The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-11
From tha Vicksburg Wing.
REMARKS OF CfiAS. ,. MOUNT, ESQ.,
On the bill TO establish the new county Of
"PraiFie."

FRIDAK, Jan'y 90, 1842.
Mr.. Mount having reported from the select
committee the bill establishing new County
to BE- called ''Prairie," which had been read
. second time; Mr.. M. moved, that the bill
DO engrossed and ma lie the order Of the day
for tomorrow. Mr.. Boyd of Attala, moved
to Law the bill on the table,-Mr. M. hoped
the gentleman from Attala, would Withdraw,
the motion which did not permit him TO eX-
plain the object Of the bill. Mr.. Boyd with
drew his motion. Mr.. Hargrove of TiPPah'
moved the indefinite postponement OF the
bill, upon which. Mr.. Mount said:
Mr.. Speaker, / am sorry that perceive IN
the various motions designed for the defeat
of the bill, disposition to thwart the inter-
ests Of large majority Of my constituents.
AS an humble but independent member OF
this House, and Representative of the county
q Of YaZOO, have piled upon your table from
day to day, petitions and memorials from
nearly every portion of the county, praying
forstbe redress, of grievances undeF (which
large and, respectful BILE portion of the county
labor; sir, have from time to time conferred
with members, upon the importance OF the
bill,--they have frankly admitted it. | now
tell you sir, that the petitions and wishes OF
my constituents in this matter, rest upon rea-
sons which should be respected by TINS
House; that portion of the county desiring to
be detached from the old county, so far as
know, has no dissenting voice; the upper
part of the county, where reside, is in favor
oft; and so far as l can gather, four'ffths OF
the people are in favor of it. It is true, va
ZOO City has not expressly assented or dis
scented, but legislate for ''the greatest good
Of the greatest number" The people living
in the lower end of the county labor under
grave and serious burdens: which, under the
"a right guaranteed them by the constitution.
they have a right to petition to have redress
sed.-Many persons, sir, have in all their
county matters to ride from thirty to fifty
miles to attend to business at the county site;
absented from their families and homes unne-
cessarily long, leaving their business at home
unattended to, and the duties devOving up
on them as jurors, witnesses, and parties lit
igant, extremely onerous, and at no incon-
siderable expense.
And are not these reasons of my cons:itu-
ents Of sufficient avail to be heard with due
consideration on this floor! Why do gentle.
men urge, the making new counties, will en-
danger the cOnstitutionality of this body!
will say to the gentleman from Tippah, tina
:, the constitution does not limit the number o
counties, nor the number of Representatives
it says there shall only be one hundred mem
e bers ofthis House, provided each new count
shall be entitled to one Representative, 81
that if the counties of Cox and LAHORE, h
addition to the one proposed by this bill ar
established, the preservation of the COnstitu
ton will be secure and inviOlate. / now ap
peal to this House to grant this most reasona
bic request of my constituents with ,the-ut
most confidence. l sensbly feel that | ar
... hardly capable of expressing the deep inter
~est a large majority fmy constituents feel i
I. the fate Of this bill. hope that deaf ca
will not be turned TO the wishes of any couT
~ upon any political or other consideration
o. except! aGtter impracticabity, to which,
and my constituents will submissively bow
Mr., Grant of Jackson, said
. Mr.. Speaker, / shall vote for indefni
POstpOnement. hate making new couI
fies.-Mine is big county and many in m
county have to travel good ways to cour
and zoe don't want our county divided, and
advise Mr.. Mount not to press the matte
now, as there was no necessity.
Mr.. Mount in reply said:-Mr. Speaker.
am always thankful for advice from Oldt
heads than mine, but when it comes frol
the gentleman on my right from Jackson, :
sometimes called from the Oyster Banks
comes 'in questionable shape and wou
rather decline the honor from him, who a
credibly informed represents but ttOeIUe me
that can read and GOrite, while l upon tn
floor have the distinguished honor in part
D represent one thousand intelligent, enligh
j., ened men, whose business it is, never to il
teFfere with that which don't concern ther
hope the indefinite postponement will n
prevail; and call the ayes and noes.
The bill was indefinitely postponed by
small majority.