Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-15
mn KEMPER CouNTY rRlsONERs.

MlscellaneOus.
THE KEMPER COUNTY PRISONERS.
In the trial before United states Circuit
Court, OF the case Of certain citizens OF
kenper county, charged with conspiracy
ana preventing a lair congressional elec.
ton when Judge ChisOlm vas a candidate,
the jury this morning returned a verde,
OF ''not guilty"
Mr.. BENT CONFIRMED.
The appointment OF Mr. {. 4. Bent, as
superintendent Of Education Of Warren
county, has been confirmed by the Senate.
RUS ac'i n will give great satisfaction in
Nieksburg.
THE vICKsBURG MEMORIAL AGAINST
THE MOFFETT REGISTER BILL.
To the Honorable Senate and II II Of
Representatives VI the State Ut Missis.
sippi:
Gentlemen--The undersigned merchants
and citizens OF NiCksOurg respectfully beg
leave To submit the following reasons
against the passage NJ the "M0lett Regis.
ter law" or any bill working upon the
same principle, and beg that your hOnOra.
BILE body give them due aud careful con.
sideraliOn:
lst. Because we are alre dy taxed to
ShN WY NNAnt VI tuhu Au'Ns phN GtAhE
and city tax Tor the privilege Of retailing
vinOus aud spirituOus liquors Is $500; In
ternal Revenue License, $2j; besides
which, we pay an ad valOrem tax to State,
city and county, Of tour and six tenths
per cant. on the amount Of capital invested
IN trade.
I'd. Because the proposed law will hold
out q premium to dishonest dealing, fraud,
and perjury, that cannot fail TO operate to
the disadvantage and loss Of the fair.mind.
ed and conscientious dealers. 1t will give
an Inscriptions bar.keeper the same adj
vantage over an honest competitor that
the d%lstiller OF ''crOoked" whisky has over
the distiller who pays his tax.
81. Because under the most favorable
circumstances 1t would %inaugurate q sys.
tenn OF bribery, black.mailing and espi0n-
age that cannot fail of having a Oaletul Ell
feet upon the moral sense OF the cOmmu-
nifty. A law that makes every patron OF a
bar-roOm an involuntary spy upon the bar.
keeper Is a disgrace TO the statute.bOOk OF
an enlightened community.
4th. Because II would deprive the Com
mon School Fund Of a talr and fixed reve-
nue., IN q favor Of a system that opens the
door to all kinds Of fraud and evasion, and
Is at best but a hazardous experiment.
9th. Because II would amount to virtual
CUnti ycatiJn Of our property, and leave Us
at the mercy II every dishonest competi-
tor who may see tit 70 enter our line Of
business, Assuming that the present
price OF a drink OF whisky Is fifteen cents,
aud the proposed tax two and a half cents
on each drink sold, this would amount "
a tax Of sixteen per cent on our sales. We
respectfully submit that u tax OF sixteen
per cent 10 more than any business can
live under, and suIe to result In the bank
ruptcy Of every honestly disposed dealer
In the Stat9. 1t will not, however, either
stop Or decrease the traffic In whisky; II
any such result Is c0atemp plated by the adj
yOcates Of the bill, they will be disap-
pointed, The men who will not scruple at
paying blackmail 10 the tax.cUllector, and
whose co scieuce will receive no shock At
the taking OF a false oath, and cooking
up" false returns, are abundant and will
ind no difficulty In carrying on business
under the proposed system with Great
piOtt to themselves. | Is only the cOnsci'
cntiOus aud honest dealer who will go Ia
the wal. The rogue will thrive. The mo.
'us Operandi will readily suggest Itself "
every thingiog mind.
9Th. Because II will enlarge and iacill.
tate the traffic in whisky without increas-
ing the public revenue. We hold II 10 be
against public policy II put II within the
power OF every man with II a twenty dol.
lar bill Ia his pocket, to open a bar.
room, There would certainly ne q fright
ful increase Ut bar-rOums, The business Is
now for The most part confined " men who
furnish q fair article tor a lair price. Toe
new - stem would throw the trade open T.
an invasion " all kinds OF men, and all
classes Of gO0ds. Many Il man who Is now
deferred from engaging in the traffic OF
liquor, from 4 want NJ suiicient capital 10
pay the very heavy license tax now
/ al A NFfl I.a ..tnh ,RIpRlnaVa tgsARll nnlnF
the proposed change, ind no obstacle In the
way OF administering the vilest pDisOo u
an undiscriminating public. Al that he
will requ re before launching out INFO
business will be u quart Of whisky, q gal.
ion of beer, or MI1ctt Register, anu a
pliable conscience. Tue rest will follow
naturally.
9Th. Because, admit ng.for the sake OF
argument that the revenue might be large
~ increased thereby, yet we Insist That
there is no reason why 80 e~xtravagant q
tax should be Imposed upon a branch oil
trade that already pays a handsome revC'
nue. to the State. Our State debt IS Q nall
and rapidly diminishing; our school o. s.
TEN gradually adjusting itself TO the wants
Ol our people, and a prosperous future In
other respects lies before us. Mississippi
can get along without the MOfctt Register
other States may need the aid Of such
beRgarly %expedients to pay OF their pub,
lie debts, but we trust that II honOred
State will show the world that che need
not resort 70 such tyrannical aud arbitra
y measures 10 discharge her honest Obli
atoms.
In view ofthe~ foregoing, your petitioner,
pray that the "RegisteT" scheme will re-
cciVe q prompt quietus at your hands, ant
as 10 duty bound will ever pray, etc.
VIcksburg, January %, 1878.
(The Memorial has q large number o
sIgnatures.) Z.