Year: 1876




As talking is all we can do at the
present time toward assisting our noble
old State in getting out of her financial
troubles, many people seem to think
that a great deal of that should be
done. So long as they talk or write
in such strain as will not further de-
press the credit of the State ] can see
no harm in their talking or writing !;
but when they begin to advocate set
tlement of our financial trouble by
reputation in any shape or form, they
are merely decreasing the State credit
and informing the public that they
would not pay their individual llabili-
ties unless forced to do so, and for the
good of themselves and the State too
they had better say but little.


As the next Legislature must settle
our State difficulty, it will be we'll for
the people to be discreet in selecting
it, or they too may take it all out in
talking. They should be honest and
good business men of intelligence and
financial ability, possessing ability
enough to know what should be done
and nerve enough to do it. They
should go to the capitol to work for
the good of the State, not for their
own profit, and work when they get
there. It is not necessary that they
should talk much when they get there
or make long, windy speeches, but
work. It is not necessary that they
should be known as the Hon. Mr.. so
and so, representative or senator from
such county or orcountIes, but as work
ers for the honor and credit of the
State and the good of her people. They
should not seek the office, but let the
Office seek them, and when found let
them betray not the trust or confidence
reposed in them. Let them not use
the Office as stepping stone to further
political preferment by seeking pop
ularity at the expense Of the State, or
the people who elect them. They
should know their whole duty and be
fearless enough to perform it. They
should have intelligence enough to
know at least a part of what is needed
before they accept the position, and
not go there, as two-thirds Of them
generally do, with the expectation of
doing nothing but answering yea or
nay when their names are called. In
plain terms, they are employed and
paid by the people to do for them faith
full and honest a00rk and they should
strive to do it. Such, in my humble
opinion, is the kind of men we need
for our next Legislature, regardless of
what profession or trade theyare select
ed from. When they meet, as means
of immediate relief, they should
authorize the issuance of enough State
Warrants to pay in full the past due
debt of the State, making the said war;
rants legal tender for all State, coun-
ty and corporation purposes and for
the interest on the bonds. They should
then take into serious consideration
the Importance of reducing the ex-
penses of the State in every way pos
sible and enact such laws as will re-
luce it. They must then increase the
revenue of the State by just and
equitable assessment of all property,
including that not heretofore taxed,
and also all bonds (that they can tax)
until the net revenue is sufficient to
meet regularly her liabilities as they
become due.


I could mention many ways by which
he revenue of the State could be |
increased without increasing
he present rate of taxation On proper
y now taxed, and also by which the
expenses of the State government |
night be decreased, but deem it un
necessary to do so at present.


q. II. s.


st. Bethlehem, Tenn, March IL, '76.


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