Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-02-23

Reform in Mississippi.
AT no period since Mississippi became a
State. has so much been done TO reform the
morals and correct the vices of our citizens. as
the Legislature that has Just closed its session.
But we are not half so bad as many believe us
TO be, for every decd that has been done in our
State calculated to reflect upon our moral cha
racter, has been trumpefed TO the worid-Dro-
claimed FROM the housc-iops passed the
rounds Of the papers of the Union, and Ike
SNOWFALL in its pro gross swelled by every re-
volution, until the true facts Of the cas-. can
scarcely be discovered, enveloped as they have
become in the yoluminous folds Of error and
misrepresentation. Numerous have been the
stories of bloody fights, afT.avs mohs and lynch-
ing, that have had no existence within our bor-
ders; but only the offspring Of some foolish
person who had nothing else to occ upy his
time with but the connecting Of some sdeeDe-
rate deef,'' or ''horrbIe aGrav," for his own
amusement, or the desire Of pleasing the sold
Women with a history Of some tale of blood
Many are thcstories Of this character that have
found their way into the public journals, in
vented by own citizens for the purpose of
IMPOSING upon the credulity of the community.
and exciting their wonder at such unnatural
acts, without once rejecting upon the blight
they were casting upon reputation as
moral and civilized community.
Many such fabrications have been detailed |
with wonderful accuracy to some distant Jour
nalist by idle persons, ambitious of winning
the name of q,ei= and a tcit, and If perchance
they succeed, then themselves s acknowl-
edged and universally admitted uits. But we
do not wish TO be understood as alcdginr that
the people of Mississippi are free from all vice
or that they equal in point of religious
morality with the Puritans Of New England
but only stating that one half of the amount
of crime that is imputed TO US is founded upon
error
1t is true that the t'code of honor is more J.
generally used-and difficulties more frequent
ly adjusted by the ''Duello," than at the North V
and although this manner of adjusting differ L
ences may be considered as a relic of the bar 50
barous ages, still we driven to that course "
by the irresistible tide of public opinion, which 3
also prevails, but not to such an extent in the e
northern and eastern states as with u.s. But ce
few occurrences that happen at the north find ~
their way in the public journals, if they are
calculated to reflect upon the morals of the )"
community, but here nothing is permitted to "a
rest or lie still, it must 60 forth, perverted and 10
distorted to the world, accompanied with such "a
ordinations of wonder and surprise as to in Sill
duce one TO believe that they really felt all the so
"Hoty horrors they expressed by their words ma
when at the same time deeds of a worse mature co
pass without notice comment under their IN
own eye. no
But we have digressed further than we inten- IN
ded-the reform-that is, the TrrL1xG BnG-as
it is called, which inhbts the sale OF alrvin
Gus and ardent spirits by any one in our State bo
in less quantities than gallon, under n penal-
ty of $3.50, with imprisonment for not less on
time than one week, nor more than one month"; 20
for the first offence and for the second the pen mn
nlty is doubled. The act also forbids the tav- L.
ern-keepers from giving it to any of their n,
guests, under the same pcnalty-and the spirit ri
when bought is not to be drank upon the pre- hi,
misses. The act also inhibits candidates for do
public office from treating, under the crime of "a
brbng =;
The act is drawn up with great care. so that col
there Is no possible chance for evasicn-and ~,
all who may attempt it, will most surely find co
themselves encompassed in a net from which y,
there will be no escape. III,
For the peace, good order and morality of our lor
citizens, can deny but that this will Co
effect more good than all the acts, and multi ge
tude Of acts that has found place in our sta Gu
tute beck. intended to effect the same end the
How many States that have raised their voices Co
in condemnation of the people of Mississippi. as
can boast of law moral in its tenor. and we
more salutary in Its operationl We believe vii
that there are bat few--very few. The people fro
d Mississippi owe debt of lasting gratitude
% General Foote, the introducor of this rnea the
Sre, and its warm and unfaltcring supporter the
n its passage through both houses of the Lee car
sisiature. Too high compliment cannot be the
laid General Foote for the moral courage he tiff
las evinced in bringing forward this measure the
nd giving II his support, as it necessarily II
ave, and will meet with much and strong con- less
emnatIen by many, and as where every one resi-
more or less locking the people for office. the
nd who generally scrupulously avoid giving
Hence 10 any man or sci of men. many would I
ave been deferred from supporting such a int
'ensure from fear of their opposition at the this
ailot box. But General Feote has proven Y
lmself to be above all such feelings OF per- afor
NAL consideration. The Legislature also ace
lssed number of other acts of the same ten nose
sney OF the TIPPING Bill, which we sill notice cop
some more convenient period. go,
form
The application eff the Charleston and Ohio haYi
Ill Road Company TO the Legislature of Ken ded
r. XIV Ra Io.,o II l..