The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-12-31
The Legislature.

EDITORS CLARION: The Legislature soon
to meet. will be confronted with response
bilities and duties of no ordinary character
among them, the election of an United
States Senator, the revision of our laws, the
adoption of new Code, and the devising of
some more satisfactory system than the one
now prevailing for dealing with our Peni-
Tertiary convicts.
From the organization of the two Houses,
until the election is over, the choice of
Senator will, no doubt, greatly engross the
attention of members and not only will
the people of the State look forward with
interest to the result, but they viii watch
the progress of the canvass, and the manner
of conducting it, with intense solicitude.
In connection with previous elections,
scenes have been witnessed, of which. it i
to be hoped, there will be no repetition.
The electors should know the opinions of
candidates, and courteous and digniied
intercourse with them, is unobiectionable
but when drinking saloons are made free,
or rooms opened, and provided with liquors,
cigars, &c, &c, at the expense of Senatorial
aspirants or Senators elect, as means of
electioneering or creating popularity, a stig-
ma is placed upon all concerned. The motives
of candidates in supplying good cheer for the
electors are transparent, and that gentle
men elected to the Legislature should be
approached in this way, is a reproach TO
them, their constituents and the State
The subjoned law of the State should never
be violated in letter OF spirit:
''If any candidate, for any public station,
shall treat, or bestow any vinous or spiritu-
Gus liquors upon any voter, with intent to
dictment, and upon conviction, shall be
fined twenty-five dollars"
Judge Campbell, of the Supreme Court
it is known, has been engaged for the past
two years, under the appointment of the
Legislature, in the preparation of a revised
edition of our laws. The talents, long ex-
perience, both as a lawyer, and Circuit and
Supreme Court Judge, and all his surround
ings eminently qualify him for the task,
and the result of his labors doubtless will
prove satisfactory to the Bench the Bar.
and the State. The action of the Legisla-
ture on the proposed new book, is matter
of no small moment. Shall it pass upon it
section by section, or chapter by chapter =?
Or will the Legislature, in the MAN, take it
on trust and adopt it As whole? As pre-
scented, it will be symmetrical, consistent.
and complete; but if subjected to the cru
chile of one hundred and fifty or more minds,
each urging amendments or changes. the
result will be & piece of patchwork of
doubtful paternity, and creditable To no
one. The wlsest course for the Legislature
to pursue, would probably be, the reference
of Judge CampbelPs report to Joint select
committee, and then the adoption, without
debate, of such recommendations as this
committee may make. Changes could
hereafter be made, if found necessary, and
a code thus prepared, would have all the
advantages of experience over mere theory.
/ What shall be done with our penitentiarv
convicts, is a problem of difficult solution
/ 1.-THE question were one of mere dollars and
cents, we should probably be disposed to let
we'll enough alone, but involving as it does,
| the wise, Just, and impartial administration
of our criminal laws, it is manifest that a
change is required. The leasing system is
wrong in principle, for it takes out of the
hands of the State the punishment of crime
| Whilst criminals are justly held to have
forfeited their personal rights, they should
not be subjected to the control and discipline
of mere private citizens; and, as at present
managed, the supervision of conyicts by the
State is necessarily only nominal Moreover
escapes now are, and on the present plan
will continue to be so very frequent as to
disarm sentence to the Pententiarv OF
much of its usual terror. The proper pro
1 lection of society against crime and law.
I lessness, is likely to always cost a good deal
but for society to be without this protection
will certainly, in the end, cost a great deal
more.
The State now greatly needs works OF
internal improvements the projected
Tennessee, Ripley and Gulf Railroad, in the
construction of which every part of the
State is more or less interested-the Holly
Springs and Memphis road-the bridging OF
many streams, and the improvement of the
roads of every county in the State, and as
the Constitution requires the Legislature to
| provide for the organization of a Board of
Public Works, prescribe its duties, fix the
compensation of its members, and all off
GERS and employees upon the public works, .
why should not the experiments be tried of
working cOnvicts under this State authori-
! ty? This mode would certainly De prefera-
bic to tho leasing system, it II could be
successfully prosecuted but no disposition
/ should be made of this unfortunate class of
/ beings which loses sight of the proper end
of all punishments inflicted by the State,
| to-wit: the punishment and prevention OF
crime, whatever may be its cost
EXPERIENCE