Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-09-10
NUMBER 80.

Ihe only remaining element of danger to which
will call your attention. is the renewed effort of
Union Bank Bonds. You are now called on to
surrender your own deliberate Judgment recorded
eleven years ago to the opinion of the High Cou t.
1t is now assumed as something new, that the
Legislature is bound by that judgment, having no
other function to perform than that of quietly levy
ing taxes to carry out the DEGREES of the Court
But this IS doctrine even NTH tile Who marta
You have settled this question too, in 1842, Just
after the bond contest of 1841. Your Statesmen
then foresaw that after the people had repudiated
these bonds, effort would be made through the
Courts to avoid their decision: and in the act of
Republication they announced the determination and
Judgment of the Democratic party in this very
contingency which has now occurred. 1t is true,
their position had been denied by the Wings in
the preceding canvass and they supposed it would
be denied in the Legislature also. But greatly to
their surprise, that early the good sober sense
of the Wing party in the Legislature conceded the
entire and ultimate right Of judgment in the Legis
tature in all auAere the Consultation aOqs In
votVed IN money question before them Let us
look to the record-by that you may safely stand.
"Search the Scriptures" ''for in them ye'' "have
life"
The second, third and fourth of the repudiating
resolutions adopted in February, 1842, are as fol-
lows:
''2 That the power of taxation over citizens
and property within this State except Sc far as the
same has been delegated to the Federal Govern
ment, is an attribute of sovereignty residing only
in the Legislative department of this State
49, That hiS Department, under the Constitu-
ton, IS the erclusi0e judge Of the objects for WHICH
money shall be raised and appropriated by its au-
thority in this State.
go. That the Legislature of this State have no
rightfm authority to tevy appropriate money for
the purpose Of erecuting the objects of a law
DEEMED BY THEM repugnant to or unauthorized
by the Constitution of this State or of the United
States.' See Senate Journal, 1849, p. $50.
A division of the question was called for, and
strange to say, in Senate containing such Wings
as Guion, Knor, MetcQ!f, Humphreys, de-, no
opposition sCas made to the passage of these three
resolutions They passed unanimously |! +!
In the House journal, 1842, the Cd and Sd
resolutions were adopted unanimously. To the
4th resolution there were only twenty dissenting
votes, comprising small portion even of the bond
paying party See H. j. p. 1918 Here then,
in 1912, just on the heels of a contest on this
question, such as we trust may not occur again,
we see in the Senate a unanimous, and in the
House almost unanimous affirmation of the prin-
cipe that in all questions of taxation the Legis-
lature is exclusive" in its right of Judgment
Your rights thus in your own hands, where
they ought to be. The Wigs thought so then
Iou have no new position now to take. Let the
Wigs choose theirs # they please: you will meet
them with their own decision, based on good sense
and sound constitutional doctrine. You have no
war with the Court and ought to have none; for
they have done honestly, no doubt. Let them
perform their function, respected for their ntegri
ty and learning, but far recognized in fact as
well as in law as fallabe men, whose judgments
do not GUST State of its chartered constitutional
rights on the subject of taxation and appropria-
ton. GU have only then to stand still, and await
the movement of the opposition. United upon
your old position, let no new issue now disturb
you. Steering clear of these principal difficulties,
no others can disunite US. A very little good tenn
per and forecast will carry along together to an
easy victory in November. Wemay honor Pierce's
administration by legislative endorsement of all
his acts,-we may prolong the administration into
another term by retaining Davis in his prominent
and useful position before the nation, identifying
him with it to its Close and putting him at or near
the head of the next. We may sustain them both
: by the power and eloquence of Foote in the Sen
ate where he will sustain the administration he is
now defending, and what is better, if possible.
we shall put an end to domestic democratic feud
that threatens the party with utter dsmemberment
for years to come. Farther than this, we put an
end, at once and forever, to this Union Bank Bond
effort, which deters emigration to State for
fear of heavy taxation, and leave the people I'M
embarrassed to provide for other acknowledged
debts which would and could have been paid, With
ease, long since, but for its complication with the
! Union Bank demand, whose justice the public
Judgment never has and never will sanction.
Fellow citizens, the writer has ceased to talk
politics, and only desires now to see you united
and fraternal once more. Ii have wearied your
! patience, you will find my excuse in the motive.
PUBLIUS.
: August 81, 1853.
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