Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-05-06
CARROLLTON. WEDNESDAY, MAY g. 1916


should only get what he had given Tor II
with interest. They took the ground that
il was unjust that the many should be tax
ed for the benefit of the iew--thns recog-
nizing the great principle that the people
ought not TO be taxed for any other than
strictly governmental purposes.
In this country, where the personal and
religious rights Of the people are wei Sc
cured by the various State constitutions,
an abuse of the taxing power IS the only
thing they have to fear II is the only IN
strunentality by which they can be op-
pressed by government. Are the taxes
| iust?-is the question OF questions with
The many, the pivot on which all our cleo
tons, State and National, turn. This It Is
that divides the country into two parties,
one contending for high tariff and a ma
| tional bank-the other opposing these, 0e-
cause they tax the people unlustly, and tor
other than governmental purposes. True,
the advocates of those measures do not
propose them as means OF taxing the
peopIe-but that such is the effect, we
think is very clear and selE.evident 10 the
impartial observer. The advocates OF
those measures attempt to hoodwnk the
people By talking about "protecting home
industry,' f." regulating commerce and ef,
change" ga sound CURRENCY" etc, So
do the advocates OF tardtion TO pay debts,
made for other purposes tfan the legllt-
mate support of government They talk
very prettily about 4" State fdith," honor
and dignity of the Slate,'' " opinion of TO-
reignerS," ETC., with the view of keeping
the real question in the back ground, and
from the people. While thus amusing the
! people with high sounding words, they are
trying to sell them forever, for the benefli
5 Of European and American stockholders.
Having made these general and preIlml.
nary remarks, which seemed relevant tc
the question, and called for in order to tnl
: ly understand and appreciate its imPor
] lance, we will pay our respects to the VII
+, ter alluded TO at the beginning Of this ar
= icle, with the view of defending and jus
. tilyng the State of our residence for the
$ course she has taken respecting certain
f bonds, sold to the United States Bank II
+. 1888. We have, as yet, discussed tn
G question as if there was no constitution
= prohibition against making debts, and thin
}. we have shown mos conclusiveIy, thu
l. the people of any government have th'
b. right, moral and legal, of repudating an.
debt, not clearly made for the support o
c government economically administered,
l. With Mississippi the case is stronger,
possible, as, in addition TO the c5nserva
>. tive feature incident to all governments
D. we can plead our constitution against th
d bonds of 1888 We have clause in ou
v constitution which depriyes the Legsa
e ura Of the power of making debts, G
} pledging the faith of the State, withot
l. consulting the people with reference
De- the subject. This part Of our constitution
D. all important in the discussion of the que
rs ton OF Mississippi reputation, the write
e. in question makes il convenient 10 owe
o. look. Perhaps we ought to be charitable
ne and suppose that he did not know OF |
ly existence. This, il so, evlnces a culpt
- BILE ignorance, wholly inexcusable on h
III part He should not have been in sue
at haste to condemn a sister State, rs to me-
re ecl the examination of both sides OF
ar great and important question.
il THE portion Of our constitution that pr
to, hibils the making Of debts, reads as ic
J? lows; "No law shall ever be passed
re raise loan of money upon the credit
er the State, or to pledge the faith Of Il
NJ State for the payment or redemption
he any loan or debt, unless such law be pas
tcs ed in the Senate or House OF Represent
is lives, and be agreed to by majority
the members of each House, and enter
he on their journals, with the yeas and ma
mt taken thereon, aud be referred TO the ne
he succeeding Legislature, and published {
TX. three months previous 10 the next regul
- election, in three newspapers OF tins Slal
OF and unless a minority Of each branch
of the Legislature, so elected, after such pu
,as LEGATION, shall agree TO and pass such oa
ed. and, in such case, the yeas and nays sh
)se be taken and entered on the journals
ce, each House. r-(Art. VII. Sec. 81 II
lie, clause was inserted, in order to preve
20. the people from being involved in dc
use without their consent. This makes it /
Ike perious on the Legislature to have the Il
nto proposing to borrow money, or to pied
on. the faith Of The State for any loan, subm
co. ted to the people, and made public by bel
lbi, polished, so that they may carefully a
md deliberately examine the same, and
ran prepared to Judge Of the propriety Of b,
)ri. rowing the money, or pledging the faith
the State, for the purposes therein mi
the toned. Any law, borrowing money.
,ry pledgng the faith of the State, passed
. in one Legislature only, is necessarily r
var, and void, because in uioldtion of the T
cir. damental laU of The State
hat Before giving the history of the DO
mar issued in 1898, we will premise, that
HIM cnislnfnre of Mlssissinni Il eleclad hi