American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1867-02-02
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
To the Senate and House Of Represen-

To the Senate dRd House " heP'eS0"
tdtiUes:
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES your adjourn
ment, in November, but little has oc-
cured in national or state affairs TO
which [ deem it important to call
YOUR attention, not already alluded to
in nv regular message, transmlttt q
at the beginning Of your session.
The report by the Commissioners,
under q resolution OF the
Legislature, to visit Washington
City, and endeavor to effect the re-
lease of Hon. jefferson Davis, is here
with transmitted. They failed in OBJ
tanning the object Of their mission
and Mr., Davis is still confined IN
Fol tress Monroe, awaiting his trial.
1 recommend, as an act OF justice,
duty and affection, that an adequate
sum be appropriated by Mississippi
carious suffer fair constitutional
trial.
On the oath of November, 1866, l
addressed letter to the Commission
er of the General Land Office, at
Washington City, informing him OF
the acceptance, by the Legislature
of Mississippi, of the terms of the
grant of land by Congress for the es-
adjustment of an Agricultural and
Mechanical College, and requested to
be informed if anysfuuther legislation
was needed to secure the scrip. l
have received no reply to this COM
municatiOn. / understand, however,
that the Federal Government has sus-
pended further issuance of the scrip
to any of the Southern States.
The Penitentiary has been leased,
under an act of the Legisl lture, to
Messrs. j. w. Young & Co., for a term
of fourteen years. They have eXecu-
ted a penal bond inn the SUI Of $780,
600, for the faithful performance OF
the stipulations of the contract, a
copy of which is herewith transmit
ted.
By one of the stipulations of the
contract, the State is bound to deliv-
er the convict at the Penitentiary.
Some legislation is now needed to
enable the Superintendent to comply
with this stipulation, as the law de
fraying the expenses of their trans
portation was repealed at your last
session.
On the Sth of November addressed
circular letter to the various Rall
road Companies of the State inform
ing them of my authority to make ar
rangements and provision for the
collection of the tax levied by the Leg
islature upon travel over their roads
and requesting answers. The South
ern railroad has agreed to an arrange
ment and is now collecting the tax
The Central Railroad Company de
clines to make any arrangements
while the other Railroad Companies
ONLY inform me that they will &c
what the rest will do-all these com
panies object to the tax as unconstl
tutional. The right and justice OF al
taxation is based upon the duty o
protec ion. The travellers upon on
Railroads readily seek through TIT
Courts of Mississippi and certainly
secure redress-andOften very severe
rcdress-tor all damages sustained
by them in person and property iron
Railroads. Is it unjust or unreason
able that they be required to pay ONT
half f3 cent. u mile upon all travel, t.
enable Mississippi to extend to then
this protection i! If citizens OF othe
States can claim exemption from thi
tax (Which is denied), it certainl,
does not lie in the mouths of the cit
zens of Mississippi or the Rallroa
corporations, who live, move an
have their being by, through an
under the authority of Mississippi t
complain.
Some compulsory process must b
resorted to or the tax will be lost, ant
rs the laws now in force for the co
lection of the revenue may be i'll ac
eouate, recommend the passage c
a law that will assure the collectlo
of the tax and compensate the collet
tor.
| herewith transmit the commun
cation of Captain J. w. Scully, \
@. NJ, U. S. A., with the endorse
ment of Col. a. q. Gillem, Command
ing District of Mississippi, forwarC
ing certified copy of a deed from AlO
| NJ. Jaynes and Cynthia Jaynes, col
tanning forty acres, near the city
Vicksburg, to the United States Coy
ernment, to be used as a cemetery fo
the burial of Union soldiers. lrecon
mend that the jurisdiction of the PR
perty described in the deed be cede
to the United States.
BENZ. Ct. HUMPHREYS.