The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-05-15
MISSISSIPPI IEGssLArUEE.


suppose the annexed recital to be an
exaggeration; but at least 800 per-
sons who were in the capital of the
state of Mississippi on the third day
of March, 1916, can testify that this
account falls far short Of the reality.
The clerks Of the house, as in duty
bound entered the report of the mem
Der from Greene on the journals
but on, the next morning it was eN-
plunged by the house at the request
of the member himself.
The best subject which came be-
fore the legislature during the scs-
sion of 1916, was the all-abSorbing
one in regard to the charter of Me
Innis' Ferry The owner Of the
ferry was mcmber-himsclf being
the representative of his county of
Grecne-where the ferry is located;
and through all the trying scenes Of
getting the charter through, that
honorable member bore himself in a
manner, and with a spirit which, to
say the least, was remarkable.
On the first broaching of the sub
jcct some opposition was made. The
representative from Clarke, an ad-
joining county, conceived that the
charter interfcrcd with the rights of
other citizens who had ferries on the
same river, (the Chickasahay. and,
on the first reading of the bill, this
same representative, Mr.. Moody
moved its rejection. This motion
brought Mr.. McInnis to his feet lie
had never spoken before; butin this
one effort, his maiden Spccch,) lac
more than compensated for his for
mer remissLcsS,
Il hope (said he addressing him
self to the house, but not to the spca-
kerr Il hope you'll not reject my
ferry bill, Gentlemen, I'm bound 10
heep a ferry. Them other men that's
got ferries near me, amt bound at
all. They've got some little triling
flats to git across the river on when
they want to 90 to mill-and when
it's convenient for them to put ira
weller over, they do it--and when it
amt they don't. But Pm b0tnd IL
keep u ferry. Ask Mr.. Moody; he
knows all about it. He knows Eve
kept ferry there across the Chicla-
sahay for thirty years past. My fer
rvs right on the big road to Mobile,
and everywhere. There's three
mails crosses at my ferry. Gentle
men, I'm bound 10 Keep a jfrry.
Mr.. Moody knows live at Leaks
vile, right at the court housc-and
these feIlers that keep these other
little fcrrics-they turn my boats
loose, and bore anger holes in 'em
and sink 'cm. | hope, gentlemen,
you'll pass my bill. I've just got a
letter from my son last night-a tell
ing me that them fellers had been
boring more holes in my boat. Gen
tlemen, I'm b0aHd 10 heep a ferry.
| always crosses every body that
comes-I'm bound to do it. And |
always keep good flats we'll painted
with tar
After this appeal and the ncccs-
sary readings being gone through,
the bill passed the house by large
majority, and was sent to the SEN
ate.
Here novel scene occurred
unprecedented, perhaps, in the an
nails Of legislation, By resolution
of the Senate, the representative
from Greene was invited to address
that august body upon the merits of
his bill, which he did after the man
ner indicated in the above sketch of
his remarks liz the house. After the
grave Senator's had sufficiently ANU
sed themselves with the matter, they
passed the bill. The worthy repre- :
sentative Immediately hurried back
to his seat in the House and, al
though the clerk was reading in the
midst of document, the delighted
member exclaimed:
'Mr. Speaker, my ferry bill has
passed the Senate, and | want the
House to concur
A roar Of laughter followed this
unique announcement
i soon as the matter in hand wa,
disposed Of, there was an oDsreper.
one call Nv tLn II,nsn tI,,t t,o '....,