The weekly clarion., 1872-02-22

representative OF the whole State. Consid-
ering each membe of this House as a Rep
resentative not only Of the county in which
he was elected, hut of the whole people,
shall, therefore. appeal to you not as Repuoli-
cans nor as Democrats, but as honorable
members OF the Legislature OF Mississippi
For IL mistake not you ART assembled here
not as politicians. bat In higher and far
nobler eapacity-as guardians OF the great
State of Mississippi, whose destiny i COM
mitted for time. To your hands. It Is an
honorable and fearfully responsible posi-
ton. and / trust that no member has
brought with him into this House any OF
that blind party zeal that will permit him
70 turn deaf ear AID close his eyes 4"
reason. Justice and right, when the jealous
voice of the party commands To the con-
trary. Ii there be such a one here, beg
him in the name of those he misrepresents
lin the name of constitutional liberty, aud
for the sake of his solemn obligation taken
upon this hOOr TO betake himself without
these walls. and not by party vote in this
contest. write his own iniamy so indelltoly,
that in after years his children will blush
on account of their fathers treachery to prin-
ciple Ifthis question Is To be decided on par
ty grounds. this grave and sacred question OF
the right OF one of the counties OF this state
to choose her own Representatives, then
surely every other question hereiL. submit
ted during this session will be singularly
decided. IL that Is to be the case,
days are numbered aud her destiny written.
II every question is To be decided upon
party ground. then / ask, sir, where Is the
protection TO the unfortunate minorityl Ii
the minority did not feel that they were to
be equally represented by the majority,
4ey would cease To acquiesce in the decis-
ion OF the majority. The constitution,
which every member here has sworn TO
support. declares that the will of the major
ity shall prevail. In accordance with the
mr. iafs nf hot fnn
laws enacted und6r it. majority OF the
voters of Lauderdale county did, on the 9TH
day of November last, elect Dr. A. III.
Smith and Duncan Kelly their Representa-
tives upon this floor; bat, sir, they are met
here by two disconteAted pdrttsdaS, who
would have a majority of one hundred and
fifteen citizens of the state, composing TINS
House, To set aside and overrule the will OF
over three thousand voters OF Lauderdale
county. Oh, shame. where Is thy blush
But, sir. from my knowledge of the integ-
rty Of this House, | can assure those dis
contented Knights that ''the winter OF their
''disconteut will not be made glorious sum-
"mer by the realization of their Ubiquitous
dreams. There can surely be no member
upon this floor that will hesitate to cast his
vote upon the side of justice and right.
What says the Adams county THAT county
whose representative occupies seat once
honored by the gallant and the eloquent
Prentiss, whose clarion notes uttered in this
hall. are chanted still by the Angle of Truth
around the throne of Mercy. Upon which
side of this contest are to be found the
proud old counties of NoXubee. Lowndes
and Monroe? / am sure, upon the side OF
their sister county. If not, every passing
breeze that fits across their prairies. Will
bear upon its wings, to their ears the sighs
and the walings Of their wronged and out
ragged sister And upon the new counties,
upon whose youthful cheeks still 2lows the
flush of purity, do most solemnly call. TO
stand by the right and the truth, lest that
cheek be mantled with the blush of shame,
iRfamy and crime. Upon all the counties
do most earnestly call, in this hour of trial.
TO their sister county, where her sacred
right to representation upon this floor, Is
about to be stolen from her, TO rise SUI
perior to petty political issues, and rally to
her rescue.