The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-09-26
The Appropriation to Purchase Arms
The Alleged t'Disunion Scheme" Sup
ported by the Leading 0ppositionists

The Oppositionists are making great ado
over the charge that the democratic party o.
Mississippi, at the last session of the Leglsia-
ture squandered the peoples money and con-
strue the act of the Legislature to which they
refer into "a mad scheme of disunion and
treason"
The charge is based upon the fact that the
last Legislature very properly passed an act
approved Dec 10, 1859, appropriating one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the
purchase OF arms, &C., to supply the militia
and prepare the State, in some degree to meet
the exigcncies of the times, whatever they
may be. (For said act see acts OF '59, P. l2S,
129)
The record will bear US out in saying that
the oppositionists of Mississippi connot con-
denim the Democracy for making that appro-
priation without condemning themselves at
the same time. And if they prove it to be
scheme of disunion and treason, they brand
themselves as disuDionists and traitors. Ac-
cording to their numbers in the Legislature,
they are shown by the record to be as deepi in
the mud as the Democracy is in the mre.
Let us look at the history of the matter and
consult the Journals. A bill offering to ap-
propriate Wank sum of money, for the pur-
poses alluded to above, was introduced into the
House by Gen. Chas. Clark. after consultation
with the Military Committee, consisting OF
Messrs. Clark, Miller, Matthews, Withers and
Van Eaton, four Democrats and one Opposi- |
ZIONIST. The bill was introduced by leave, |
the rule suspended and read second time,
when the House resolved itself into commit
tee of the whole on its consideration. The
only dispute was as to what sum should be
appropriated. Finally, as a compromise, the
sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars was inserted. The bill was Immediately
reported back to the House, the. rule further
suspended, and on the 18th of Decem ber 1859,
the bill passed without calling the yeas and
nays. (See House Journal for 1859, page
229)
Thus the bill met with no opposition at any
stage Of its passage through the House
Though there were adozen Or more Opposition
men in the House. such men as E.P. Jones,
I. II. Wheeler, III. D. johnson. A. @. With
ers, j. Akers, +. A. Pinson, Douglas Wal
worth, Chas. A. Pipes, w. G. Smedes, w. A.
Lake, and others, not one expressed desire
to have his name recorded as voting against
bill, which man now pretend to look upon
rs apeIfect "raw head and bloody bones." If
our memory is not greatly at fault, Mr.. Lake,
one of the most prominent members of the
Belleverite party in this State one Of the {
most active canyassers, and one Of the aeered- {
tied representatives of its principles and poll {
cy, delivered very energetic speech in favor t
Of the objects of the bill and was loudly ap- i
plauded by all sides of the House. The meas .
ure, we repeat therefore, was carried through i
the House by unanimous vote and with the
decided and unequiyocal expressions of ap- s
proyal by the leading members Of the 0pposi- d
lion party. +
On the 18th Of December 1859, the bill ,
was taken up by the Senate-the same day it +
passed the House. The only opposition it :
met with, under parliamentary rule, was h
notion to postpone to a day certain, which Il
notion was laid on the table and the | I
Dill put upon its immediate passage. The
Feas and nays were called, (See Senate Jour- =
,al for 1859, page 254.) with the following !,
,esult
YEAs-Mr. President, Messrs. BGck, Buch- 9
man, Covington, Chrisman, Davis, Elicit,
snloe, Gordon, Harrison, Harris Hcwry, Nc
lane, Minis, McCord, Neill, Oliver, Rankin, Fl
Sarke, Thomas and Talliaferro-23. b
NAYs.-Messrs. Simonton West and VIII b
on-3 \
Among the yeas we find not only Demo
rats, but also the names of Charles L. Buck
nd Peter B. Starke. Aye, not only voting
or but advocating this appropriation about
which so much has been said oflate by weak
need, and weaker minded Oppositionists.
Will these Oppositionists longer charge the
Democratic party with squandering the peo-
les money in order to carry out their scheme
{ disunion? The bill was introduced by an
Id line Wing, met with no opposition from.
ut on the contrary was advocated by Opposi-
ion men in the House and passed the SEN
te with but three dissenting voices, And
ct these same Union-sayers, and their aiders
nd followers, now hold up their hands in
oily horror at that appropriation to purchase
rms, &c, and denounce it as disunion
cheme. Let us never hear the charge again.
I does not lie in their months to make it
they cannot do it without condemning and
tultifying themselves.