The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-04-16
rne situation in mississippi.

EDrroRs CLARION: 1t has frequently been
aid that the condition of our agricultural
interest is anomalous in this, the landlords,
tenants and supply men, are all worsted IN
tb. effort to build them up. No one connected,
at all intimately, with agriculture succeeds
the tiIlers of the soil becomes beggars; the
landlord. no matter how vigilant, economical
and exacting, foots up loss at the end oil
every wear; and the merchant, who sells on
credit with the security of lien, finds 1t the
r,le carry over balances from year to year,
..aIl the while sending little more good money
after bad, and with illusory prospect OF charg-
ing the character of entries in "Proht and
Loss account Why is all this? How does
il happen that the colored men OF the country,
familiar with all the details OF cotton planting,
aud working, in the main, fairly and honestly
do not make enough 10 buy, or pay tor, the
very limited supply OF meat and bread when
is doled ont to them during the year How
does it happen that our country merchants are
almost all bankrupt? What is the relief need
ed by the people? These suggest themselves
to the thinking men of the State; and, while
politics must engage our attention until the
rights of local government and the sovereign
" of the States are restored in their Constltu-
tional integrity still we must look after the
material prosperity of the people, or our sue
cess politically will be a sham and pretence.
The recent exodus to Kansas, as l take 1t,
is not the sudden result of the villalnous
schemes OF emissaries in the pay of railway
companies For years the laborers in the in
terror counties of the State have made nothing.
[ say nothing, because they had failed to earn
an amount equal to the cost OF the meat and
bread consumed by them during the year
1t is quite evident that no people can live IN
any country contentedly under these adverse
circumstances They must, of necessity, mi
grate-the negroes where they can find employ
ment at regular wages; the poorer white PEG
pie to some more favored region, in which, at
least, the cost of living will be reduced to
reasonable limit l am credibly informed
that during the fall of 1878 numbers OF our
white people went to Texas to better their
fortunes and very few of them viii ever re-
turn The loss of our laborers and tenants
will be incalculabe l believe in diversity
ing our products; but nature has intended our
country for the production OF cotton, corn, SUI
eeive our prime consideration we will be wholly
undone.
Ii we must make cotton, we must arrange
all the details incident to its production, so as
to do justice to the producer He is entitled to
a living-to moderate subsistence for himself
and children-and must be considered in the
calculation for profit made by those who grow
rich by handling the fruits OF his toll. In this
work there must be concession banker
must reduce his interest charges-the mer-
chant his profits,-the doctor and lawyer their
Zee bilI,-the factor his exactions,-and the
landlord his rents. The scheme is not Utopi-
an; and, if necessary, the Legislature must
listen to the cry of the distressed people and
place obstacles in the way OF extension no
matter what phase it may assume. What be-
comes of your great State when her yeomanry
leaves her fields desolate? What, OF your
boosted credit if the landowners become una
BILE to pay their taxes? Can you reach by
taxation the vast amount OF money boarded up
and invested in bonds? Ii, by your legisla-
ton, you absolutely prevent the planters from
borrowing money at a reasonable rate OF in
terest, what are they to do? You may chant
praises to the bonds at par while the laborers
are starving and their children begging
bread" but you can never restore confidence,
quiet distrust, and satisfy the people until
something is done for their relief.
All power, we are taught, resides in the peo-
Pile They can create and destroy; they can
bear heavy burdens for years and then they
can, when driven to the wall, throw them off
and bring to grief the authors of their ruin.
IL by a system OF legislation in the interest of
the few, the people are taxed to pay
bonds which should never have been is
sued, they will claim the right to repu-
diate them, and will not hesitate to
exercise it when they are forced to choose the
harsh alternative. When the individual be-
comes bankrupt the law usually affords him
relief by discharge in bankruptcy; when
States-but the aggregation of individuals in
quasi corporate capacity, are pressed down
by debt there is no statute by which they can
be exonerated. This dilemma will not fail To
be appreciated by the body of the people if
the exigencv ever arises. Ii, under our pres
ent laws, life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness" impossible OF attainment the laws
must be repealed and others substituted in
in their place. The sovereigns must assert
the control and the agencies brought into
existence by them to promote their welfare
1t is said The cost of our living goes up
while the price OF our products goes down"
If the statement is true there is something
wrong somewhere. What is it,
To our mind there are several causes for the
anomaly outside of the Financial question"
These we propose with your permission, to
ventiIate and we think we can show the root |
of the whole difficulty in our favored State |
We are bound to STAY here-no patriot can |
attention to one or two prevailing evils which !
afflict the whole State, and which suscep- |
tible OF an easy remedy. n.
Shall We Have a Constitutional Con- |
VentiOn