The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-14
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
SENATE JOURNAL.
TWENTY-FIFTH DAY.
MONDAY, Nov. 18th, 1865.

Erayer by Rev. Mr.. Hunter.
The Hon. j. NJ. Simonton, President
OF the Senate, appeared in his seat.
Mr. Hooker, from the joint selent com
mlttee on freedmen, reported bill en-
titled an act to punish certain otfences
tereln named, which was considered IN
committee of the whole, and various
amendments were made therein, Whlcn
were adopted.
Mr.. Lyles moved to strike out the woro
''freemen," which wqs. on motion OF MI
Martin, laid on the table.
Mr.. Wolff offered an amendment.
The bill and amendmep is, on motion
of Mr.. Lyle, was referred to the Judiciary
committee.
Leave of absence was granted Mr.. King
until Tuesday next.
Mr.. Duncan, from the committee on
claims, recommended an amendment to
and the passage of a Senate bill, entitled
an act making compensation to James
N. Allen, sheriff of Coahoma county, for
the pursuit and arrest of freedmen Salem
and Flick, charged with the murder OF
F. A. Ross, of said county"
The amendment was adopted ana the
bill passed.
A message was received from the
House.
Mr.. Long, from a select committee
recommended the passage OF House OH
entitled an act to suppress the erection
of pens or traps for the purpose OF cap
turing hogs in the public range" which
was amended and passed.
Mr.. Long, from select committee,
reported substitute for Senate bill,
| Al fra, 1t7la f1,aV1
actions in cotton, which was referred to a
Messrs. jackson, Mosely and Mont
gomery.
A message was received from the Gov
ernor announcing his approval of sundry
Senate bills and resolutions.
Mr.. Lyles, from select committee, re-
ported substitute for Senate bill entitled
an act to amend the exemption laws of
this State.
The title of the substitute is the same
as that of the original bill.
Mr.. Wilson, from the same committee,
made the following minority report:
Mr. President-Not being able to agree
with the majority of the select committee
| to whom was referred bill to be entitled
an act to amend the exemption laws OF
this State, &C., | beg leave most respect
| fully to submit the following minority re-
port:
Most cordially will l support a bill
making certain additional exemptions,
but will not support the bill reported by
the majority of the committee for several
| important reasons. The head of a family
if farmer ought to have exempt, his
/ quarter section of land, without regard to
value, and sufficient stock implements,
furniture, provisions, &C., in some degree
| in proportion to the labor he commands,
and the necessary wants of his family
and something secured for the education
of his children; the town or city resident
the head of family, his house and lot
and other things depending on circum
stances; all sorts OF mechanics, not only
their necessary tool, but certain amount
of material upon which to work, and sc
all other useful or necessary occupations
| will not undertake to be more specific
now on this subject.
But the bill OF the majority Of the com
m1ttee is Objectionable to me in severa
respects, l will mention some of them
1t exempts three hundred and twenty
acres of land, stock, furniture, provisions
&C., in some respects indefinite in amount
but generally with prodigal hand, in my
humble judgement, and all the products
of whatever kind made upon the place
/ Generosity is noble quality; [ love it
but will not permit its exercise to blino
my sense of justice, under the provisions
of this bill, an individual may produce
one hundred bags of cotton or more, sell
it, put the proceeds in his pocket, spend
it in high living, in extravaganza, il
drinking saloons, at games of hazard, OF
/ I. h &c +niAI
suggest, and his honest creditor, ano
very often poor and needy, and in many
cases, a widowed mother, with helpless
children, or pennlIesS orphans in wretch
| ed poverty, cannot, by law get one farth
ing of it, to relieve their wants. The law
will afford no relief. In my humble
judgement, this is wrong in privilege, un
| lust to creditors, and will do much to de
stroy confidence at home and abroad, and
| operate prejudicially to the best interest
of the people generally.
have just appreciation of the dis.
| tressed condition of the country, hope
| sympathize with t, with all nv heart
and will favor all just and reasonable re-
| lief measures.
Amend the exemption laws somewhat
as | have indicated, bride the courts and
the Sheriffs with executions for a reas-
enable time, pass suitable laws to make
efficient the labor of the freedmen. Sc
cure economy in the administration OF
the State government, and the people
will take courage, and by industry and
ecouomv, soon drive away the clouds of
distress and want, and the sunshine of
plenty and prosperity will open to our
view. and the people can and will meet
their Just liabilities with no great incon-
venience.
will not state further my objections
to the bill more than to say that in my
Judgment whatever exemption law shall
pass. ii should only be amendatory of the
present law, otherwise legal question /,
might be raised which in their adjudiea-
ton might result in the obstruction of
all exemption laws. Retain the old law
and build on it, as a matter of prudence,
if nothing else.
Respectfully submitted,
JEFF. WILSON.
Mr.. Lyle's majority report was received
and agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Taylor, Mr.. Wilson's
minority report was received and ordered
to be spread on the journals.
Mr.. Miller offered the following amend
ment to the bill:
Amend by additional section,
Be it further enacted, that the provi-
sions of this act shall not apply to con-
tracts M : de, or liabilities incurred before
the passage thereof, but tie laws now in
force respecting the exemption of prop
erty, real aud personal, from exemption,
shall apply to all such contracts and LA