The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-03-06
Practical Lessons.


Several practical lessons have been
taught our people and Legislature by
events of past and recent occurrence
which cannot, with justice to the public,
be ignored. We have seen no cause to
change our opinion that the lawlessness
in Southwestern localities has been great
ly exaggerated, and that no good could
have resulted from commenting upon
them in the wild and extravagant strain
of some of our respected friends of the
press for the reason that well regulated
families never wash their dirty linen be
fore the eyes of the public; but that
lawlessness did exist to more or less
extent in certain localities, we have
never doubted any more than we have
doubted the necessity of dealing with it
with a strong hand. The report Of the
legislative committee has fully confirm
ed US in the opinion which we have en-
serious import. One reflection Is that
the Legislature cannot entirely remove
the cause. If it exists in the imrrovi-
dent system of agriculture which
has neglected subsistence crops for
the single article of cotton, it
must be corrected by the people
themselves. 1t is not in the power of
the Legislature to regulate the private
pursuits of the people. and decide what
they shall plant and reap. There are
some things which are outside the do
main of the Legislature and this is one
of them. But it is in the province of
the Legislature to provide statutes for the
efectual punishment of crime, and to
organize the militia and keep it in con
dition of efficiency to come to the assis-
lance of the civil authorities in putting
down lawlessness and protecting life and
property against outbursts of violence,
whether systematic or sudden.
Anotherlesson is the increasing power
and influence of the great corporations
that conduct the transportation Of the
country. In every State in the Union,
Mississippi included, this fact has be-
come subject of jealousy and alarm by
thoughtful men. 1t is to this fact that the
Granger movement in the West was due,
and from this spirit originated the legisla
ton in those States to restrain them within
i Il
it is we'll known, has been sustained by
the highest judicial authority Of the ma
ton. In many States these grasping
corporations corrupted Legislatures, and
in numerous instances showed themselves
more powerful than the State Govern
ments. In innumereble ways they fri
fed with the rights of the public-arro-
gantly refused to bear their share of the
burdens of the governments which pro-
tected them-and demonstrated the alb
solute necessity of subjecting them to
more efficient control. So great is the
peril, that Congress itself has been call
ed upon to assume the control of these
corporations, which the Supreme Court
has decided belongs exclusively to State
authority. Impelled by the force of
events, even Secretary Sherman has re
that Congress shall take
charge of them and regulate the price of
freights. But such an attempt would
be as futile as it is unconstitutional. 1t
has been again and again judicially de
cided thet Congress can not regulate the
strictly internal commerce of State I'M
der the power to regulate commerce.
Within the limits of the same State a
unless restricted by the Legisla-
ture, may charge such rates as it pleases,
and all the complaints of exorbitant
charges have come from this source. 1t
has been standing grievance for twenty
years that the railroads have made high
charges for local freights to make up
their losses on through freights. The
remedy must be applied by State, not
United States, authority.