davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-23

WHO Is GUILTY?

The Board of Supervisors in revising the
assessment OF lands, was so utterly indiffer-
ent to justice, to the rights of the parties
interested, to common sense and decency,
that whole-districts were raised by a sort
of general order TO a uniform value. They
say this was from lack of specific informa-
ton. They did not kIl0l0 in particular cases
what the value of the lands were. 1t does
seem that they would have informed them
selves before they would have ventured to
change the assessment, and stigmatize the
land owners with the crime of PERI CRY.-
CarroltOn Conservative.
Here is another example of the innu-
merable instances of the abuses which
Supervisors have practiced in the rota-
ton of lands, and justification of the
popular demand for the change of the
law under which they are practised.--
Referring to the Governors declaration
that: 81 can certainly not give my con-
sent to the legalizing of oil the acts of
the boards of supervisors in receiving,
equalizing and raising of said assess
ments," the Vicksburg Times, high Re
publican authority, says if he knew of
the abuses practiced in Warren county,
che would not only refuse to legalize
their acts, but a majority of their official
heads would drop into waste baskets"
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-23

In Governor Alcorn's message vetoing
the bill taking from the Executive the
power of removal from Office, he alleges
that ga large proportion Of the men APP
pointed were utter strangers to him,
and that ''no alternative was left him in
making the selections but that of placing
his judgment and. conscience in the
hands of the several legislative
delegates" He says further that he
would ''never have handed over the peo-
pie to men who were strangers" to him,
but for the power which he possessed to
interfere for their protection by virtue Of,
the power conferred by the law authoriz-
ing him to make removals.
The question naturally suggests itself
why he did not in making selections con-
suit the wishes of the people themselves
and act upon their recommendations In
stead of the Legislative delegates" two
thirds of whom he must have known
were not only strangers" to the people,
but were influenced by motives hostile to
their interests? And why, in making
selections, has he in many cases been
guided exclusively by partizan considera-
tons, instead of the Jeffersonian stand
ard of integrity and capability.
But there are questions underlying
these. 1t was an outrage on the rights of
the people to make the appointments at
all The men in authority ought to have
secured to them the right of election i'm
mediately on the assembling of the Leg
islature. Why did not the Governor re-
mind that body of its duty in the premi-
ses, and protest in their name against the
forcible seizure of chartered rights to
subserve partizan ends? His silent ac-
quiescence in the usurpatiOn which ac-
cording to his message has inflicted class
of incompetent and dishonest officials on
the people, makes him a party to the
transaction for which his veto message
(commendable under the necessity Great
ed by his own and the Legislatures
wrong-doing) is only a partial atonement.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-23
Beauties Of Radical RuIe In Ar
kansas.

Chaos has come. again In Arkansas
Reconstruction under Republican rule,
has well nigh organized hell in the State.
She is on the verge of civil war. Her
(so-called) Governor Clayton has been
impeached by the lower branch of the
Legislature for high crimes and misde-
meanors and has fortified himself in the
Executive Office with bayonets and re-
fuses to be suspended in the functions Of
his Office, pending his trial before the
Senate.
His successor, 1t. Gov. johnson, also
Republican, it is said will assert his
rightful authority and join the issue of
arms if need be. Judge Mcclure, of
Supreme Court, an acc0mplice of Clay
ton, has also been impeached.
The result has been brought about by
the cooperation of the Democrats and
the better portion of the Republicans.
The following is the substance of the
articles of impeachment in the case Of
Via tVns
1. That he has conspired with members Of
the Supreme Court to maliciously and I'M
lawfully deprive Lieutenant Governor john
son of his Office, to which he was duly elect
ed.
2. That he has unlawfully removed N. III.
Lock, County and Probate Judge of Clark
County.
8. That he directed, encouraged and aided
in frauds in the election of Senator and
three Representatives to the General As
sembly from the Thirteenth District. "A
4. That he has accepted pecuniary COM
pensation for issuing bonds of the State in
favor of the Memphis and Little Rock and
Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroads.
5. That as Governor he issued bonds or
obligations to the Mississippi, Ouachita and
Red River Railroad Company, when said
company was not entitled TO the same.
6. That he has been guilty of other mis-
conduct and malfeasance in Office, and other
high crimes and misdemeAnQEs.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-23

The adventures who are described by
Gen. Blair, Is the s'carpetbag crew who
are gorged with the plumber Of the South
en people, have realized malignant
qualification in the power they have re-
morseIessly exercised to impose oppres-
sive taxation on the owners of land. It has
ministered to the twin passions BY which
they have been influenced In all the leg
islation they have enforced for the oppres-
sion and spoliation of the South, their
love of gain and their hatred of the
sturdy and unpurchasable class of our
population who have from the beginning
opposed their schemes and have cher
ished for them individually a contempt
which has not yielded to the terrors of
military bittle" nor the Establishments
of Office.
The spectators seem to think that they
have compassed all that they desire in the
way of special punishment and robbery
of this class when they impose a heavy
and discriminating tax on the lands which
alone remain to them of the estates they
possessed before the war. If they would
take counsel of common sense instead of
malice, it would teach them that In inn
posing an excessive tax on land, they are
Gripping every other interest, and especi-
ally are they increasing the burthens of
the freedmen on whose backs, by the aid
of bayonets, they have vaulted into Office.
Rents are regulated according TO the ex-
penses incurred by those who own the
lands. The proprietor who pays an ex-
orbitant tax, as a measure of protection,
counts it as part of the cost which he
exacts of those who cultivate them. Pre-
cisely as duty on imported goods cor
respondingly increases their cost to the
consumer, high tax on lands increase
the burthens of the class who are employ
ed to cultivate them for wages or as rent
ers.
But the freedmen and the landless
whites are not alone in feeling the blight
ing effect sf this prejudiced and narrow
sighted system Of legislation. The pros
perity of every other honest calling in
our State is dependent upon the agricul-
tural interest. Every avocation is keenly
sensitive to whatever concerns it. IF you
bankrupt the farmer by partial and vim
dictive legislation, you destroy the founda-
tions on which the merchant, the mechan-
ic, the lawyer, the doctor, the school
teacher, all build their hopes of success.
A blow aimed at the farmer, is blow at
all the rest. On one class of landed pro-
prietors this system of iniquitous legisla-
ton operates peculiar severity, the
owners of small estates which are cult
waited by their own hands. Having no
employees with whom to share the bur
then Of the tax, it falls exclusively upon
them.
There is no aspect in which the imposi
ton of the discriminating tax can be ex-
amined without revealing hideous and
revolving feature.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-23

AUDITORS REPORT.

Below We append the estimate Of ex-
penditures for the present year contained
in the Annual Report Of the Auditor Of
Public Accounts. A brief examination
viii serve toreveal some very remarkable,
andfo taxpayers especially, highly i'm
portant features.
The aggregate sum contrasted with the
expenditures of former years, when the
State was prosperous and Auditors war
rants we're equivalent to specie, is enor-
nous.
According to the Governors Message,
the expenditures of 1861, exclusive of
the Militia item, amounted to S256, 1892.
The aggregate Of the estimate for the
year 1871, Excluding the Militia item of
s25, 000,) submitted by the Auditor,
reaches the sum of 81, 1874, 626.
A comparison of the expenditures for the
years 1861 and 1871 under the seperate
heads here given, as presented in the
Governors message, on the one hand,
and the Auditors estimate ON the other,
produce amazing results, as follows:
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-23

Raflroaa Presidents and sam-
DO fin Council.
presidents VVfcIxs' Report OF wIsnt
Occurred
From the Penola Sta

From the Penola star.
Governor Alcorn issued a request to all
of the Presidents of Railroad Companies
owning lines in this State to meet ut the
informed by Maj. NJ. j. Wicks, President OF
the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, that
all of the Presidents were on hand. he
among the number, and that Governor
Aicorn stated that he desired them To meet
the aegro members of the Legislature in
convention, which they did, 20 see If the
question of equal rights upon trains run
ming through the State, which was being
urged by negro members, could not be
compromised without the Legislature pass
ing further laws upon the subject The
negroes through their spokesman-Ireland,
the Sergeant-at-Arms Of the Senate-an-
nounced that they desired the Presidents of
the roads to return home and issue orders 70
conductors and employees to permit all
persons, without Rdistinction of color to
enjoy equal privileges upon the trains, and
that all employees instantly be discharged
who should violate this order.
Maj Wicks, on the part Of the Memphis
and Charleston, and Col. +. NJ. White. on
refused to issue any such orders, but stated
that they were willing to have separate cars
for each race, and that no white man should
enter the negros' car, in which the other
Presidents concurred, but this did not sat
isfy the cOlored aristocrats and they deman-
ded all restriction to be removed, which was
promptly refused by the different roads.
Governor Alcorn rated his constituents
most soundly upon their unblushing audaci-
ty, and told them they could not compel this
state of affairs as the passengers upon the
cars would drive every negro out of the la
dies car who dared TO enter IL, and that
blood-shsd would follow TO their loss and
sorrow, but nothing unmoved. They still
clung to their demands, and the convention
adjourned Without accomplishing any
thing.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-23
The National school bill.

The st. Louis Republican describing
the bill introduced by a Massachusetts,
Radical CHoar,) in Congress to take
charge of the educational interests of sew
eral of the States, says sit is evidently a
wheel in the Radical partisan machinery.
1t creates five or six thousand new officers
which would entirely depend upon the
good will of the executive, and it author
ICES the president, whenever he dislikes
the school arrangements in any state, to
reorganize the schools by federal officers.
These states would evidently be the
southern states. Not being so completely
Radicalized as to favor the reelection of
Gen. Grant or any other Republican
candidate, our partisan president would
soon discover that the school system of
such unmanageable states should be re-
modelled and an army consisting of a
head superintendent, as many sub-super-
intendents as the state sends members to
congress, and host of district-superin-
tendents would be dispatched there to
teach everybody how to vote the Radical
ticket. The bill shows on its face that it
is intended as new means to interfere
in the political and social affairs of certain
states, and universal as its features seem
to be, it is no more made to be enforced
in Massachusetts than any of the other
reconstruction bills"
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-23

A crop. raised under the direction of the
senior editor of this paper, has been a sub
ject of frequent comment by the people and
the press. We have promised to give the
manner of preparing the ground so that all
our readers may have the advantage of try
ing the experiment that was regarded TO be
so successful in our case. For cotton we
bedded out the land the usual width, then
run three subsoil burrows In the water fur
row, one in the centre and one on each side
of that. On this loose water furrow we re-
bedded, giving the soil the advantage of two
workings and the plant bed of loose earth
some eighteen inches deep. On this land
a lot of ten acres-there grew ten bales of
cotton; the land was about half valley and
half hill side, and had been in cultivation
more than thirty yes, and we are OF opin-
ion that this land was never MANFRED since
its clearing. We had tenants that cultiya-
ted in the ordinary way, with crops wholly
in the valley. that didn't make half as much
to the acre. We planted our corn after the
following preparation: We bedded the
land with two horse plow that cut three
inches deep, followed by a sharp bull
tongue; after bedding the land we run the
subsoil plow in the water furrow, as in the
cotton land, then throw two burrows back.
opened and planted. This corn produced
three times as much as corn planted in the
ordinary way, In the same field and same
character OF land.-Holly Springs South,
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-23

The Board of Supervisors of the coun-
ty have levied tax of fifty per cent.
upon the State assessment of one-half pei
cent Last year the tax was three hun
dred per cent. on an assessment of one
tenth per cent The tax of this year
is four-ffths of last years bridge tax, and
tits estimated that it viii be nearly $12,-
600 that the city of jackson VIII contrib
ute to building the bridges of Kinds
county this year. This might have been
appropriated to the establishment of a
free bridge over Pearl river under the
law passed at the last session of the Leg
islature had the Board of Mayor and Al
dermen thought proper to have secured it
for the immediate benefit Of the city.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-23
MISSISSIPPI.

Temperance SOCIETIES are being organized
all over the State.
Vicksburg has a Lodge of knights Of
Pythias Or. f. Lee, No.1.) It is secret
benevolent Institution.
The Vallonfan says that Col. NJ. d. L.
Stephens has been elected President Of the
Water Valley Agricultural and Mechanical
Association.
The Brandon Republican has the follow
ing: What does it mean?
There is a carpet-bagger In our Legisla-
tufe. from Maine, named Parker, who
claims 70 represent Amite county, and who
has been guilty of some very disgraceml
conduct, which we would expose, were IL
not for the petitions of an innocent lady.
We haye all the necessary documents In
our possession, and we advise him 70 90
slow.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-23

Wednesday was a field-day in the Sen
ate. The contest was over the Cover
nor's veto of the bill depriving him of the
power of removing ofice-holders. This
power has been exercised of late not to
the liking of the Bitter Enders, in sew
eral instances; and it is understood that
the work of cleansing the Augean stable,
having been commenced, will be eontin-
ued. In the preliminary stages of the
contest, the opposition displayed consid-
cradle force, but fell short of the requis-
lite numbers to pass the bill. When this
fact became apparent, they weakened
vastly, and the Conservatives won an
easy victory. The result under the pc
culiar circumstances, is important. 1t
increases the responsibility of the Gov
ernor; and if he has the will to rid the
public offices of the venal tribe who now
infest them, there is nothing in the way
of his going ahead with the work.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-23
The Railroad Question.

This is growing to be a serious prob
lem. Not the question of the right and
the expediency of regulating the maxi
mum rates of fare by the Legislature.
Not the question compelling the extern
sion of the New Orleans jackson and
Great Northern Railroad, diagonally
across the State as originally stipulated.
Nor of granting State aid to certain pro-
jected lines. But what is to be done
with Sambo? How is he to be transport
ed Shall he have car to himself with
equal accommodations to the most favor
ed, or shall he be allowed to "mix" with
the whites
A law passed by the Legislature gives
him this privilege and affixes heavy
penalty for violation of its provisions.
But being in direct conflict with the COM
mon law of universal and accepted usage,
based on the natural instinct of race, it
has remained dead letter. Hence the
meeting of the Railroad Magnates and
their conference with the dissatisfied col
ored element who are clamorous for its
enforcement. This element, we may say
however, on high authority, consists for
the most part of carpet-bag negroes-our
home people having independence to
claim their rights but too much selfres-
pect to thrust themselves into associations
where they are::not wanted.
We announced the assembling of this
Council in late number, with a CRAWL
ty which the importance of the occasion
seemed to demand, but did not break
the seal of confidence which our infor-
mer imposed. The proceedings, however
have come to light through the wide
awake correspondents of Vicksburg,
Memphis and Mobile newspapers, and
detailed report is given by the Pamela
Star, derived from Mr.. Wicks of the
Memphis and Charleston Railroad, who
was selected as the organ f>the mana
gers to inform the eomplainants that the
roads would afford colored people accom-
modations in all respects equal to those
furnished the whites for the same money.
and that each race would be assigned to
separate cars and forbidden to intrude
into the apartments of the other.
This fair and just proposition it seems
did not satisfy the negro delegation, and
so the conference broke up without solv-
ing the problem. In the language of Sum-
ner, these negroes wanted equality, not
They protest they will have
nothing short of this demand. Probably
in pushing the excitement too far, they
may reproduce in another form the fate
of Shylock, who would be satisfied with |
nothing else but pound of flesh.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-23

AN ACT to prevent the fraudulent letting
OF contracts by Boards of Supervisors.
SEC. l. Be it enacted by the Legislature of
the State of Mississippi, That hereafter it
shall be unlawful for any member of any
Board OF Supervisors in this State, TO have
or own any interest or share, either directly
or indirectly, through any member of his
family, or other person, in any contract
hereafter to be made or let by any such
Board of Supervisors, for the construction
of court houses, jails, bridges, school houses
or other public buildings or works or for
any member of such Board TO receive any
portion or share, either directly or indirectly.
of the money or other thing paid for the
construction of such buildings, bridges or
other public work.
SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That a vio-
lation of any of the provisions of the first
section of this Act shall be punished, on
conviction, by fine not less than one hun
dred dollars, and not more than five hun
dred dollars, or by imprisonment in the
county Jail not less than one month, and by
dismissal from office; and any person solic-
ting a violation of the same shall be indIct-
ed, and upon conviction, shall be subject to
like punishment therefor.
SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That no
Board of Supervisors shall hereafter en-
power or authorize any one or more MEM
bers OF such Board, or other person, to let
or make contracts for the building or cree
ton of public works of any description in
vacation or during the recess of such
Board, but all such contracts shall be made
and approved by said Boards i'm open ses-
sion; and it shall be the duty of all Boards
of Supervisors to accept the lowest respon-
sible bid for the erection or construction of
all public buildings, bridges, or other public
works; and any bidder shall be deemed re-
sponsible, who will enter into bond, with
good and sufficient sureties, according TO
law, to be approved by said Boards, in
double the amount of the bid made by such
bidder for the prompt, proper and efficient
performance of his contract; and all con-
tracts made in violation of any of the pro-
visions of this Act shall be void.
SEC. A. Be it it further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of all Circuit Judges i'm
this State, to give this Act particularly in
charge of the Grand Jury at each term of
their respective Courts, and it shall be the
duty of Courts to give such liberal construc-
ton to this Act, as will entirely suppress
and punish all fraudulent and corrupt
letting of contracts for the purposes afore-
said.
SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That this
Act shall take effect and be in force from
and after its passage.
Approved February 18th, 1871.
The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-23

Some ten or dozen members of the
Legislature are holding offices by Exec
utive. appointment, which they are
farming out while they are here at the
Capitol pursuing the occupation that
gives them the mileage and per diem of
Legislators. A bill has been introduced
into the House to put stop to this scan
dulous practice, which is one of the in
novations of the carpet-bag regime; but
it seems to make slow progress against
the opposition of the office-holding ring.
The Vicksburg Times and Republican
referring to the fact that s'Mr. johnson"
Congo member from Warren, is also a
member of the Board of Supervisors of
Warren county appointed by the Cover
nor, says:
Whether it is owing to his distinguished
and prominent fitness, so far surprising that
of all other deniZens of this benighted re-
gion, or because of some service. that from
his official position he was able to render the
appointing power, we leave the reader TO
Judge. Certain ii is that such proceeding
is an innovation upon the customs that have
heretofore obtained in such cases, at once
shocking to every sense of propriety, dis
graceful to the State, and dangerous in the
extreme to the Independence and purity of
legislative bodies. The stamp of public
opprobrium should brand at once such
proceeding as an outrage not to be tolerated
in free governments.
P. S. Since the foregoing was prepar-
ed, we are grati6ed to note that the fol-
lowing resolution, introduced as substi-
tnte by Senator Hardy, of Jasper,
striking directly at the evil has passed
the Senate:
Whereas, Members of this body are ex-
ercising and discharging the function, and
duties of more than one office in this State
belonging to the different departments of
government, in violation Of and repugnant
to the spirit and letter of the Constitution of
the State of Mississippi: therefore,
Resolved, That it Is the sense of this Sem
ate that said members who now hold and
exercise the duties and functions of any
other State, county or municipal office in
this State, should resign the same within
ten days after the adoption Of this resolu-
ton.
An act of similar purport so far as we
can judge from the meagre report of Its
provisions in the official paper, has pass
ed the House.