Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1852-02-19

Report Of Committee on Ways and
Means, The resolution Of Nr. Storlcs
to reter bach. the Report ,c'th iRs:s'c-
ti0nS aaa aaaeEo;GeEt tbere:o 81 .I.r.
1ay.or.
Mr.. Starke'sresolutiou referre,. back
the Report of the Committee with in.
structions TO report a bill providing,
by taxation or otherwise, for the bonds
issued by the State of Mississippi.
Mr.. Taylor's amendment,
"Resolved, That the Constitutional
ity and payment Of the Planters
Bank Bonds be referred directly to the
people al the next general election"
[This question had been discussed at
length on Tuesday, 3rd inst. and com
mittee then rose with leave 10 sit again
this day.l
Mr.. Jones of Pontotoc, with few
Introductory remarks, offered the ioi-
lowing as substitute for both resolu-
ton and amendment.
| "Resolved, That the resolutions il
reference 10 the payment of the Plan
ters Bank bonds be re-committed To
the committee on Ways and Means
with Instructions to report bill pro-
viding for the gradual extinguishnent
of the debt due by the State Of Missis-
sippi on account of said bonds and in
terest; and that said committee be fur
ther instructed TO incorporate in said
bill provision suspending the opera
ton thereof until the next legislature
shall meet at its regular session and ap-
prove or reject the same"
Mr.. Taylor of Marshall, objected
to this substitute: His object in de-
string this question TO be submitted di-
rectly TO the people was because We
were here sPringing question upon
the people not contemplated by them
at the hate election. BY the substitute
of the gentleman from Pontetoc, the
question OF the constitutionaliIy is done
away with and payment of the bonds
advised. The constitutionality. of the
Planters Bank bonds would be ac-
knowledged by framing bill for the
purpose. He did not feel disposed to
bind the people in any way or TO any
extent at all, either to tax them CT To-
bind them as TO the consttutionality.
The only question is whether the
people have delegated this body TO act
for them on this important subject
The question here is not as to the va
lidity of the bonds or the constitution
ality of the bonds. Ii is a delicate
question belonging exclusively TO the
people, and do not wish that we
should take any action,now,that would
bring on a jar between the people and
this House. am one Of those who.
believe that the people are the dernier
judges of all Constitutional questions,
| believe that the people who found
Supreme Courts have right 10 say
whether they II ce.Vej justice from t1csc
Supreme Courts, &c The people are
most deeply interested in this question,
and by them only is it to be decided.
When gentlemen say that they viii
vote for establishing the constitution
atty, but do not intend to tax the peo-
pie, how does that tally with their
oathsl If they recognize the eonsti-
tutionality of these bonds, are they
not bound to provide the means to
pay for them! They VII Ead howey-
er, that there is a power greater Than
this House. The people are our mas
ters, and il they Just and proper
to repud;ate these bonds by the quiet
step OF electing an anti-boIid legisla-
ture, where are wei l repeat, then,
that while believein the Constitution
atty of these bonds; while, at all haz-
ards, as a citizen, would advocate
their pa yment, do not feel at liberty
to bind my constituents.
Gentlemen ought toknow that there
Is a large party IN this Stase-opposed
- The payment of these bonds. The
strength Of thai party, the subteranean
party. is not known but am con-
vineed that the right viii prerail before
the people. and | am for giving them
fair field. But If the constitutionality
of the Bonds IS forced upon the people
and they begin to inquire fof them-
selves into their history, to scrutinize
Ithe character Of the bonds, Sc &css
perhaps their Judgement mey sal the
fate OF certain bill itself