The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1876-07-27
.nnint ~r,,scus>ion.

discussion was held at the Courthouse,
last Monday night.
Major Il. Barksdaie, of Jackson,
opened The discussion in a speech of one
hour and twenty minutes, aud Col. J. b.
Deason replied. We regret that II
limited space prevents us giving a fnll
synopsis of Major Barksdale's speech, as
it was certainly n of the best ever de.
.livored in Lincoln county. As a stump
speaker he has hnt few equals and no
superiors. He is the best posted man
in the State, and is never thrown off
his guard. Major Barksdale arralgned
the Radical party for its proilisacy and
corruption and compared its six years
of misrule in this State with the Dem~
~ocratic administration Of 1876. He
showed that the late Legislature had
reduced the annual cost OF the Legisla-
tive department. from $780, 00 TO $780,
900; and passed n constitutional amend
ment under which that body viii meet
biennially, thus making another reduc-
ton Of $50. 900. Under Radical rule
the average annual cost of the Judicia-
ry was 1912, coo; under Democratic rule
it has been cut down to $40, 900. The
Radicals appropriated $1,000 annually
for the Executive department; the Leg
i~slature cut the appropriation down to
$31, Geo. The commission for assessing,
for the past six years, amounted to S55,-
600; this year the work will be done at
a cost Of $751; coo. Under Radical rule
the penitontiary cost the State ST., 000
per year. Now it viii not only be self
sustaining bnt viii yield an income to
the State. The Radical Legislature
paid the County superintendent OF
Education $4s, $40 annually; the Dem
o~cratic Legislature is paying them
SO. 905.. He also showed that the Leg
islsture, elected last year by the Dem
ocrats and Conservatives, had deposed
three of the State officials upon charges
of high crimes aud misdemeanors, and
put in their stead worthy and compe-
tent men. He referred to the Pearl
River Navigation swindle, the Picked
Cavalry bill, the Calling Gun bill, the
r~ottenness of the Radical party, aud
told Col. Deason that, speaking for that
party, he must defend its record.
At the conclusion Of Maj. Barksdale'F
speech Col. Deason arose and said he
was not going to defend the Isadica
party; that some Of the members o.
that party were responsible for its act.
al meanness; that the Democratic par
ty had done one mean thing, at least, il
putting him ont Of Office, and that lie
did not know that he would ever agar
make q Radical speech. he didn't sa,
one word about the Reductions made by
the late Legislature; praised Hayes ant
Wheeler. passed Hendricks by, but hei(
up Tilien as p very bad man; said h
had received $40, 900, 900 for his connec
ton with some ring in New York city
and advised the people to support the
Republican ticket.
In his rejoinder Major arksdale stat
ed that Col. Deas0n had not denied
single charge be made against the Rad
ical party; called on Col. Deason for his
authority regarding that 800, 600, 00j
received by Tilden. The Colonel sale
he saw it in some Democratic paper O
New York, but had forgotten the name
The Major tod him that was just a lit
tie too thin-that the name of that pa
per must be told; but the Colonel''
memory was bad, and amid loud anC
prolonged cheering Maj. Barksdale wa
compelled to take his seat without hav
ing his curiosity gratified. No speech
ever made here was so heartily enjoy
ed or so highly complimented.
Lincoln county has now opened the
ball, and she will keep it rolling til
victory perches upon her helm The
9TH day of next November.