Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1852-01-22

Dc IStcifCu, = VIII pc promptly com
muaicated to he Legislature.
From the Report of the State Com.
missioner, accompanying this commu-
nication, you viii learn the condition
of the Sinking Fund, and such o,hel
matters as have been placed under hi.
charge. by virtue of the laws hereto.
fore passed on this subject.
By the act of 4th March, 1916, il
was made the duty OF the Secretary Of
State to have prepared and furnished to
the several Clerks of Probate, of this
State, :. a uniform standard Of weights
and measures. SO soon as practicable
according to the provisions of an &C,
Of Congress, establishing a uniform
standard of weights and measures for
the United states. This duty has no,
been nerforaned. I'll appear by the
Report OF the Secretary upon that sub
.ect, herewith transmitted, in conse-
quence OF no appropriation having
been made to enable him to do SO. |,
therefore, recommend to the Legisla-
ture the propriety of making an appro-
priation in order TO carry into effect
the act referred to.
The report of the same officer upon
the subject of. the Chickasaw school
lands exhibits the number OF acres con-
firmed to the State in lieu of the six
teenth sections, the number of acres
disposed OF and the sums of money
realized therefor. | am not apprized
that any further legislation is necessa-
ry upon this subject, unless it be tore
duce the minimum price of the land !,
SO as to afford reasonable expecta-
ton that it will be disposed of within
a few years, and the proceeds be made
available for the purposes intended.
/ deem itproper TO call your atten-
tion to an act passed 9th March, 1850,
authorizing the Judges of the High
Court of Errors and Appeals to meet
annually, on the 81 Monday in June,
in the town OF Oxford, to receive writ
ten, and 10 hear oral argument of caa5-
es, and fixing their compensation for
such service at $500 per annum. |
have been informed that, in conse-
quence Of the attendance OF the
members of the Bar, no such court
has been held as the one contemplated
by the act; and, as it has wholly failed
to accomplish the purposes for which
it was intended / would rec ommend
its repeal.
In connexion with this subject, it is
proper to state, that on the lst day of
October last. the Hon. William L. Shar-
key, who has SO long and 50 ably dis
thesduties of Chief Justice Of
the State, re,igned, and, fearing that
there might be afaiinre in the Decem-
Der Term ofthe Court, in consequence
of the non attendance of one of the
Judges, | appointed Colin S. Tarpley,
Esq, as one OF the Judges of that
Court, to act until the successor of
Judge Sharkey should be elected and
qualified. the appointment was ac-
cepted by Col. Tarpley, at my solicita-
ton, and upon the express understan-
ding that he was to be relieved from
the duties Of the office at as early a
day as practicable. After remaining
upon the Bench until the Court ad-
journed to the first Monday in Janua-
ry, he resigned, upon the ground that
the object of the appointment had been
accomplished by the holding of the
Court, and he was unwilling to remain
in office and receive the salary with
out being able to render any equiva-l,
lent therefor in the way of public SER
vice.
The writ of election has been issued
to fill the vacancy, and the election or
dered to take place on the 18th day Of
the present month.
On the 23d day of September last,
the Hon. Jefferson Davis resigned his
seat, as one OF the Senators in Con-
gress from this State, and the Hon. ].
J. McRae has been appointed to serve
in his place, until the meeting OF the
Legislature, and the election of some
one to fill the residue of the Term to
Which Col. Davis was elected.
Mr.. McRae, Immediately after his
repaired to w Washihgton,.
where he IS now engaged in the per-
formance of his duties, as one of the
Senators from this State.
The Report of the Commissioners of
the Southern Railroad has not been yet
received; when it shall come to hand,
it will be promptly laid before you.-
That it is work of great Importance,
not only to the people ieSiding in the
eastern portion OF the State. but,
(when taken in connexion with other
OF similar character,)
to the country at large, will be readily
perceived. At the same time, it must
be admitted that large sums have already
been expended, while, to all appearances,
but little has been done towards the COM
pletion of the work, and it may become a
matter of serious inquiry how far the State
is benefited in an effort to construct great
public work. through an agency that has
no capital at stake, ansiis to derive no per-
sonal benefit from the enterprize- Terms
of a liberal character have been offered by
the Legislature to any private company
who would undertake to complete the road.
And from the fact that no otter has been.
made upon the terms proposed, would
suggest the propriety of holding out still
greater inducements, in order to have the
road completed by individual enterprise
! The subject of Internal Improvements,
rslr ;c at sl,is fio,a 1loir,;u.r !. Ia r.efs