American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-08-03
EXECUTIVE OFFICE ,
Jackson, Miss, Jug IS, 1861. :
Gentlemen of Tie Senate

1t affords me pleasure to announce TO You
that the revolution which you inaugurated
last fall, has so far been prosperous and sue
cessful. The people Of this State have uni
ted in approving your action ami sustaining
the Confederate Government with a 1aauim-
ty which surpasses the expectations Of the
most sanguine.
The call to arms has been responded 10
in manner unknown in modern times, and
the call for means to support our volunteers
is now being answered with such liberal de-
votion to the cause as to crafty the heart
of the patriot, and convince both friends and
foes that Mississippi is determined TO make
this successful struggle against Northern
tyranny, if the united efforts of all classes,
ages, sexes and conditions of our people
can accomplish it.
To enable people thus willing and anx-
ious to aid in the successful prosecution of
this just and necessary war with the least
injury to themselves, and to make some eff
fort to prevent the ruinous sacrifice of the
property, at forced sales, of those against
whom constables and sheriffs now have exc
cutions in their hands, and of much more
numerous class against whom suits have
been and will be instituted, / have again
called you into extra session.
The people of Mississippi on former occn-
=
fused to permit forced sales, and sheriffs
found themselves powerless to enforce the
law, and unless some remedy can he devised
by the Legislature they will, in my opinion,
resort to similar course in the next few
months. Is 1t wise or safe for the law
making power to permit free people to be
goaded to lawlessness if remedy can be
founda The action of this legislature has
resulted in war, one of its incidents is the
closing of our ports, which debars the debtor
of the means of meeting the demands of his
creditor, and if the laws for the collection
of debts are now permitted to be enforced,
as in times Of peace, the debtor class are
hopelessly ruined, and the property of the
country passes into the hands of the credit
ors and money holders at fourth of its
real value. The war will thus build up the
fortunes of one class while its burthens press
grievously on another. Ought not the
Legislature which brought on this revolu-
ton to equalize its burthens as near as pos
sble2 As the war is made for the benefit
of all, its Inconvenience and burthens should
be made to bear equally on all. / therefore
recommend that law be passed postponing
the sales of property under all Judgments
heretofore obtained in any court, for twelve
months, and prohibiting the issuing of exc
cutions on judgments hereafter rendered
until twelve months from and after the adj
journment of the next regular session of the
Legislature.
This, while it may inconvenience, cannot
ruin the creditor, his Judgment can retain
lien upon the property OF the debtor, and
when peace is restored he can receive his
debt with interest. There is still weight
Ter reason which impels me to ask the pass
age of this law. The safety of the State, the
existence of our free institutions demand
that all the available means of the whole
people should be brought to the aid of the
State in the fierce and protrtcted conflict on
which she has now entered. The people
thus relieved will not be constrained to
keep large portion of their cotton crop to
save their property from execution sales,
but can, and doubt not will. loan it to the
government annually until the war is tri-
umphantly closed. If the end sought in the
above suggestions is considered necessary
and the manner Of reaching it Objectionable
/ will cheerfully cooperate with the Leg
islative branch of the government in any
measures which in their judgment will bet
ter effect the purpose.
Another subject which have deemed of
sufficient Importance to claim the attention
of an extra session of the Legislature, is the
raising of a revenue sufficient to meet the
demands on the State Treasu-
ry for the next several years. Private do
nations to the volunteer companies in uni
forming, arming and subsisting them, have
in the last few months amounted to hun
dreds of thousands of dollars; but these con-
from the more liberal and patri-
otto citizens, cannot, and in justice ought not,
to be relied on to carry on this war. The
man who gives nothing from patriotic i'm
pulse should be required, by law, to bear
his full share.
Some increase in the present rate of taxes
will be necessary to keep the revenue up to
the present amount. That derived from
must fall far short of last year,
and if new assessment of lands is made the
revenue from that source will probably be
diminished 40 per cent. The revenue should
be increased instead of being diminished.
Therefore recommend that the present as
sessment of lands be continued during the
war, and the revenue law be so amended as
to impose an ad gaiorem tax of one fourth
Of one per cent. on lands and slaves. This, |
if slaves are valued at five hundred dollars
head will increase the revenue from that |
source, two hundred and seven thousand /
eight hundred and forty four dollars, (S207,- /
544) and on lands as at present assessed, /
seventy one thousand five hundred dollars,
1871 ,50O) making in the aggregate two |
hundred and seventy-nine thousand three
hundred and forty-four dollars ($2I9, 344.)
The revenue might, and l think should be |
further increased by incorporating into the |
revenue law the provision of an ordinance to
raise means for the defense of the State, /
adopted January 10Th, 1861, imposing tax
Of thre-tenths per centum upon all money /
owned by every inhabitant of this State, or
controlled by such inhabitant, and deposit I
ID, loaned or employed in the purchase of
notes, bills, stocks or any securities for the /
payment of money without the limits of
his State, or kept from use and circulation
within the same, at any time during the
fiscal year.
l can see no reasonable objection to this
node of increasing the revenue, and if adopt +
d by the Legislature it will add materially to /
The power of the State to meet and repel I
,er invading foes.
As means of retaliation on people " no /
ire raising large armies for our subjugation, |
ind of strengthening our defences against |
hem, and at the same time relieving the I
people from much of the burthen imposed |
~ this war, submit it to legislation, would
t not be expedient and just to confiscate
III the property of alien enemies within the |
limits of the State2 Lands to a large