Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-01-20

desect the message IN part, ana expose It's II
constituencies as they occur. FIRST he attack
the Legislature of Mississippi for holding a
adjourned term--denies that they have tn
right under the Constitution to do SO, an
thinks, that when the business before ther
cannot be done at the regular term, he
should wait to be called together by the s. pro
per authority" to wit the Governor. TIL
members of the Legislature are elected t
legislate for the people, and it strikes us, tina
it would be most signal absurdity, and ont
which would, in our poor judgment, prov'
Them unfit for the Office which they hold, 70
them to adjourn, knowing that they had no
half completed the business before them, ant
that business of much importance to the PEG
pie, and yet wait to be called together by th'
"proper authority" How often does it be
come absolutely necessary for the Legisla
ture to adjourn without having completed theil
necessary business How often do new cues
tons arise,and those ones OF much Importance
and which should be legisated on at the ear
lest possible day on which one half of the
members do not know the viii of their consti
tuents, and consequently do not know how tc
vote. 1t appears to us,that in such case, the
very best course for the Legislature to pursue.
would be,to adjourn to the earliest convenient
day, go home, take the stump before the peo-
pie, explain to them the objects and the policy
of the measure proposed-let them, in their
primary assemblies, express their views and
feeling, and then go back prepared to carry
out those views and feelings. Perhaps the
Governor would have the members to resign
and try the question thus raised, by the issue
of new election This would defeat the We
ny object which the Constitution had in view
when it made the elections biennial, and
moreover, it is rarely that an issue, on any par
ticular question, car be fairly made before the
people where an election is pending. The reIa
tive popularity of the contendng candidates.
and innumerable other minor questions. will
sway many votes, and, where parties are
nearly equal IN strength, decide the contest.
In an issue made up, in the manner which
we are contending for, there would be much
less danger from these extenuous considera-
tons, for the only question for an honest rep
resentatlve to put to his constituents would be,
shall !, On. shall | not, vote for this measure
We have a great deal of confidence in the
wisdom of Governor McNutt, but we have
more in that of the Legislature of Mississippi.
and when they consider the business before
them unfinished, we are willing for them to adj
journ to some fitting time, and then meet and
complete it.
The next subject worthy of notice, is the
fact, that the expenditures of the State have
greatly exceeded its revenue. This Is a fact
about which we have no doubt. Who is the
party in fault for this, is question which the
people ought to decide, and one which they
will decide. We would just obserte,in pass.
ing, that it is somewhat singular, that we
should have a Loco Foco President of the
United States, and Loco Foco Governor of
Mississippi, that both should be continually
preaching about economy, and yet that
both the General and State Govern
ments, have, under the respective adninistra- |
lions ofthese gentlemen been reduced to insoI- |
Fency, and both compelled to pay their officers
Il Government shin plasters. This is a Just
upon the professions and the prac-
ice of the party TO which these gentlemen
'elong.
Inc message next recommends, that the
alarles ofall the officers be reduced to at least
me half of their present nominal standard.
Now the Governor has before this informed US
hat the officers of this State have, since Nav
o57' been paid in deprecated currency, and
hat during the past year they have generally
zen unable to get their pay warrants cashed
y the Treasurer, and have usually been COM
elled to sell them at about thirty five cents
er dollar. Now let US see how this kind of Z
Inds, and the Governors recommendations I
reduce salaries to one half viii operate
he salary of circuit Judge is, at present,
9'OOO' reduce this one halt, and you have
1000 dollars, sell this at thirty five cents in /
re dollar and you have FIVE hundred and twen-
hVe dollars, as the actual amount in oood
oney of the salary of a Circuit judge. Now.
-
I us make some estimate of the necessary
Ipenses of the Judge in discharpinp tho Din. Y
es OF his Office, and to do this, we win take n
le Circuit composed of the counties Of <
owndes, Noxubee, Kemper, Winston. and L
Kubbeha. The court in Lowndes. TAKING 4
e average length ofits sessions, sits twelve o.
VS. IN Noxubee six, in Kemper four. Win IL
IN and Oktbbeha three days each, making q
all twenty eight days. which at two dollars
d fifty cents per day, the usual tavern rate
man and horse, will be sixty-four dollars s.
s expense Ilaving,to be incurredtwice everv on
AZ, Will be one hundred and twentv-a;ob.
iich deducted from five hundred and twen
i've leaves just 1897, for the support Of the
ige and his family, during the time Of tbe lut
Z that no is not on his Circuit. The AZ Sa
use OF travelling from one court to anotbe, AL
have not calculated, as we are willing - rel
ow that In, seeing these are DAYS. of aconol tul
and reform. Now for the rest 60 am
iges Of Mississippi we cannot nretand ! to
ak seeing that we know but little about pa
M but for the Hon. Hendley s. Bepna, sti
lge OF the sixth judicial district Of M;ssss;n wa
We can say, that if the governor supnosss an,
ne VIII hold Office on these terms. then h.
ws less about the sound practical service =
gentleman shan We do and we shonlS