The Yazoo Democrat. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-02-18

state pride, I" have much n them calculates
to arouse the feelings of the people in BE-
half of 1 measure, but lei thenpOt be he I
lup ~ an ignis laluus to mlslead. Id
SOUND REAsoN Ann yUsTTCE be the beacon
lights by which their course shall be shaped
] Let them remember that Fraud has always
assumed the garb Of Honesty when seeking
to accomplish its purpOses-that Falsehood
has always triumphed when. seemingly be-
girt in the strong armor Of Truth--that
thus ever since the beginning Of time have
human rights been trampIed upoA--that
thus has honest, unsusPecting man ever
been led by his fellow.man from one scene
Of misery and misfortune to another.
AT the present crisis in our state affairs
it therefore becomes the sovereign people,
regardless Of the taunts Of enemies and
calumniators, and the Persuasions of mis-
guided friends, or designing demagogues,
calmly to reflect, and honestly to decide
In so doing they must have in view and be
governed strictly by the letter, spirit and
meaning of their CONSTITUTION
Whal is the purpose of that sacred instru-
meHt? 1t was " founded in the language
ol hat eminent American jurist, Judge
Story now no more, "by the people for
themselves and their pOsterity, and for OBJ
jetts of the most momentous nature, for the
establishment Of justice, for the general
'celfare, and for the perpetuation of The
Blessings Of liberty" 1t is that to which
they must look for defence when their rights
are invaded, when their Legislators tram
scend the limits Of their authority, and seek
10 impose, whether through mistaken no.
tons of patriotism, or otherwise, unjust
burhens upon them. Such is the purpose
fer which our constitution was made by
the people, and for the people" and if it is
not resorted TO by them when urgent neces.
sites demand, and in cases contemplated
by its framers-why its adoption why are
the powers Of the agents Of the people de-.
fined, if they suffer themselves to be heed
lessly dragged along by any car to which
their caprice or ambition may fasten them7
x
Having briefly alluded to the purposes Of
our constitution, as safe guard for the peo-
pies rights--their protector from the storms
of oppressiOn--non can doubt that it is
their sacred duty to themselves and their
POsterity to preserve it inviolate--and that
they are as much bound to resist taxation
imposed contrary to its provisions as to COM
ply with obligations which are formed in
accordance with its meaning; and, without
entering into an argument to prove the evil
effects of taxation, the curse that has beiall.
en- the people Of Mississippi on account of
banking-and without showing as we will
in future numbers, their unprepared finan-
cial condition to pay those bonds--the me-
cessity Of a reductiOnof tares &c.-we now
assume the position that the charter of the
Planters Bank was unconstitutional, that
its-eXistence was not recognized by the in.
strument in force a; the period Of its crea-
tiOn-that eUeH if it had been, a succeeding
legislature, without authority, changed ma
terially and fundamentally the provisions
under which twas hartered--amdt thereby
rendered it still more obnoxious-and that
therefore the people of Mississippi are not
bound By any lalO Of justice or morality to
pay any Of its liabilities-and that under
these circumstances it is not only their
right but their duty to repudiate the Planters
Bank bonds.
In the year 1917 the people of the then
Mississippi Territory, adopted a constitu-
tuition, which provided that "NO BANK
shall be Incorporated by the Legislature,
without the reservation of the right to sub.
scribe for in behalf of the State, at least
one fourth part of the capital stock thereof
and the appointment of portion Of the di.
rectOrs equal to the stock subscribed Dr.
None can deny that the Constitution recog-
nized the creation Of only one bank"-if
/ plurality of banks" had been intended,
'uch would have been itsphraseOlogy. In