The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1878-02-24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SATURDAY, February %, 1873

SATURDAY, February u. 1873.
House met pursuant to adjournment.
Speaker PERCY in the Chair. Prayer by
Rev J. T. Zealy, ID. ID. Roll call:
PREsENT-Messrs. Aldrich. Allen. Apple
white, Augustus, Bailey, Baker, Bassett,
Bean, Bird, Brown, Bunch, Carter, Catch
ing, Causey, Cham berlain, Cook, Cooper,
Cunningham of Marshall, Cunningham of
Monroe. Davidson, Dean, DeHham, Eaton.
Edw ards, Erwin, Farley, Field. Ford Ghol-
son, Gibson, Gimer, Glass, Gordon, OWN,
Hall, Hampton, Hatch, HeaGh'nan. Henry,
Hicks of Kinds, Hin, Hogiu, Hoyle, Hurt,
johnson. Lewis, Liddell, Lusk, Marshall of
Carroll, Marshall Of Holmes. Marshall of
Warren, Martin, McCoIlum, McGehee OF
wilkinson. McSwine, McWborter, Metts,
Miller of Copiah, Montgomery OF Marshall,
Moore, Nelson, Niles, Num-, Parker, Pc
gram, Perkins, Pintard, Rainey, Ramsey,
Reed of CnOctaw, Reid of CoahOma, Red
head, Richardson, Roane, Roberts, Robin
son, Scott. Seabrook, Seal, Stands, Smith,
Spght, Sppks, Stamper, Showers, Street,
Tarver. TIson, Trest. Tucker. Wall. War
rem. Washington, Whitaker, Wilson, Young
OF Panola-97.
ABSENT Messrs. Ballard, Bizzell. Cam
eron, Clay. Dabney, Day, Dockery, Dozier,
Farmer. Gallagher, Goodrum, Hicks of
YazOo, Key, Libby. Love, Magee of Frank
| lin, Mckenzie, Mclean, Miller of Panola,
Montgomery or Oktbbeha, Moody, Wood
and Young OF Calhoun-23
| Leave of absence was granted to Messrs.
Dozier, Smith, Dockery, Mckenzie, Bizzell
and Moody.
| THE SOUTHWESTERN COUNTIES.
Mn. SPEAKER-Your special committee sp-
pointed TO investigate alleged state of law
| lessness in southwestern counties, have given
| the subject that careful and deliberate
| consideration which its great Importance
demands. We have summoned and taken the
testimony of quite a number of intelligent
and reliable persons, living in Amite and
! Pike counties. We have also had before
the testimony Of "A number of parties taken
before officers in the counties in question, and
numerous private letters. From these various
sources of information, II has been ascertained
that since the early part OF last Fall, there has
been more or less lawlessness existing in the
counties Of Amite, Pike, Franklin, Lincoln,
and sometimes spreading to adjoining cOun-
ties, manifesting itself. Persons going about
at night leaving threatening notices, whip
ping and sometimes killing persons, and
burning houses Your committee have sought
diligently for cause for this state of affairs,
but are unable to arrive at any conclusion 9TH
er than the general financial depression Of
the country. We are satisfied, however, that
the parties engaged in this lawlessness are
not influenced by political considerations it
is rather q spirit OF agrarianIsm, a
consequence, as it appears, Of the
unfortunate financial management of the
people who have seen their homes
and other property, pass, under mortgage and
deeds of trust, into other hands. few years
ago these counties were as prosperous, inde-
pendent and law abiding as any section of the
State, but the system of agriculture, OF max
ing cotton at a low figure TO purchase the ne
cessaries of life at high prices, has caused
their condition to grow from bad to worse un-
til these people have become dispondent I'D
have given way to an unfortunate and/de-
plorable communstic feeling. Such Dues
ton aa is here presented, is by no means q
new one. 1t is subject that has from time TO
time puzzled our wisest statesmen in different
parts of our common country. The committee
desire to emphasize the fact that this question
has nothing to do with politics. These lauless
persons have no animo.ity toward the color
ed people, for evidence of which, your commit
tee refer to the dsavowals on this subject made
in the many anonymous notes and letters
scattered over the country by these men to
terrify and alarm the people. Their object
seems to be a desire TO dive off the laborers
and tenants of the land holders, and not to
iniure the laborers themselves Ii is a spirit
Of communism SIN in its incipiency, which, IN the
opinion Of your committee, will demand wig
orous and immediate action the part
Of every lawfully constituted authority OF
the Government, if law and order are to be re-
| stored to that section Of the State. We are
happy to state that lawlessness, By no means
prevails throughout these counties, but ia
confined to certain localities. By far the
larger portion, and the better class of the peo-
pie are desirous that law and order should
{ prevail, and are ready and willing TO coop
crate with the authorities in putting down tbs
violstors of the law. The committee has as
eertained further that the Courts and proper
) officers dilligent in the attempt TO enforce
the law in these counties, and it is no fault OF
, theirs that this condition. OF affairs exists
The great difficulty is that these lawless per
, sons go about at light and keep so well con
cealed and have witnesses usually so terrified
that it is almost impossible to bring them Il
. justice. The ofhfers, aided by good ciliIens
i Continued on Fourth Page.)