power deprive any one oi constitutional
right 80 = punishIncnt for neglect to do
an act imposed not BY the constitution,
but by Al act Of ths Legislature, thus
Dullifying and for the tims destroying
his constitutional right aud the right Of
the State to his Judgment In the choice
of officers?
1t is true that the State has right to
tax its citizens, and II 10 a. trns that
they ought 10 pay sush'tax. II Il also
true that the StAts haa right TO enforce
payment by reasonable penalties, but II
is not true that the rieht Of voting eau be
Impaired IS such penalty. m'sht quo Q
in this connection ffom your report Of
tho Chief Justics's oplniOn, aud chow
what seems to me 70 bu mistake, but
do not wish TO occupy too much OF your
I time and space, and will leave this
question with you, aAking you 70 examine
II for yourselves. do not wish 70 Inn
pugn The motives of the judgss; they are
honorable men, and Iwould not willingly
say one word to ipiure them or 70 woskcn
their innuences. The law Of 1873 Is now
. law sustained BY the decision oil the
Court. aud as good cit'xsns ws mnst act
In Obedience. But Il y not unaitera BILE.
II has dislrsnchiAed many ct our citizens,
and many OF them In violation OF It's own
provision; yet We must obey and quietly
submit. But now, nsy not ask you.
my fellow citizens, 70 look at this matter
as Intelligent men. Independent Of party
considerations, and ask yourselves what
benefit the Stale cru reap from this law
havs thus. lar spoken iu the assumption
thattne .aw' was hopsstiy administered.
Who is bensatts,l1 Does II tend towari
the elevation OF the people 10 morals ol
sound political elevation? Let the scene'
at the polls, and especially nomination
elections, answer. Has II improved thu
financial condition Of the State or county
Let the taxes aud debt OF the State an,
county answer.
But reed not tell you that the law !
, not honestly Administered; you all know
that fact and there 10 po one who will pic
! enforced. The very terms Of tho Law ar
such 40 to make such IN enforcement a
almost, II not quite, IN impossibidty.
need not enlarge On tlis point now. Sui
hoo II to say that the Assessnrs and co
lectors arc under no Legal obligations wit
penalties attnchsd. The propsrty holder
must be assessed and ~ 70 0ttess II seem
to be entirely opttona, - - Who the
shall assess and c6nrlae - your reporti
Mtssrs. Editorp, II ID how oiten And s
far ~ the collectors as0 concerned, let tn
,, reports published 10 your paper iroi
, day to day testify. And II locks to m
Is though the Court takes this view {
the case, a. we find 10 the mandamus cas-
that while It said ths$sne collectors ar
bound to honor powSss OF attorney, the
, were not hound 70 give receipts {
: strange Inconsistency yet It refused
: lsaid that n refusal to do certain thing
| would make them liable ana that eithe
the Levy Court or individuals nigh. su
!. and bring them before the Court on
:, charge Of violating their oith or IN = sui
for damsges. But what = remedy
The Levy Court who is pattIu
these collectors and assessors o
the back, bringing them 10 Jus
> tice. Think Of 1t aud ask yoursel
. whether the honorable Court was nc
:, Joking. Aud as for private individual
. seeking damages. when we take into coz
!, sidoration that those officers are backet
) up by .he Levy Court sad that ths
'ame court names the Jurors, it would b
n bold man that wosald attempt such
|, remedy, and BESIDES the Honorabl
:. Chief Justice Is reported 40 saying th
. right to vote is not 80 valuable after all
as the law will protect the citiztn wltbou
II. Fellow citizens, since the passage q
this law In 1873, l have been wishin
and hoping that II might be brought I
a the courl, hoping aud believing that
:. would be nullified. In this have bee
= disappointed. We cannot stand wher
wo are; We must either 20 back towar.i
monarchy or run mo anarchy, unles
) some steps are taken to bring us back
4 en- honest administration of our law
Y aud to that end We must have hone,
laws to administer. THIS Is my moti'
), Tor writing. Will you not think OF til
> matter ana givs your aid 10 trying I
meet the demands OF the time.
FARMER.