The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-06-30

! Mr.. SPEAKER:
As the question of Railroads is one in
| which as A people we are all equally interes-
| ted, l consider / should be derilect in my
duty to my constituents did fail to have al
least some little TO say in their behalf in the
matter of the general railroad bill. Ii may
| have perhaps been supposed that we who
| claim To represent those 10 the manor born
4 the PEOPLE, in fact, of Mississippi, were OPP
| posed In the main to the provisions Of tins
! bill. | am aware that we have been 10 some
| eX eht at least looked upon as being far
| from up to the spirit of the times; as beng
| anti progressive-oLD FOGIEs, If you please
/ That We of the State of Mississippi are fan
/ behind the times, am free 10 admit. There
| are. however, reasons or rather there have
been reasons, in the past that offer in them
| selves abundant excuse for all this. We
/ were in the past in possession of system OF
/ labor, that whatever may be said of its social
| moral or material merits or dement's to-day,
| was at least one peculiarly adapted to our
| early teachings and to our wants as under
4 stood.
We were, as a people, in our own way
prosperous and happy. Living retired
| amidst the comforts of plantation life, We
| knew little, and cared less for the improve
ments of the outside world We had in fact
a little world OF our own, beyond which we
cared little to go.
do not propose here to speak of causes,
or TO enter into any abstract questions as to
the why and the wherefore. Sufficient for
me, Mr.. Speaker, that all this has changed
| We are to day an impoverished people. Our
whole system of labor has been completely
revolutioniZed; our property scattered 10
the four winds OF the Heavens; and we, left
to battle with the world as we came into il
with our naked hands. The question with
us, therefore, is how best to improve our
condition.
The old order of things removed from us
forever, how are we soonest TO realize the
benefits and advantages; to take upon us in
fact the garments best befftting the new one
that is before us.
We are rich only in an abundance of the
finest lands in America. We have neither
the capital nor labor to improve and proper
ly cultivate the same. Our taxes have been
greatly increased. They will continue to
Increase so long as the Radicals are in pos
session of the taxing power. As fully four
ffths of our lands are unimproved; these
taxes will soon become unbearable. We are
in fact, under the circumstances, land poor
that is, we have more lands than we know
what to do with and more than we can pay
taxes upon. But, says one, why not sell of
the surplus. and work that which is left
All. Mr.. Speaker, there's the rub-we cannot
sell, because, forsOoth, there Is no one to
buy: and we are forced to see the Sheriff sell
us out in behalf of the State for the taxes we
cannot pay.
Now, how to remedy all this-hOw to
bring these surplus lands into market at a
fair valuation; how to reduce our taxes and
procure the necessary labor Is the problem
before us.
The only practical solution ofthe question
that presents itselfis contained in two words,
capitdE and Immigration. 1t may in fact be
said to be contained in the one; since with
the introduction of capital, the Immigration
is sure to follow. What we need, therefore,
is capital. We want, too. that species OF
capital. that of all others, most tends to the
development of the country and the conse-
quent Introduction of capital in every other
form well.
Now, what is it that far more than all else
combined, has opened up and made rich the
whole of the Northern and Western States.
liz is that capital which invested in the
building of railroads has brought all else in
its train. But q few years since, and scarce
a Western State but was far in the rear OF
Mississippi. HOV are they to-day? why,
MIR. Speaker, as compared with them In all
that makes people prosperous ana happy'
we are scarcely TO be mentioned In the same
dav of the week. What has accomplished
ali this? The building of railroads and
nothing else. Now, We of Mississippi pro-
| nose to somehow take a hand in the game
and reap few of these benefits TO ourselves.
| If we were content in former days 10 rest at
our ease. and take the world as 1t came, we
Dropose i'm the future to show to the world
| that we are up to snuf with the balance.
We want railroadS-we must and VIII have
them by hook or By crook.
[ am informed that a late report OF the
] "A
| in twenty seven counties the taxable value
| of the property has been increased in the
| last six wears, by the building OF railroads
alone, by the enormous sum OF four hundred
millions of dollars. Think of that my
| friends nearly three times the whole value
| of the State of Mississippi, added to twenty
| seven counties in Missouri in six years by
| the building of railroads. Now. l for one
desire, and know / speak for the people of
| Mississippi, when l say they want the bene-
| 4. 3 Find of DrnSnRrifX |
| to see railroads building in every direction.
| | want to see our lands which now will not
bring more than one or two dollars per
acre command a ready buyer at twenty five.
| | want 20 see the day when the planter who
now works but two hundred out of his two
thousand acres, and finds it a hard matter
| TO paw his taxes, can sell off fifteen hundred
acres for the sum OF three or four thousand
dollars, To put in bank for rainy day,
while the five hundred he has left is worth
tar more than the two thousand now. I
want to see cities, towns, and villages.
want To see competition in railroads too, SO
that instead of paying five. we can ride for
three cents per mile
wanting all this, and knowing how it had
been brought about in the Western States,
7 watched with much interest the introduce
tion of and the progress of the General
Railroad Bill.
Understanding it to be practically the
same law under which all the railroads of
Ohio Indiana. Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and
Kansas for many years had been built, 4
could but desire to see it introduced in
Mississippi.
Twas extremely sorry to see ii hampered
with the amendments. our colored friends
In their over zeal for their rights saw fit to
introduce. | believed then, | believe
now. there was no necessity for any such
amendments. l believe all these matters II
left alone will best settle themselves Know,
as did the feelings of my constituents. and
their inst adherence of aught looking to a
forced social equality; much a l desired 70
sea the main features of the bill become a
a law. / could not support It as IL nnally
passed 49,,
ale and nv democratic colleagues as well as
for the people of Mississippi IN general tnat
Ia a not been for those amendments there
would have been practically no opposition
TO the bill. -.
THO hill as amended, passed both houses OF
this Legislature. The question now Is not
whether We are opposed 70 the so-called So
ciaI equality clauses. Ii Is whether or not
we are in favor Of railroad system ior s :.l
aPogpratn here the march of improvement,
81 throw omen to the capitalist. the field
here nresrnted for the building of railroads
or whether we sat down In state OF haIi
way starvation. because forsooIn, oeAlS ue.
/ MED the old order of things we VIII not
give heed to the new. Mr.. Speaker LOT
one am not old fogy enough for all that.
/ Gov. Alcorn, it would seem, Woulu c1ass
himself as such. am willing ne shouiu "
be branded old fogy 90 his hearts content.
| The working people Of Mississippi, am sat
| isfied, want this bill in operation. us gen
1 eral provisions have enriched all or the es-
/ tern States. We need q little of its dement's
| in Mississippi.
| Governor Alcorn has seen fit to veto the
hill. LIN so doing, i consider he has struck
| An almost fatal blow to the future interests