The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-09-20


ferred or advised with me about any
thing or matter whatever. being by law
his legal adviser speak OF this to say
that l am not responsible before the
country for any of his blunders.
REFORM rRAMPLKD uSDER Foor.
In January, 1866, the Legislature
met (after short extra session in De
cember, 1874, and then the friends of
economy and reform were hopeful OF
some legislation that would give relief
to the people and give TO the party a
record that could be defended before the
country. TIE taxes are TOO high, espe-
cially as the property was. in the main.
unproductive, and nalief was asked for
by the whole people. A few of US were
in earnest in our entreafies for good and
honest State Government so much so
that on the 10th of February last, l
wrote al open letter to the Hon. A.
Warner, prominent Republican State
Senator, which was published, and in which
gave him what regarded as the dutyof
the party in the Legislature. The lower
House Endorsed my letter by resolution
and promised to act upon its suggestions.
1t advised liberal and honest policy,
pointed out the danger of defeat if We
pursued the course of other Southern
States, and preAicted the result that has
ensued; begged the party to redeem its
pledges, If it would protract its lease of
power; declared that If it violated its
pledges it deserved to be defeated, using
every argument in my power to induce
the proper action on the part of the
Legislature, pointing out the means by
which expenses could be cut of and the
taxes reduced.
l advised reduction in the matter of
public printing. The Legislature passed
bill and the Governor vetoed it. (Ray-
mOnd was State printer.) 1 advised
reduction in the salary of County Super
intendents of Public Education. The
Legislature passed the bill and the Gov
ernor vetoed it / advised change in
the Constitution, so as to give US biennial
sessions of the Legislature CThis would
save nearly 100000 per annum.) We
had pledged it in our message. The
resolution passed the lower House and
went to the Senate. There the Gov
ernor actually lobbied the Senate and
advised his friends to vote against it, and
defeated it by one vote.
On the contrary, in his aspirations for
the United States Senate, it seemed nee
essarY to strengthen his hands by giving
him more patronage and power. At
this time, it may be well to note, that
quite number of the Legislators, hav-
ing no interest or connection with or in
the State, were out Of employment, ex-
cept during the session, and set about to
create new offices, and did create the of
fee of revenue agent" whose duty it
was to hunt up frauds, defalcations, etc.,
and receive half the sums collected as his
pay, and the Governor appointed to this
Office five members of the Legislature, in
open violation of the express provision of
the Constitution. They having created
the Offices could not hold them by ap-
pointment. (See Constitution, Art. ".
Sec. SO. This gave lucrative employ
ment for his friends, while they could
work for him for the United States Sen
ate, and believe that was generally a
condition precedent to his appointments.
Again, in the face of the Constitution,
his adherents introduced a bill authori-
zing him to appoint the tax collector for
saSe nGen eS06s cSacGng neS IN Snlen Sped psos a
informed by a member) were presented
to force members to pledge their support
to the bill The Governor approved it,
and acted under it in one or two cases,
and the Supreme Court has set that law
aside as unconstitutional. (See L.
French, agt. The State of Mississippi,
opinion.)
Thus it will be seen that the party in
this State has been governed and con-
trolled by few men-not to exceed a
half dozen, including the Governor
who have persistently violated the Con-
stitution, and the most sacred pledges
that the party had made in its platform.
Then, in two instances he approved two
bills on the same day which contradicted
each other, and this with few other
objectionable blunders, caused the call
ing of an extra session of the Legislature
in July last, without any extraordinary
occasion, thus giving us three sessions in
eight months, instead of one in two
years, as We had promised.
AMEs' PARTY BLUNDERs.
Then came the canvass for the Novem-
Der election of 1875. The State Con
ventiOn was held with Morgan, as Chair
man. 1t not only failed, but positiI ely
refused TO endorse the National Admin
istraticn, Senator Pease insisting on it !;
but before the delegation started to Wash
ington to ask for the removalI Of several
OF the Government officers, they called a
Central Executive Commlttee together,
and they endorsed your administration
and added it as section 20, and then
started to the capital to ask the removal
of Senator Pease, Judge Stearns, and
Capt Lake, to make room for some ol
their friends.
] presume that the reasons Of the
refusal to indorse the National Admins
tration were this: The Governor hac
proclaimed that he had "been snubbed'
: by the administration at Washington
) The Governor had commenced his fgh
: on Senator Pease doubtless because b,
thought Pease would be in his way fo
E the United States Senate He and How
, fought Col. Wells, because they though
/ Wells would be in Howe's way for re
0 election to Congress, and it seems nov
: that he was. You will perceive that ther
+ is some difference of opinion among Re
e publicans here as to what is true an,
e genuine Rcpublicanism; the adherents G
d the State administration who have pul
r sued a suicidal policy on the one hand
o and on the other, those of US who advocat
l. and defend the National Administration
: and insist upon honest and economics
e State government.
!. As a further evidence Of the efet
L produced by their course of conduct in tn
n recent canvass, there was not a man
g the State who would so stultify himse
as to undertake to defend the recol
made by the party IN the last two years
and We were under the necessity Of di
ID cussing men instead of measures, and !
d. one could meet the Democrats in joi
tY discussion as formerly. Senator Peas
le Gen. Mckee, Judge Stearns and myse
Te made few speeches for Wells again
n. Howe, the friend of Ames, and for th