The farmers' vindicator., 1874-09-18
the want Of proper outlet at the
mouth Of the Mississippi.

Eagain on the subject OF the Importance
4 Of constructing the Fort st. Phillip
Canal as soon as possible, irrespective
Lof THE success or failure of any other
project for improving navigation at the
mouth of the Mississippi.
/ Resolped, That said committee be in
structed to correspond with the State
Oranges of all those States tributary
to the Mississippi, in order to secure
combined action on the subject.
Brother j. B. McRae offered the
following resolutions, which were
adopted, on the subject of making
PAsoAaouLA A PORT OF ENTRY.
| Resolued, That in the opinion of this
Grange, the commercial interest and
prosperity Of the State of Mississippi,
require that the Port of Pascagoula
should be declared by Congress port
of entry, and that our Senators and
Representatives in Congress are hereby
respectfully solicited, to press this mat
ter before Congress, and to- use their
influence, to have the Port of Pasca-
goula made port of entry, and to
obtain the appropriation, of thirty
thousand dollars, recommended in the
report of the United States Naval
Engineers for 1873, for the improve
ment Of Pascagoula Harbor.
RESOLVED, That the Secretary furnish
our Senators and Representatives, in
Congress, and the Secretary of the
Treasury copy Of these resolutions.
Resolued, That the act of the Legis-
lature of the State, at its last session,
repeating the act of 1873, appropriat-
ing thirty-fve thousand dollars to the
improvement Of Pascagoula Harbor,
was an injury to the Commerce of the
State, and a violation of good faith to
the citizens Of Pascagoula; who, hav-
ing complied with the act of 1878, re.
quiring them to raise and expend five
thousand dollars, for the improvement
of said harbor, which amount of five
thousand dollars with two thousand
seven hundred and fifty dollars over,
we alone and the citizens raised and
invested in the improvements in the
harbor-making the purchase in the
name of the State, thereby comforting
the title to the State.
Memorial embodying preamble and
resolutions offered by Bro. r. E. Rich
ardson, in the Phoenix Grange, No.
516, Jefferson county, on the subject of
TAXATION AND OTHER MATTERS.
we're presented by Bro. Put. Darden,
and adopted as follows:
WHEREAS, Taxation in Mississippi
has become burden 80 large and ex-
cessive, that the vital energies and in
dustries Of our State are becoming
sapped, paralyzed, and destroyed, and
ruin, inevitable and irretrievable,
stares us in the face; and while we,
as an organization, are Independent of
and above all party lines or prejudices.
Yet we, the taxed and tax paying ele-
ment, cannot ignore the fact that taxes
and expenses Of State and county have
80 enormously increased, while proper,
ty has deprecated alarmingly. In
evidence Of which facts, we need but
cite the case of one member of this
Grange, whose property in 1858 was
valued and assessed at e71 1,565, and
taxed just $3.50 81, and whose total
worth is now S13, ,760, and yet he is
taxed for the year 1873, the sum Of
1913 II. (The same estate was as.
,essed in 1873 at $13.760 was assessed
in 1858 at $23, 3,025, a depreciation of
30 ,265, and deduction of slaves and
,ther property, of 1882 AZ, and his
,ase is the case of all.
And ,chereas, The prosperity of every
government, especially our own State,
has its foundation laid upon the sue
,ess of agricultural pursuits, which
Iuccess can never be achieved while
,nerous and unneeded taxes are heaped
lpon him who owns and tills the soil
lntil the profits are absorbed, as is
low done in this State.
And whereGs, This great increase of
axation has been created not so much
,y dishonest officials and corrupt legis-
alton as by incompetent and ignorant
,fficials, and crude and ill-advised leg
Station.
And lohereas, Great power is vested 8
n the Governor of this State by law, |
md he thereby has great influence t
throughout the State, and can exer-
Use that influence and power either to
,ur further and irreparable ruin or
benefit, and can to an al, e
most perfect extent regulate taxation.
And tOhereGs, Our present Governor T
tands pledged to every effort in the 0
Erection of reform and retrenchment. '
Therefore, by the members of this t
irange, be it y
Resolved, That we do most earnestly '
nd urgently. though with all defer