The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-11-27

DEDICATED TO BROTHER WILLIAM, OF
EAST MISSISSIPPI.
ITAwAMBA COUNTY, MISS,
Nov - 1879

ITAwAMBA COUNTY, MISS,
Nov. II, 1873.
The election is now over, and, as was
anticipated, Ames and his party are
elected. This is no consolation to the
over burdened taxpayers, but on the
contrary, like the hoarse croaking of the
bird of i'll omen, moneyed kings, monop-
olies and taxation have impoverished and
almost bankrupted the State and if the
Ames party act as their opponents fear
they will for the next four years, confs-
cation is inevitable.
But the election is over, and other i'm
portant questions are now before the peo-
pie. The financial condition of our
country now presents a question worthy
of the thoughts of the. wisest men.
Nearly every person can see and tell the
reason of this great crash, but few are
able to fathom its end and to give true
remedy. Some men believe, because the
great banks have suspended, that it guar
antees the right to the merchant and
farmer to do likewise. This policy seems
to me wrong; because one man does
wrong, another is not justified in doing
wrong. If the banks suspend, it is no
reason why the merchant or farmer should
do likewise-provided there is remedy
to prevent it.
The question now is, is there a rem
edy or in other words, can the merchant
or farmer do otherwise than suspend.
If they canrot, they must then adopt
the only alternate But 1 think there is
a remedy, and if adopted, will eventually
lead us out of this embarrassment. The
farmer is in debt; he has purchased
goods and provisions from the merchant
to run him while he made the present
crop. Justice says, pay him his dues.
But suppose the farmer has not made
enough to pay, but can pay two-thiIds or
one-half of what he owes. Tken let
him bring in his cotton and say to his
merchant: {" Here is my cotton it is all
I can do; take it and allow me all you
can for it, and l will pay you the balance
next year" The merchant ships his
cotton to his commission merchant, and
says to him: Here is my cotton; it is
all can collect; take it and do the best
you can, and next year I will pay you
the balance owe you" The commits
sion merchant will now give time to the
retail merchant, and he to the farmer,
and by this means confidence will be |
continued between the farmer and retail |
merchant, and business of another year
90 on, giving the farmer time to prepare
for any emergency, and at the same time
commence the preparation for a cash
system.
The question will be asked, Why not
adopt the cash policy at once7 will
Because the people are not in
to do 60. Mr.. Smith says, let
hem (the farmers) retain their cotton
cotton crop and use it only as required
or another year. This leaves the mer-
liant without anything, after he had fur
lished the very means to make the crop.
suppose this policy was adopted by the
armer. Does any one suppose the mer-
liant wauld stand idly by and see his
totes go to protest; his credit fail, and
taken away from him. Such
course as this will force the merchant
0 bring suit. Judgment viii be OBJ
aimed, execution will issue, and the
property of the farmer will be sold at
uinous prices, leaving the farmer desti- {
ute and his debts not paid, and no one
rilling to assist him for another year.
So let the farmer pay as much as he
an, and the retail merchant do likewise 3
both ask further indulgence, and In my |
pinion they will get it. Then Let all
arm to economise; buy nothing they
IN possibly do without; prepare for the
aange from the credit to a cash system
lant more corn, wheat, oats, &c; raise
IS cotton, and in few years the farmer /
Ill be able to say to the money rings '
nd spectators, eff you don't give me 2
e worth Of labor you shan't have it." 4
d. J.. 8.
P. S.-You may say to Brother VIII
I'm that Dave johnson was duly elected q
the Legislature from Itawamba county. d
g did not get all the votes cast in his t.
unity, but very respectable majority. f
D. ls'