The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1841-09-11
From the Southron.
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
MISSISSIPPI.

|
In our last article upon this subject
we stated, that the Legislature of a
sovereign State had full power to pass
all laws, upon every subject, which the
constitution did not prohibit. That the
limitations IN the constitution of this
State were only so many restrictions
placed by the people upon themselves
and their own action, and that the pro-
ceedings efthe Legislature in Democrat
ic Governments could not be separated
or distinguished from the action of the
people themselves.
Of what is the Legislature of the State
of Mississippi composed? OF citizens of
the State of Mississippi-of men who
are an integral part of the whole num-
Der who form the State-of individuals
chosen and selected by the people to
make laws for the general welfare of the
whole State, because their sentiments
and opinions concur with the views and
them.
Previous to the charter Of the Mlssis-
sippi Union Bank, the propriety Of es-
tablishing such an institution and Of
pledging the faith of the State for the
payment Of the capital necessary to be
borrowed to put it into operation had
been for years topic of political discus
sion. After the bill had been acted upon
by the Legislature of 1887, it was tho
roughly agitated throughout the whole
State previous to the election in Novem-
Der of that year. The newspaper editors
discussed it. The stump orators debated
it. Penthouse politicians quarreled over
it. The candidates for Governor pub
lished circulars which were distributed
every where, in which the policy of the
measure was freely canvassed and con-
demned or approved; and we are salts
fled that we hazard nothing when we as
sert, that at the elections in the year
| 1897, there was not single voter who
did not know that one Legislature had
already passed the bill, and that at the
ensuing session it would be called up for
action a second time. The Legislature
met in 1888, and the bill was again pass
ed by overwhelming majorities in both
houses. Who can deny after this, tha
the people Of the State did approve the
passage of the law, inasmuch as with full
knowledge they chose members who haC
declared themselves in favor of passing
it previous to their elections? For wha
purpose has the constitution prescribed
that bill pledging the faith of the State
shall be published in particular man
ner for particular time before it shall
become a law? The answer is obvious
In order that the people may be INFORMED
in advance, of the nature of the proposes
, law, and may, having such information
choose a Legislature who would approve
or reiectlt in accordance with their wish
es. Suppose that this information wer'
, communicated to them in some othe
, mode as certainly and as clearly as b,
the means pointed out IN the constitution
would not the object of the trainers O
that instrument be as satisfactorily OF
tained-their intention be as completed.
carried into effect, as if the formal re
: QUESTION of the constitution had bee
complied with? OF this there can be n
, doubt, because the people would have tn
D very knowledge and information whic
that clause in the constitution intende
f to provide. If then the people in faC
D knew that the Legislature of 1887 ha
passed law to pledge the faith of tn
/ State for the Mississippi Union Banl
i and had referred it to the action of tn
i succeeding Legislature, they are as niue
bound by the action of that last Legisli
r ture, as if they had derived their know
: ledge by the means and through til
forms pointed out in the constitution
and this too is the strict law, as will al
pear by the citation of few well est;