The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1878-02-12
WAS HHNGTON COR ss E1sPOND
E2NCE.
yEr. Lamar TnfervieSvPG-Eat
and Things isa Washington
WASHINGTON, February 6, 1873.
WHAT Mr.. LAMAR SAYS.

evening called on Mr.. Lamar TO near MS
views on the subject of bis instructions. He
spoke very freely, as he always does, of the
great question upon which he differs from
the majority of his constituents. He grants
freely the absolute right of the Legislature
OF his State to instruct him as to their
wishes in respect to the important issues
which come before the Senate. He spoke
in most mplimentary terms of the pres
ent Legi-lature--many mem bers of which
he knows to be gentlemen of education, tai
ent and character; men who would honor
and adorn any station in life. He was sorry
to have to differ with the people of his
State on the Silver Bill--and saddened that
many of them thought proper TO misnter-
pref his motives. He had never harbOred /
thought but for the honor of his State, nor
enterta ned an ambition distinct from her
welfare. But when the Matthews Resolu-
ton come up, what course other than the
one he pursued, was left open to him? He
had always held, he said, that absolute hon.
esty OF purpose and candor of expression
were indispensable virtues III public Off
cial. He could not rise In his place and
give utterance and support to policy
which he believed in his heart would bring
distress upon his people. He had made Po-
ltical Economy. and especially that branch
of it re atihg to tinafces, study for more
than quarter of n century; and had, Of
tate; studied PARTICULARLY the authors who
took view OF the double standard different
from his own. But with every investiga-
ton he was the more deeply fixed ia his
convictions.
The great elements OF strength, continued
Mr.. Lamar, which make a people prosper
Gus and happy, had opposed the South.
Deeming our section ready Away, since the
war, to embark in every reckless scheme of
reputation, these elements in the North,
to-wit Capital, the pllpit, and the press
had astonished our section. Capital was
alway timid, and the South should concil-
late it. We need building up, and most of
all, capital was required to do it. We must
stimulate great enterprises in our long
de>olate borders, To this end, we must ask
the Government to indOrse the bonds neces-
sary to prosecute the work; but how could
these bonds find market when it is known
that they are to be paid in deprecated coin,
worth but ninety cents to the dollar? Gov
ernment bonds had, he said, already depre-
ciated in the marts of Europe since the
discussion of the Silver Bill.
He was mortified that his friends at home
should impugn his motives. A certain cleo
ton to the Vice Presidency would be but a
tritling compensation for dishonoring HIM
self IN bis own, and in the estimation of his
State and section. If personal ambition had
influenced his action, he would have adopt
ed the Silver policy, for however much New
1Or'- may count in National Convention.
no man could ever hope to secure a nominal
ton who did not carry the full strength Of
his State and section. My constituents, he
added, ought not to wish that | should
go about like pot-house politician.
seeking only the popular side of great
questions. But, he continued, in a tone of
sadness, while no man is more sensitive to
the good'opinion of his friends than myself
[ am not cast down by the harsh judgment
of those who wrong me. While in the zenith
of my fame and popularity, did not suffer
myself to become unduly elated, knowing
that the fortunes of a public man are vari-
able and tluctuating; hence, while under
the censure of my State, and on the under
side of the wheel, 1 am not dejected-trust-
ing to that time which sets all things even
and indicates the course of those who act
from high and honorable motives.
Mr.. Lamar plainly feels mortified that the
press and people of Mississippi do not stand
by and sustain him. If they had done so, he
he pnnl1 no 70 RI
South at this time. He has received letters
from many of the best men in the country
notably, Mr.. Adams, of Massachusetts,
who say that his speech has done more for
the South than anything that has been
spoken written since the war. The Post,
of this city, though not agreeing with Mr..
Lamar Oh the silver question. declares that
his recent speech on the subject is the first
specimen of forensic craftsmanship since
the trial of Wa".tn Hastings. | have given
you but an imperfect synopsis of his con-
versatio1, but regard for your space forbids
further notice thereof at this time.
THE TIMBER OUTRAGE.
Colonel Hooker, with the cooperation and
assistance of the entire Mississippi delega-
ton, pressed the bill to its passage, provid-
ing for special term of the United States
Court, to be held in Jackson county, on the
Mississippi coast, to try the suits instituted
by the Government VS.. certain sO-called
timber thieves in that section. In this
wholesale procedure against the guilty and
innocent alike, the Secretary of the Interior
has dore great injustice. Over seventy
mills are standing idle, and when 1 state
that according to Mr.. Hooker, the vessels
which moved this timber (and which are
also great losers by this enforced ideness.) }
averaged timber freightage of near 81, :
100000 year from these seventy mills, an
estimate of men thrown out of employment
and of the millions of dollars lost by the