The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-06-20
Anli-Esallroad Meeting in vcruon.


At a meeting held in Vernon on the 10t
June, 1850, composed Of a portion Of tn
citizens Of Madison county, who are op
posed to the bill, passed by the legislator
of the State of Mississippi at its last SEES
sion, for the purpose of constructing a rail
road from Jackson TO Canton, on motion
]. P. Thomas was called to the chair, AM
J. w. Phillips chosen secretary.
After a brief explanation by the presi
dent relative to the object Of the meeting
Colonel Tarpley being present, by request
addressed1he meeting, in opposition to saiC
bill, on the grounds Of its unconslitution
ality.
On motion Of e. T. Montgomery, a com
mittee of five persons were appointed BY
the president, viz: E. T. Montgomery, w
]. benson, ]. H. Thomas, S. w. Brittor
and Moses Cranberry TO report the views
and purposes OF the meeting, relative tc
said bill and on motion, the chair was
added TO the committee.
The committe having retired from the
room, after a short time returned, and made
the following report:
The committee have had the,subject Of
the duty assigned to them under consider
alton, and while, at the outset, we would
dlsavow any wish or intention to interfere
with the just rights and Interests Of our
fellow-countymeh, we, however, esteem il
our privilege TO express the grounds Of our
opposition, and to recommend measures by
which 10 establish the unconstitutionality
and consequent nullity of the bill OF our
legislature, which provides for the taxation
Of our county, ia the amount OF $500, 600,
for the purpose OF constructing a railroad
from Jackson to Canton. We presume
that il will not be denied that The diversity
of opinion on the subject Of the bill, as
manifested by the citizens of Madison, is,
in a measure, attributable TO the diversity
of their interests, originating in the pecu-
liar shape of the county ; for, by reference
10 a map Of the State; twill he seen, that
the geographical situation of a large sec.
ton Of the county is such that il can never
be benefited by the transportation Of its
products, or anything else, on this road.
We are opposed to that portion Of the
bill by which it is proposed to levy a tax
upon the county, because we believe ii not
only unconstitutional, and wrong, in prjn-
ciple, but Of evil tendency; for by its oper-
ration a large minority of the citizens of.
the county will feel their constitutional
rights invaded, and consequent conflict
oil interest will arise between the mino-
rity and majority, for whose benefit the
tax is imposed, The county will, in all
probability be involved in an enormous
sum Of Indebtedness. We also regard this
bill as some indication Of the revival Of
The split of speculation, which swept over
our county, some thirteen years since, with
a desolating force, developing itself, then,
first, in enactments pledging the faith Of
the STATE 10 raise money to create banks ;
nolo, in acts pledging the faith Of the
county to build a railroad. Resulting, then,
in population, it remains for the future to
reveal the issue of the present 0 ent.
And, whereas, the majority Of the citi-
zens of the county, whose geographical
position is such as to induce the belief that
their interest will be promoted by the con-
%struction Of said road, continue to evince
a purpose to exercise the power, with
which the bill invests them, leaving us the
alternative, only, Of an appeal 10 the courts
Of our country to determine the issue be-
tween us therefore,
Resolred, That we hereby agree to
adopt such legal means as may be in our
power, to establish the uuconstitutionality,
and consequent nullity of said bill.
Resolped, ThatE. T. Montgomery, w.
L. Balfour, John LipscCmb, John Simmons,
$. w. Britton, Gusiin Kearney and J. II.
Thomas, be and are hereby appointed a
committee to open subscription, and cause
to be circulated through the county as ex-
tenslvely as they may deem proper, for
the purpose of raising money to employ
legal counsel, and to detray the incidental
expenses which may originate in a suit a.
law.
E. T. MONTGOMERY,
Chairman Of Committee,
On motion, the report was read, and
unanimously adopted.
On motion,
ResOlUed, That the publishers of news
papers 10 Jackson and Canton be requested