The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-01-01

From one county prominent candidate
for Office fled before election, fearing vic
lence, If not assassination.
In another county one party. throug
fused, struck from their tickets names {
candidates formerly and regularly nomi
mated, and substituted those of their Oppo
nents with whom there existed no politics
affinity.
In certain counties, on the day of election
voters were driven from the polls by arme
men, or so inundated by them that the
| feared to vote.
In one county the principal county Off
Gals were driven away from their posts Of
been refugees since. This county, AmitS
was the one remote from the seat o.
eminent where the effort to Organi
militia succeeded.
These are effects, not detailed staten
of causes which produced them.
The courts of the State have been unable
| to dispense justice in such cases.
The conviction that frauds were perpetra.
ted at the late election, gathers strength BY
comparison of The returns with those O.
preceding elections.
That the great evil which has befallen the
State may be remedied, it first becomes nee.
essary to inquire into its causes. The hap.
py financial condition of the State, and the
comparatively small amount needed for its
support, preclude the possibility of a finan-
toned to counties in accordance with their
indebtedness. Thorough intimidation was
effected in some counties whose finances
were in the most flourishing condition.
transpired, compel the conclusion that the
evil is to be attributed to race question. 1t
did not have its origin at this time.
The Inhabitants of the State are somewhat
equally divided between the two races.
They have, until recent years, borne the re-
m o at md cl or
ternal to the State, the slave has been made
the civil and political equal of the master.
The Withdrawal of this restraining force
leaves the formerly dominant race to re-as-
ssrt its supremacy. Though the complete
supremacy Of former days may not be posi-
e,still the tendency is towards supremacy.
The effort in this direction has heretofore
and elsewhere resulted, as in this election,
in violence, loss of life and intimidation.
How far this effort has resulted in the vir-
tual disfranchisemento of che one race, and
revOlutionized the State government, is q
question worthy the most patient and care
full inquiry.
Unless every class of citizens be thorough
ly protected in the exercise of all their
rights and privileges, our government
proves unequal to its pretentions. The ma
tions, recognizing race antagonisms,h has an
ticipated them in the interests Ofliberty and
equality by notifications of the fundament-
al law of the land, and 1 recommend, as both
such notifications.
THE STATE FINANCES.
The condition of the States finances is
favorable.
The real debt of the State, that Ia, its out
obligations beyond its ability to
pay at once, with its current and available
funds (the taxes received for 1870, amounts
to about 100000.
The Common and Chickasaw School
fluids, debts upon which the interest only
is to be paid, the principal never becoming
due(Ohligations incurred many years since),
amount to 41,630,65d.
The expenses of the State government,
during the past year, amount to $6fS 259 Is.
The amount paid to the two Universities
Of the State, to normal schools, and interest
Oh Chickasaw School Fund. was Sl36, 800 81.
The Mississippi State bonds paid amounted
% $25O,OO0.
Interest on bonds, 1854.
Extra improvements, State buildings, i
l58,O17 A.
The progress made during the past three |
Years, in reducing the expenses of the State |
ia found in the comparison of
Iuch expenses, to-wit:
The expenses in 1873 were .s9s30S0 ID
:" 1875 +" eis,25s is
The successful administration of State |
finances will be seen in the comparison OF
.eceipts and disbursements during the past
i've years:
Disbursements over receipts. for 1871,
1890, $3.50 So.
Disbursements over receipts, for 1872,
;347. 552 SO.
Disbursements over receipts, for 1878,
While, on the other hand, the
Receipts over disbursements were, Tor |
s75, $49.1l II.
Receipts over disbursements were, for
S75 (based on moderate estimate of taxes |
Ilready received and due, over, 100000.
The amendment of the Constitution, |
ldopted at the last election. authorizes the
eductiOn of tie expenses of the Judiciary
% an extent which heretofore has been inn |
The State Indebtedness of half million
AN easily be discharged In two or three
,ears, when the comparatively light tax for
he support of the State government of to-
lay, of about one dollar and thirty cents per
nhabitant, can be reduced to less than one
ioilar.
l recommend n return to the financial
system of1S74, when taxes were paid only
N the currency of the United States. The
receipts were in excess of the expenditures,
Ind had tax collectors been required to col
ect and pay into the treasury the taxes at
IN earlier day, the one defect of the system
would have been remedied. Under existing
law, State paper, by the manipulatiOns of
the Spectator, iuctuates through range
TWO or three times greater than it ought.
Should it be known that at the end of the
year State warrants were to be cashed. they
could not fall below margin which would
7ield liberal interest. The changes recon-
nended will accom- plish this end.
For a complete and detailed statement of
.eceipts, disbursements and Indebtedness
7our attention is called to the official reports
If the State Treasurer, and the Auditor of
Public Accounts.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
The following amendments to the Cons tt
titutiou of the State were adopted at
he general State election, which took
place on the second of November last.
That, in relation to the Union and Planters
1ank bonds, which adds to section five of
article twelve of the Constitution the follow
ng words, to-wit:
"Nor shall the State assume, redeem, Sc
cure, or pay any Indebtedness. or pretended
claimed to be due by the State
If Mississinni tn INV nerson associatinn or