The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-07-31
Letter from 4. Nj. West Oh the
Political Situation.
Holly srRrNGs, Miss, April l6, 1873.

HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss, April 16, 1873.
Jyo. T. Hull. ESQ:
DEAR SIR: | am in receipt of your favorof
the 2l inst. You state that you write to say
fbaf "there i a great under current of dis
content among the people on account of the
extreme views of many of the Democratic
lralers" You also express your approval
of the greenback policy, and its kindred
measure-, etc, etc, and then honor me with
the declaration that =" from a careful and
}ang study OF YOUR record in public service
We naturally look o you for advice"
I'M my answer, | shall proceed upon the
bypDfhp,iS that honest economical govern
mart. i'm strict accord with the people, fl
uaucaI relief, and Il renewal OF prosperity
are indispensable 10 the general welfare and
desirable by all good people. | regret the
discomfort to which you refer, especially if
there is well-founded cause for the
same Extreme men adopt extreme meas
ures. and too frequently resort to arbitrary
means to accomplish their objects. They
are disposed to violence and r3cklessness.
hence drive more conservative men from
their companiouship. Their active leader
ship in the church or state. seldom fails to
produce discOrd and sometimes violence. l
am, however, indisposrd to complain of, or
dsparage our political leaders, at this period
Of universal distress, prefering, If possible,
10 unite all in common effort to provide
The means of relief. Besides their zeal may
be mistaken, for extreme intolerance. and
Injustice done them, but be this as it may,
am persuaded that the leaders referred to
are few i'm com parisOn, with those who do
earnestly maintain that ours is govern
meat Of consent, and not of force, with
~tqual rights to all aud exclusive privileges
10 none" and who ''look to the honors OF
their cOuutry--not its plunder-for their
Just reward
We have faIler upon eventful times.
az uSSjDD before The
country is now divided into two distinct
classes, the taxpayer and tax cOnSum er land
which, without a change will doom the
masses To hopeless pOverty-a fact well au-
thcnticated by the history of older coun-
tries under like circumstances. There are,
therefore, questions of sufficient moment
10 engage the prOfOundest craftsmanship II
the country, and animate MS with spirit of
iorbearance and union that we may be
strengthened and qualified for the great
work before Us. After the war were
subjected 10 many varying circumstances.
founded upon arbitrary power, which were
as "abnOrent to the Consti tuition as they
were dangerous to the liberties, the morals
and property of the people" Measures of
Kindred character suggested themselves as
the means of successful reSlStance--aS VlO-
lenCe begetS Violence-errorS under these
influences were unavoidable and common
to all, and have caused us to forget, or neg
lect to put i'm force many of the practices
and principles of the founders of the gov
eminent, and which are called for by the
present necessities of the country. We
should NOR. with one accord, maintain, PRAC-
rCALLY, the sovereignty of law and the
rights of property. Obedience to the laws
should be enforced and violence suppressed,
that free institutions may be preserved In
substance as well as in force. The equality
OF all men in civil and political rights
should be practically recognized, and as the
result of this equality, the right OF every
Ii. inn RI
use his hands and his head for his own ben
ett without infringing upoh the rights OF
others. Money ia the hands of the people
should be considered as part OF their pro-
perty, and any policy which makes 1t more
valuable to-day, and less tomorrow subor
dinates their rights and interest to the Gu
pdty of Spectators, and is an attack on
the rights of property, as direct III prlncl-
pie, as the taking of one mans property
and giving it to another. Grants oy law
of special privileges, affecting persons OF
property, to one man or set OF men, are Vlo-
iatve of the true principles of the govern
ment, as they are attacks upon the rights
OF persons or property of every other man
in the community, and in principle as SUD
VcrSiYe of Justice as to take one man : LABOR
or property for the use OF another, without
compensation or equiValent-and should be
diScountenanccd. All OF which have Deen
most hagrantly disregarded SINCE 1863, by
Congress and by President Grant during his
eight years administrations.
All unnecessary offices in the state a1o
National Governments should be abolished
and the duties of the remaining ones IN
creased Salaries reduced to correspond
with the income and Impoverished resources
of our overburdened people. All double
taxation. on business, property, or DEBTS
whether privilege or extra, should be re
pealed and an honest. consistent revenue
Jaw enacted IhtereSC now authorized DJ
isS. to individuals and banks, should ot
shade Uniform, and the rates greatly re-
Iuced-the right to do SO exists aiIke II
both cases, as neither partakes OF the nature
of a contract. More stringent usury laws
with suitable penalties, should be enacted
All railroads and other paying corporations
should be required TO pay taxes tue same a
individuals, and more et1clent laws Prov
ded for the protection of the people. In IHi
recovery of damages, in cases of eXtortlon
unjust DETERMINATIONS, or any other ABUSE
the powers and privileges of their respee
tive charters. All abatement Acts Ike tn'
one of the last Legislature. for the Denen
OF the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, should D.
forever condemned and opposed as un1us
Determinations against the people. ia
triotism, aud the stringency OF the TIM es
no less than common honesty ana 1usuc
forbid any more legislation In favor Of cor
p0rationS and monOplies as against tn'
masses, auy more subsidies to q tav0rei
few, at the expense of the many, any NOR
robbing of the consumer under the plea
protecting and encouraging the manhtac
turer any more exemption of u, >. Bono
from taxation, F'any more extravaganza,
Injuries in the face of universal want AM
Distress" any more corruptions IN electlons
but an honest intelligent ballot, ana Iai
count We should favor progress 0ntg 4
The direction OF honesty, economys retFehch
ment and pure political morAiltys ana "a
holding of all agents and officers 70 strlc
accountability to their constituents. Inc PEG
pie should be careful to elect men VINO ca
aid will inaugurate policy that VIII turl
capital, from an investment, in governmen
bonds. that now only taxes, the lndustr
OF the country, to the channels OF en-
terprise and active investments in res
estate,in agriculture, in trade and commefcs
and such enterprises al are called by tness
thus giving more active and renumeratv
employment to every form Of mental an
physical labor.
They should also require their Represen
tatives aud Senators TO provide By law q
the Unrestricted free coinage of both siive
and gold. also tho repeal of the resumptlo
act, and the act thar authorizes the fnrthe
issue aud sale Of interest bearing Donu
The principal OF the present natl0Gal deO
OF over tive billions Of dollars Is near 50
nfths more In anaonmt than the sum actual
y received BY the governments large pal
OF which was received In depEeGlRte0 cal
Fenny. By deductfng the discount On Hp
same, will reduce tar bonded debt 20 Iel
than three u ffh8 in money actually receive
from The lenders Consequently the PEI
piN mKm fnxnE over NMoA Il Afhm more annual