The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-01-11
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Governor Ridgley e. Powers to-day trans
mitted to the Legislature the following

IL.
rnit'ea 10 the Legislature the following
MESSAGE:
10 the Senate and House Of Representative.
GRNTLEAfES- reason of the resignation
OF bis Excellency, Governor j. L. AIcorn.
on the 10Th of November last the chief exec.
utlVe power OF the State devolved upon me-
: among the many responsibilities imposed
upon me under the Constitution BY this nigh
} trust Is the duty. of giving ''the Legislature
Information on the state Of the Government
ana recommending to their consideration
such measures as may be deemed necessary
and expedient"
In conforming to this requirement Of the
| supreme law Of the State il is n source of
gratlncation tor to be able to inform YOU
that the state OF the Government is peace
since the adjournment of the last Legisla-
ture, there have been no riots or disturbances
when the civil authorities have not been able
10 promptly suppress. The election in No
yember, although preceded by an exciting
canvass, was attended with no demonstrations
Of violence, and the will of the people, as ex-
pressed at the ha!lot-box, has been generally
ac9ulesced in without murmur.
he armed organizations Of masked ma
RAIDERS which twelve months ago threatened
to override law and paralyze Industry in a
TOW Of the eastern counties through the
combined efforts of the good citizens Of those
sections aided by the officers of the General
and State Governments, have been entirely
suppressed and the people are now free to
devote their entire attention and energies To
bettaring their material condition.
THE JUDICIARY
In so far as have been able to procure re-
| liable information. the courts have been very
| elective IN checking the increase Of crime,
and are able very fully to meet the require
ments the people Our Judiciary system is
an admirable one; and the high character sus-
tanned by the bench Of the State for purity,
| independence and learning, enables me to
| point to it with pride. While officers of the
| other departments of the Government have
/ irnp att sub;
severe criticism, in no single instance during
! the past two years, has Judge been charged
! with corruption or threatened with impeach-
| ment.
! Among the few changes needed in the
criminal statutes, is one to give greater ef-
| fcieney to
JURIEs.
! Under the present usage persons who have
! formed or expressed an opinion upon the case
| on trial are rejected from tho jury by the
court. The result Of this ruling is in many
| instances, to deprive the country Of the
| vices of its very best jurymen. 1t is the in
telligent, reading and thinking men who are
/ best Informed of the crimes that are commit
| ted in the community, and they most able
| and likely to form an opinion of the character
| of the crime and the guilt of the perpetrator.
! Reject this class from the jury-box, and there
remains but two other classes from which TO
choose-the reckless, irres ponsible class-in-
| Guiding the professional juryman-who at
| tach but little Importance to the restraint of
law, and have q marketable value placed upon
| their conscience, and the Ignorant class which
| is com parativey unable to form or express
an opinion upon q complicated criminal Of
ence
recommend that the statute be so
| amended as to prevent the challenging of a
| juryman upon the ground of his having
formed or expressed an opinion, unless he is
willing to say that he is prejudiced in the
case to such an extent as to doubt his ability
| to do the prisoner Justice by deciding in
| q testimony before
| the court.
Another cause, which operates against the
conviction of the criminal, especially where
he is able to command money and influence
is the fact of his ability to employ more able
counsel than represents the State. Under
the present practice even whore additional
counsel is employed to assist the prosecution,
the district attorney has the closing argu-
ment. If he happens to be a lawyer of poor
ability, or wanting IN experience, as some
times happens, his effort is likely to produce
but little impression upon the mind of a jury
which has boon listening for hours to the
KEEN searching logic, wit and eloquence of
the ablest members of the bar
In order that the State may be well repre-
sented in important criminal cases, recon-
mend that the Governor, at the suggestion
of the district attorney, be authorized to en-
ploy additional counsel, which shall be AS
signed such place in conducting the prosecu-
ton as in tho opinion of the court will best
subserve the ends Of justice, and the court be
authorized to order allowance for the pay
ment of the counsel so assigned.
The most expensive government in the
world is that which allows criminals to
go unwhipped of justice The people
should know that the law Is AN impregnable
fortress, erected for their protection; and the
lawess should be taught that neither money,
influence, nor the interference of the pardon
ing power will suffice to protect them IN
crime save them from just punishment
CONCEALED WEAPONS
In this connection desire to call your at
tention to the necessity of law to prohibit
the carrying of concealed weapons Inc
great number Of belted knights Of spurious
courage who are daily seen in public places,
ready on slight provocations under the in
SEPARATION OF evil spirits, to display implements
of war, is a standing menace against the laws
of the country and a reflection upon the
manly courage and personal proves OF
chiyalrous people
L recommend that any one found bearing
upon his person a concealed weapon shall be
Immediately arrested, without warrant, and
taken before the nearest magistrate or mayor
and subjected to q fine of ten dollars for the
first offense and twenty-five dollars for each
additional offense further recommend that
any sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, town
marshal policeman alderman, who shall
fail to execute this law shall be subject to ar
rest on complaint of any person cognlzant OF
the fact and fined in the of fifty dollars,
and also be subject to indictment and dis
missed from office for criminal neglect OF
duty.
law and justice, which Is essential to lndl-
vidual and public prosperity and the chlci
object Of good government, is the subject OF
FINANCES.
Taxation which is always more or less dis
tasteful when it s made unreasonable or ull-
lust renders a government burdensome and
kindles among the people a restless spirit OF
characterization which is liable to provoke
serious consequences. Public confidence be-
comes weak enterprises dies out, business
stagnates. 1t is your duty to enhghten as lar
as possible this burden by making only sach
demands uponIthe pockets of the people as are
absolutely necessary to promote the general
welfare ANY legislation IN the interest OF rae
ton, to uphold moneyed corporations, or for
the exclusive benefit of private individuals,
will be discarded by the patriot and states
man who comes forward at the bidding OF ms
constituency to represent the interests OIL
great State.
The following statement shows the amount
of the floating debt of the State on the first
day of December, 1871, and also the floating
debt eleven months previous, as appears OF
record in the Treasurers office: 1000 60
Outstanding warran Is .~........S 04c, - -
Certificates of indebtedness.-..-.:. S9',oouV W e
Total, outstanding December "a
lst lS1l....-.....--......-.-.$l ,V4oi % 10
The above total inclndes the deposits made 4
by insurance companies in accordance with 81
an act of tho Legislature, approved January
18th, 1871:
49,; 49, of ind $4,000 90 4
Total, outstanding January lst, 40
lS7I......................-. 1901, go a
This exhibit while it shows the State in
debtedness to be merely nominal and capa-
bic with judicious management, OF being
controlled without serious public lnconven-
fence discloses also another TACT, which points
to future embarrassment viz: that the state
Indebtedness is steadily inreasing, it being 4
now greater by $4S7, $50 q than it was on the 4
-. - T1n.,nr,- 1871 This statement.