Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1839-04-20

thrin.
shall first call the attention of The public N 1. hs
] cnnsder one u the mnsi important features IN th
Act, lnasm1ch a. m. Of this great underta
king, mainly depends upon he integrity, energy
PATRIOTISM. scientific aud practical knowledge q
those appointed guardians
shall frl read the following extract from ~
lsi Sec Of the Act " There shall be elected b
pint ballot oi both Houses Of The Legislature thre
grrsbns. citizcns Of tie State WIN shall he Com
mssioners for tie Internal improvement orihe State
ana they shall be siyIed, Board Of Internal Improve
ment iar The S;ae OF Mississippi"
The l0h Sc. ~ the Act, properly nart or IA,
first, auIhnrzes the ssid Bard Of Internal Improve
nrnt, to eicci one e their "wn hoiy az PrestIen,
ind IN al contracts msde by snd with the said boa ri
the signature Of the President shall be bindin.
thereon.
b. Tie second ami Third sections 1t val be fnn,
that 1900 Bonds Of $4,000, each (makng ID, s.,
600, 900, 10 be borrowed on pledge Of the iah -
The STATED and 10 be issued 70 the order Of tie bar,
Of Internal improvement transferable Ia the oTde
Of The President Of SAIL board.
The 5lh 9th. fth SIN and 18th sections OF III,
Act imposes very responsible dulles, on the bard %
Internal Imprnyemeni-which a. enumerale al ili,
time would be 10 occupy tho much space in your
paper ! would snIic The SERIOUS attention Of every
one interested N 50 great an enterprise, TO read and
carefully examine ten.
10 ealing lhe attention Of those who feel con-
cern 10 this important Undertaking. cannot omit
" suitable an appoitanity, olcSprrssng my humble
opinnn, ni the very responsible duiy which must
necessarily drvnlye on the members of our next
Legislature (presumin9 that The people approved
Of The Act 10 provide lor The Internal Improvement
Of tbs Slate) 10 selecting suitable persous, possess
ing tie necessary qualifications Ia Oh such high and
responsible offices az Commissioners e the Board Of
lnlFrns improvement.
For whilst Internal Improvement IS in IL infancy
IN our State, il will require the same fostering care
on the part of the Legislature; that is absolutely
necessary on the part of parent TO promote The
welfare aud protection Of an infant,
Ia cases ol Internal Improvement exclusively un-
der The direction Of the Government of State, n
great error is ton frequently committed in Lcg,sa
tive bodies by that predominant disposition, on the
part vi is projectors, al all hazards, 10 serve their
own friends without INV regard whatever to quail
iicalion ALLOWING selintrrrst SO 10 blind them,
that they lnse sight altogether of The moral obga-
ton imposed upon them. not only by tie oath I'D
minslered previous TO their entering on their duties
rs Legislators; but also The high obligations they
are under 10 Their constituents, to promote impair
tally the welfare and prosperity Of those they rep
rcsent-~regardfss of the public weal.--Scvntlic
and practical knowledge; as wei as many other es-
scntiai qualifications requisite to Insure success, in
such important operations, are ton frequently totally
lost sight OF, Fiksc remarks are made with hope
that such foursd, will ne er he pursued by any
member Of she Legislature Of Mississippi.
Any onekmly Of such cnursc OF action dsrc.
gardng tld& xl, OF welfare Of his or their constitu.
cuts. can IA compared to nothing else thanh pi.
| oRecr, hpsx engaged IN undermining the fnuRda,
iipn Of the Prosperity Of our Statoand richly mer-
Us political death
wei knSw that IN celebrating on the course pro
per 10 pursw IN lhc beginning Of operations d
such magnitIlM, and 40 rcplete with interest 10 al
classes Of The community, either directly or Indirect
", by which sncal and commercial intercourse Will
many olhrr advantages, bringing hidden wealth m,
independence IN their train by ailhrdmg an availn
bic market IN the remntest, and IN many instances
uncultiyalcj portions Of our Stately The improve
peat ~ dehhoralinI on proper course to pursne il
The beglnnlng-~too much care cannot he taken. il
first having well digesied system Of operations Il
commence wlb, and in selecting suitable persons L
act as Guardians Of the public fund land 10 sec iha
all appointments are accompanied by integrity, en-
ergy and practical knowIedVe. careful examina.
ton OF the Act; imposing such responsible duties
on The members OF The Board Of Internal Improve
nent--musi convince every unbiased mind of the
necessity OF adopting the strcest scrutiny into the
qualifications possessed 10y nil applicants
belevlnE THIS 10 he n correct view of The subject
thus far, ! would suggest for the consideration OF
the mex, Legislature, the proprety, aud am inrci
bly, struck with the necessity of so amending th,
LIST Sec al the Act, appointing Commissioners To ht
styled "'rhe Board &C Inlerna! improvement,
aud so 70 regulate their number, az 90 make iht
Governor of the State, n, all times President af III,
Board-making il The duty of the Board To hold 4
meeting at the seat OF Government, during the ses
sion oil the Legislature.
The adoption Ct this course would create q for
midable barrier to serious evil And under IL,
eye 81 the Governor holding The highest office with
IN the gf Of the peope.of the State, and under hr
control, scll-nlcrcsi wa aid be but rarely. Il al all
admitted, " participate IN any important measur,
| al their councils.
So pron'lnent has self been at all times, in ever,
undertaking IN this State Oi pubic nature, and :,
undue an influence hasaRhe had upon the connclh
and deslnles ol lhose appointed to act for the pub
| lie veal; o. WATCH may be traced considerable,
portion oi the distress Tho people of this State nov
labor UNDER aud until they step 10, ward IN thci
MAJESTY, are likely 10 labor und ~ without receiving
that ndrllhle mark of dsapprobauon she So richl,
merits! That the period has nuw arrived, wheI
| 10 insure success she must be hansheA from al
councils, liayiuI IN view the public welfare
u may be argued, that The provisions Of the oall
TO be administered to all officers, previous 10 thcu
entering upon the dues OF Their Office, asl laid dowi
IN ihe 9th Sec. are oil sallicenl TO guard against ii
officers interesting himself IN any way with con
Tracts, Sc. made hy virtue oi his rtlice | admit il
| but when cast my eye over the sale Of the $50
Bonds oI $1,000 each, am urged Ia tie belief Iha
a uanslrr matte BY the Gnvrrnur ut the State, a
Prs,denl 81 the Board OF lnicrnal Improvement
would M. Only facilitate the ssle of tie Bonds bu
would generally give 4 beneficial weight 10 .h
l elrd ~,
Board; and ~ all probability, more. general salts
| faction to the people Of tie state
! these are subjects for the CONSIDERATION Of tn
! people aad N order 10 prosecute NcccsSiuly III
mn, ocamenls contemplated hy the Act. subjects
wh,cl, ,,oud b. thoroughly examined aud discussed
A regular an,t systematic plan adopted y tho frs
onset may inside success, without il, all attempt
must fail.
The 9Th Sec Of the Att points out tho manne
ia which tie - 600, 900 shah be expended with IN
exception OF 100000 to be appltu TO the improve