Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1877-01-20

II increasing. and each wear adds to the
facilities Of irin>purtatiuu wit: diminish
cd cost. Some ul hrrAilroadsutth state.
iuriuw the financial crisis. have been
completes! t. 20 into liquidation. New
.cun.nauic> have been organized to mali
ag,' them
4he volume Of commerce on the NV
crS in and bordering on the state has
greatly diminished. and yetthc
of the state. on the Mississippi and Mis-
-.lurI rivers. j. OF immense value.
transportation by water IS cheaper
than by railroad. and. until ireights shall
hr carried rs cheap by railroad rs by
water. the great bulk OF our n%gricuitu-
raj products may he carried to market
on the wafer routes.
we require cheaper transportation.
and demand that the railroads III this
state shall not discriminate in their
irrjght~ against the interests OF our peo-
PIE. Tins demand is reasonable and
>uuuld oc granted.
SINCE the adjournment Of the iesisla-
turr. the people OF the state have adopt
r,l q new constitution. MANY r~estric-
lions on the power of the Legislature have
been Incorporated in it. and safeguards
.,lnpted to insure pure and wise Icglssa-
ton. Whilst those safeguards may rem
der the enactment OF laws more tedious
aud ttrdy. yet il fashions the responsible
itV uf legislation upon all the members
al the legislature instead of Il tew-all
:trw have tn" opportunity to know. with
ur treat effort Of their II the contents
at MI bills ahuu! to be signed by the pre-,
- L.. > IL, ,N,.- = TIM tN-, ,,I1SaS unti 4,
"',>rrve whether. IN their enactment,c v'
cry requirement OF the constitution ha:
been oDevcd.
1t : better to proceed cautiously ant
De right. than proceed rapidly aud par
.I;.ps bc wrong
We are called upon to adapt the laws
Il the state to the requirements ot thu
.yw constitution. Many OF the laws re.
4u.re modification, that they may bt
c.aa"mablc t. 1t. Many reforms have
...rI introduced in that constitution ,anC
>..Ition,- required To give them effect
The people ri this state have senslbly
felt tir convenience and misfortune oI
i .artic debt. To prevent its increase
n. z recurrence OF that evil. no debto ct
l..-atuI, can he created by he state
ct nt ANY Municipality. unless with the
consent Il tvn-thiris at the voters, a
an election !, be heidi for that purpose
Anjjn addition thereto. provision mus
he n!t,tv tor the levv!Dg OF Il tax for the
payment Of interest regularly. and the
pa, :ueul # the principal within Z giver
tim. Had such provisions been con
ts.lcl in Il FORMER constitutions. muct
to, the indebtedness with winch the state
and the counties are now burdened
w,G.I not hlvt. b en- incurred; and
whist W. look 10 this constitution i:
the embodiment OF many reforms, let u
be careful that i'll future Legislation we
s...il Introduce reform where reform:
MT. Ire demanded, bearing in mind. how
ever. that nil amendments oil laws art
Not reforms
fac people OF this STATE have fixed tht
naNImEm Of taxation for its ordinary
expenses In the execution of the law,
.,. Jar a--cs~TrLt ct property. murI
~..gpcftv i assessed too low, and 10 III,
considerable amount escapes taxation
IT,, i.Irr- AnL this disposition t,
rvatIr TAXATION i, more strongly eXhib
tel n times ii financial distress, ant
embarrassment.
ltLIt;LNt
Whether the ordinary expenses of the
state ctu Ice .ie.r:.;cI with the mean.
o~n..lu.,I hy ;.le present rate OF taxation,
i q problem nov about L. be solved.
Ne must cc~ununI:Ze: we must reduce
IN. expenditures OF orr government. /,
il...F be difficult To 10 80, but it must be
"a It.
yr must bear in mind that the eXac-
tn of more taxes than are necessary for
TIA. economical administration OF our
vetnmr..t plumbers the people.
Taxation j. cherrla!Iy borne when the
pl bile e~Almeucy demands Il. We should
III lctvor t. place TAXATION At its lowest
ijlaIts. \ vast area OF or state IS IN,
cultivated. Much otoUr mineral wealth
IL not developed. We invite popula.
ION. And 40 all our sources of wealth
and PROSPERITY we can with truth, say
the taxes OF the municipal and state
governments ar low, We offer strong
Inducements Tor tn" cnterprisimg indus
triOuS and intelligent people 10 make
their abode with Us. And if the laws
we NAV continue o. our statute book,
md those which We hereafter enact,
shall contain wholesome beneilceut and
Wis provisions. and il our laws shall
pe faithfully executed iu'! impartiatly
administered, with light taxation and
economy practiced III every branch ot
the public service, we may expect tc
sre the wealth and population of ouI
81 lie rapidly increase. The world Is
governed too much" is an old and tritc
saving. and yet true. But few laws are
AL. 49, f.- III, ,r,V-nt-pT m abt and
god order OF 4 community. The ire,
qrIeut change and alteration Of laws
creates confusion and prcpleNity, aM,
should therefore, il possible. be avoided,
BIT the rulc should not lead to the con
tiuuanrc on the statute book ut i law
whose provisions are unwI7c. and whic!
operates in a harsh and oppressive rI,n'
nor. Ii ANY such thcIc be, let The RENE,
d be administered
The peace and good of community
depends. in a great degree, IN the faith
IL, and impartial execution OF the laws
We have not yet reached the millennium
Human nature is the same it has beer
for the lat 5000 wears. Grim,
Will bu prrpctratrd, and criminals must
Dc punished. The certainty and mol
th" severity of punishment deters til,
commission of crime.
Equal RIGHTS.
The laws we enact are for the benef,
If al. and to operate alike on the hIgf
and the low, the rich and the poor. 81
in the execution Ut the laws no distlnC
ton should be made. Within Il few
years past. freedom. the right OF suffrage
Eligibility to office, and in short the
tme civil right, the white man enjoy,
have been conferred or the cOiored race
Nc one seeks Ia deprive the colorcC
nan OF the rights he enjoys. and II the
uttcnpt should bemadc 1t would be futile
equality ot civil and political right
vii continue a. long sthis government
>h4.I endure The laws are as much
for the benefit and protection OF tn.
"',. Is iur the other, and mast be eXccu'
trgj and enforced on all alike. promise,
Il, The chief executive OF this state, tc
e.r,utr the Laws %iaithlulIy and impair
:it.iy. regardless ot all considerations
except what right and Justice demand
REVISION OF LAWS.
7" comply with requirements of the
constitution IN Il revision bv this or bv tho
next legislature
recommend provision be made fol
the appointment at a committee or :
commission Of able jUrists who shall pre-
pare Il revision of our laws and make &
report OF tn" same to the secretary OI
state prior to the meeting OF the next
legislature.
" $50 IL