The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1840-07-02


Union" For ourselves, we cannot see the |
application; but were we disposed, we
might retort, by telling him that the time
has passed by when single individual can
constitute himself a committee of one, as
sumo the censorship Of Jefferson county, |
and by virtue of his office, claim the guar
dlanship of the minds and morals of its cil- |
zens. We have long since repudiated the
some man porer,' and claim TO think and |
act for ourselves. We are aware that |
'sniiicient wealth and ample resources are
still IN store to relieve our citizens from all
embarrassment" if "eren justice" is melted
TO them; but If, on the contrary, instant and
unconditional payment is required, and that
| too In gold and silver, we will not disguise
the fact, that we too must fall victim to
the fierce and relentless spirit of specula-
ting Shylocks- those whose souls have
never melted in mercy, or their hearts
softened in sympathy for the suherings of
their fellow men Too long have the peo-
pie submitted to this state of things. lis
high time they should say to their unfeeling
oppressors, ''thus far shall you go, and no
farther" With how much truth might we
say to these, Gin the days of our prosperity
you fiattered US, and induced us TO contract
debts; but when adversely overtakes US, you
would increase our suffering-in 4 word,
you mock at our misery and add TO our
oppression. "Even Justice" seems to think
that If the moral sense of the community is
not sufficient to prevent oppression, then IN
deed may we resort to such measures as are
indicated in the resolutions of the meeting.
We would ask, when was the moral sense
of the community sufficient of itself, unaided
by any manifestation of public sentiment, to
restrain the insatiate hand of avarice, or
cause it to unloose its grasp. Misers and
misanthropes, selfish and sordid men, have
lived in every aye and country; nor need
we flatter ourselves that lce are freed from
them. To such the resolutions will APP
lpy-for such they were intended. 1t was
not the object of the meeting to oppose the
administration of the laws. No attempt was
made, or intended 10 be made, to prevent
the Marshal or Sheriff from exposing prop
erty under execution to public sale. Nor
was IT the object to deter individuals from
, bidding for property thus offered, provided
two-thrds of its value was bid. We feel
tconfident that none but a sordid being
would wish TO obtain the property of his
3 neighbor for less. 1t will be remembered
that, Mt the last session of our Legislature, a
; law was passed, calculated TO prevent, in a
measure, the immense sacrifice of property
which might in future take place. But
there are many cases which its beneficent
provisions do not reach. Such cases, for
instance, as were decided in the United
States Court, and such cases as those
vub ~ haI ~
our Circuit Courts before the passage of
the act. To such the Judge of our District
had decided the law would not apply-~con-
sequen:ly, many of our citizens were depri-
we'd of any participation in the benefits
arising from so ludicious and humane a
law. Here we probably will DE told that
this was their misfortune, and ;hey must
suffer. Such may be the language of the
cold and calculating soul, hut is not the die
tate of either equality, justice, or humanity.
The writer asks, what will be the effect of
these resolutions, and what guarantee will
those have who may be disposed to credit US
in time TO come? We answer, they have
our past promptitude and punctuality on all
similar occasions. They know if they sell
to us at specie prices, that we will not hest
tate to pay them accordingly. We are known
to be debt paying people. We are not
the ''champiOns Of misrule," or advocates
for the violation of contracts. On the con-
trary, we believe both in good order and
\ good government, and sacred regard for
contracts. We venture to say that no indi-
vldual feels his obligation to pay his debts
less binding since the meeting than before.
But all feel the necessity of uniting for
common defence, as band of brothers, de-
termlned to discountenance by their words
and deeds, injustice and oppression, come
from whence 1t may. Too long have we
borne, as | said before, and suffered with
patient resignation. We have been truly
''people scattered and peeled" without con-
: cert, and without unity of action upon any
subject, or in any measure that would pro-
tect our rights and interests. | repeat, it is
high time the people should commune to-
gether, and if they consider it necessary or
deem it important, let them give publicity to
any opinions which they may entertain upon
matters that concern them. But our sage
Eco@nSettor would tell US, nay, you must not
i speak out thus-your credit will be pros
trated, your name become a bye-word In
/ reply to arguments like these, we have
only to say, that with the generous and
high-minded we have no fears that our
character for probty will suffer, or our in
! tegrlty be furnished; and as for the modern
Shylocks who fatien upon the spoils which
they, In some degree, have contributed to
make, We court not their favor. We ask
nothing from them, except that they will