The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-08-23

all local control, were almost without
exception composed of negroes. few Of
whom were able u read or write. and
scarcely one of whom was able to com.
pute an ordinary sum in arithmetic Tn
some eases the highest mark of eruliti1u
was the capacity of the chairman me-
chanicaliy 10 sign his name 20 q record
which he was unable 10 read l>ee
deposition OF -- and deposition of
-
The justices Of the peace, generally
unable 10 write and frequently unable d.
read the contents of the process against
person or property which they ISSUED i'm
the name of the law, delivered il TO cnn-
stables equally untitled 10 understand
the nature OF the preccpt or to attest
their action under it. (Nee deposition of
Negro chancery clerks and clerks of
the circuit court and courts Of record
were utterly unable personally 10 perform
their duties, and iutrusted everything CD
some white deputy. (Sec deposition of
--.)
The consequence of this local mispov-
ernment is an increase of taxation
amounting 10 confscation, and is well
expressed in the language of petition 10
the Legislature by the taxpayers of the
State, in January, 1873, from which we
make the following extract;
But probably the most fragrant evil
Of which the taxpayers complain and the
greatest outrages pcrpetratcd ON their
rights arise from the action OF the boards
of supervisors.
"This court is really the most impor-
tant of any i'm the State, and should la
composed of the very best men in tho
several counties. As general rule, wo
are sorry 10 say, the members Of this
board are wholly unfit 10 discharge their
duties, and are without responsibility or
accountability. This, however. is not
the fault Of the Legislature OF the State,
| except in so far a. 10 encourages such
men to seek for that position. Tho
| county levies, in large majority of tho
! counties, are eXtravagant and oppressive
| beyond all endurance. The contracts
for public work are made without ccono-
my or care, and with a reckless indiHer-
ence TO the interest of the public. These
boards in some instances, employ their
own members to do the work not author
lied by law, merely for the purpose Of
making them eXtravagant allowances.
In many instances these members are
wholly ignorant, and are completely un-
der the control Of the clerks and sherins
Of these counties, tOwh0m they make eX-
travagant allowances. This is a great
evil, and we suggest that remedy which
alone seems adequate. Legislation should
be Immediately enacted fixing the MAXI
mum rate Of taxation at 30 per cent.
in the State, beyond which they shall not
90 in any instance.
"Ihesc boards should also be prohibited
from making amy contracts, orallowanccs,
or appropriations, except when there is
money in the treasory to pay them. And
every such order or warrant so made and
ordered, when there is no money IN tho
! treasury sufficient 10 pay it,, should DO
declared utterly null and void, and all
persons concurring in making or issuing
them be declared guilty of "A misdemoan-
or in office, and punishable for such as
provided by law
To this urgent and respectful appeal
no response whatever was made. (Seo
deposition Of +. Barksdale, p. 453.)
The runous effects Of such system Of
misgovernmcnt upon the real estate and
property which are subject to il is 10 ho
found in the testimony Of Shaoklelord, "a
Republican exjudge, At p.
SO that not only is all immigration
prevented, but the possibility Of OBJ
tanning loans Of money upon real estate
for the purpose Of Improvement is de-
stroyed,
The system Of public schools seems 10
| have been literally maintained chiefly
! for the advancement Of the blacks, but
necessarily at the pecuniary cost of tho
whites, whose properly mainly eontribu-
ted from It's burdens TO sustain them.
This, however, would not have been
subject ofcomplaint if there had been
anything like equality OF opportunities
for the establishment of white schools,
which were necessarily at the cost Of tho
white people.
An instance of tho gross inequality
and injustice Of the action of these acgro
boards OF supervisors and the insOlence
and overbearing conduct OF the mcm-
! bers is to be found in the case i'm lssaque-
ma county. (See deposition Of William
A. Parrish, at p.-)
And the deposition Of.
The choice Of REGISTRAR and judges Of
election was such as made fair elections
hopeless, as viii be illustrated by the
case Of Warren county, which we shall
/ consider hereafter in this report
The Legislature Of the State, under
| Governor Amos, contained a large ma
jority u negroes, and was coutessedly 70
yenal body Of men, in which the defeat
Of any measure of reform or the passage
Of any measure Of iniguity could be-
a ,.F
among the members. See deposition Of
y
As to the relation Of Governor Ames
to the white people of the State Of Mis-
sissippi, il is best described by his own
| language at pages Is and II Of The testi-
mony, in which be says:
Question. When did you first go to
| Mississippi?
Answer. I went there in 1867.
O. In the Army, ! believe?
a. Yes, sir.
.. When were you elected Senator?
\. In 1870.
Il. Had you any intention 10 settle
IN Mississippi prior TO your election
a. / viii say not long previous 10
that and permit me to say that found
when / was military Governor there
that there was a black code existing, and
that the negroes had no rights Whatever;
that they were not permitted 70 exercise
any Of the rights Of citizenship. ! had
given them the protection they were en-
titled to under the Government Of tho
United States, and 1 believed that 4
could render them great service. felt
that had a mission to perform in their
interest, and / hesitadngly consented TO
represent them and unite my fortune
with theirs.
1t will seem, therefore. by his own vol-