Year: 1874




ing ISsnes Of the Canvass.


To the Conservative and Democratic Voters of


Tennessee:


Without my agency my name is before
you as candidate for nomination for Gov
eTnOr. Justice TO you and myself demands
that l should make known my views upon
questions of public policy.


l am in favor of the substitution of legal
tenders for National bank notes, and Of
maintaing the present volume of currency
to prevent further diminUtion in values,
at least until the country is in a more pros
porous condition than now.


am opposed to the present tariff laws,
that foster and protect by special import
duties particular interests at the expense of
the many; to land subsidies to railroads,
by which so much of the public domain
has been given to create vast mOnOpolieS at
the expense of and to Oppress the people;
10. the Determinations against the claims of
the people of our State for money due them
on property taken for the use of the Gov
ernment; to the further Interference by
Congress with the domestic relations within
the States, and particularly TO the prOyis-
ions of what is known IS the Civil Rights
bill, and TO the general extravaganza that
perTades almost every department Of the
Federal Government.


| am in favor of peTfeCting our system of
common schools; Of encouraging i:nmigra-
tiOn to our State of skilled mechanics and
artisans, to aid in the development of our
mining and manufacturing resources, and
of outstanding our own population to pre-
vent migration. Ii is intelligent hOmOge-
neOus population that gives prosperity,
wealth and happiness to a country.


l think the assessment laws should be
changed. Property should be taxed but
once. Ii is now often taxed twice or more.
1t requires a taxpayer to swear to the
value Of his property, and then it may be
set aside at the option of the Assessor.
This IS certainly wrong, and should be re-
pealed. The provision of the funding law
that makes the interest upon the State debt
preferred obligation, should be repealed.
The maintenance Of government is the first
object of legislation. The expenses Of the
State government should be first paid, and
the balance appropriated to the payment of
interest on the bonded debt.


The rate of taxation with the appropria-
tion of the revenue arising therefrOm,ShOuld
be left TO the immediate representatives of
the people in each succeeding Legislature.
l an in favor Of paying all we honestly
owe, when We are able, without serious Op-
preston, to do so.


am IN favor of an equalization in the
salaries Of officials, and a reduction in
many cases, to an amount equal TO that
paid for similar services in the ordinary
transactions of the country. The salaries
in many of the offices created by penuui-
sites. may thus exceed the salaries of our
highest officials. This certainly should be
corrected, and the surplus, after paying a
reasonable compensation, should be paid
into the State Treasury.


The expenses of our courts have so in
creased that they have become exceedingly
burdensome and oppressive and demand "A
radical reform, even if il has TO be done by
a change of the organic law.


These. with many other items of re-
trenchment and reform that might be had,
would, in my opinion, authorize a material
reduction in the rate Of taxation.


To the many friends throughout the
State who have suggested my name for that
position, | return my sincere thanks. | ask
of You, that in your respective localities,
YOU will see that the will and wishes Ofthe /
people are fully reflected in your repre-
sentatives 10 the convention the 18th Of /
August. If this is observed il will secure
harmony.


If selected as the candidate of the great
body of the people, l shall do all in my
power TO restore frateEnal good feeling
among our people, to unite the good men
of all past political parties in the consider |
alton and adoption OF measures for the de- |
velopment of our material interests-the |
Inauguration of an era of prosperity, con-
tentment and happiness within our State. |
respectfully, d. b. THOMAS.