The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-09-18
Letters from the People.
STATE AID FOR THE STATES SICK DAN
STARVING.
COMMUNICATED

COMMUNICATED.
1t is felt by all that some response should
be made to the pteous appeals for aid which
are ascending from Grenada Vicksburg
and every point in the State "where the
angel of death has spread his wings on the
blast.'' Those appeals have reached the
hearts of hundreds of thousands, and charity
is being literally dispensed in our behalf
from every city, village and hamlet in the
North, the East,and the West; the only rival
nv being which should contribute the largest
amount. We did not stop with appeals to
Private charity. We came with our cause
before the Federal G0UeTnD1ent-which had as
little power TO extend its aid as our State
Government is said to pOssess-and subss-
tence for sick and well was poured out upon
the inhabitants of our doomed districts as
mama from heaven on the children of
Israel when furnishing in the wilderness.
The point which | wish to make sharp, is
this: With what grace could we go before
the Federal Officials, whose powers are as
limited In the use OF public money or pro-
perty, as our own, aud ask them TO aid our
distressed citizens, after own State officials
had refused to take the responsibility of
providing for their wants from the thousands
of dollars nOtc in the UGttttS OF the Treasury
Who, for a moment, doubts that one of the
first acts OF the session of Congress will be
eral officials
Until frost,it may not be practicable to as
semble the Legislature. But there are prec-
edents in the history of our State for the
exercise of just such responsibility as the
Governor has been petitiOned to take in
this emergency, and for an appeal to the
Legislature to sanction his course.
In his message of Sth January, 1856, Gov.
McRae stated that the expenses of the
Lunatic Asylum for the two previous years,
exceeded the appropriation $4,000; that
the physician and trustees represented that
the institution would be abandoned, or that
the inmates would suffer for the want of
necessary supplies, and that he had given
his approval to the Auditor and Treasurer
in advancing SIC, 000 on the trustees filing
their bond to indemnify the State for its
return, if not sanctioned by the Legislature
On his recommendation, the Legislature
prem pity sanctioned said action. The
Board of Trustees at that time, consisted of
Geo. 5. Yerger, president; and w. L. An
derson, John c. Carpenter, ID. n Barrows,
and C.. E. Hooker, mem berS. The same
difficulty was then suggested-there was no
law authorizing the Au 1itor TO issue or the
Treasurer to pay warrants, ifissued beyond
actual appropriations made to the tnsIitu-
ton. The difficulty was overcome in the
cordially approved such action, and
promptly returned the amount.
Under the administration of Governor
Melville, a similar thing occurred In his
message OF Sth January. 1904, ne stated that
the appropriation made tor The su port OF
that institution, Insufficient and was
exhausted before the next session of the
Legislature, and the trustees had to borrow
ON thtfr own credit. 5000, TO supply lis
wants. Tie amount was at once returned
to them by legislative appropriation.
It's believed, that If the money Is not in
the treasury, the amount needed for the re-
lief OF our own suffering fellow-citizens,
could have been obtained from the banks
lorx. ~ IN EieIshflrO F1ron the assn "a nee of
the Governor that he would recommend the
Legislature at les session to make an apprO-
priation to provide tor t.
MaagIssIRREAH.