The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-03-17
RESPONSE OF GEN" rEArHERsToS.


Mp. SPEAKER: When the rude Gaul first
looked down upon the conscript Fathers,
occupying their seats in the Roman Senate,
he was not filled with more surprise imam l
am on this occasion.
This incident in the session of 1880, Is to
me. as unexpected, as it is embarrassing.
/ should, however, do violence to my own
feelings and suppress the better emotions OF
my nature. were ] to withhold from you, q
frank and manly acknowledgment of my
gratitude for this demonstration, and my
high appreciation of this mark OF your
confidence and esteem.
with reference to my public services, TO
which you have kindly referred, | can only
saw. in the language of one of our greatest
Confederate Generals, uttered at the dark
est hour in our late struggle for indepen-
dence, that my only regret Is, that L have
been able to do so little for my State, in
war and in peace.
In this as in other positions to which /
have been called by the voice of my coun-
trvmen, have but endeaVored to discharge,
honestly and faithfully, the duties which
devolved on me; and am proud to say thai
my course has received the approval OF my
own conscience, as well as that OF my
constituents, in the main.
| have but once in my life desired seat
in the State Legislature, and that was in
1875, when the friends of law and order, OF
retrenchment and reform, were making
their last grand rally, to rescue the state
Government from the hands of our alien
0ppressot;s and domestic plunderers My
wishes were gratifed by an intelligent and
patriotic constituency The people, through
the ballot-box, drove our Republican tyrants
from the halls of legislation, and Installed
in their stead, on that memorable occasion,
Democratic-C Conservative Legislature, and
that Legislature, by constitutional ana legal
remedies, soon forced the Republican cohorts
to surrender the Executive and judicial
departments of the State government.
From that time to the present, we have
administered the State government, and to
what end, with what effect and with what
beneficial results, leave for truthful histo-
ny to record. OF one thing am fully con-
WINGED, that the State government, in its
different departments, presents field in
which the best talent, learning, skill and
experience of the State, can be more profit
ably employed than in any other.
To the State government the people must
look, to develop its material interests, re-
claim its waste places, perfect It's system OF
education, protect life and liberty, invite
immigration and capital, regulate the ac~
QUESTION transfer and descent of property
This can only be accomplished by wise
State laws and an enlightened State policy.
But little can be accomplished, for the good
of the people, by the employment of our
best talent and learning in the service Of
the general government. That is but an
agency created by the States, with certain
well defined powers, for the objects spec fed
in the Constitution, and among which stands
most conspicuous, the power to regulate our
intercourse with foreign nations. We must
therefore look to our State government for
the blessings of aswise administration, or
for the evils and curses of weak, corrupt
one.
Our session, gentlemen, is rapidly drawing
to close, and our labors are now practical
1y at an end.
Some things have been done which have
been done which have not received my
approval, and others have been left undone,
which l would have gladly had done, but L
claim for myself no infallibility ofjudgment.
] bow with Difference and respect to your
will, the will of the majority.
The man who claims to be wiser than his
State. is wise only in his own conceit. Your
action during the session, now about to
close has been wise, conservative and pa
triotic; you have labored as men who had
the promotion of the best interests of your
State constantly in view, and not your
individual ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
| met the most of you here at the begin
ming of the session, as strangers, but our
official relations, for the last two months.
6eve engendered feelings of kindness, of
HIGH regard aud of friendship, and | now
separate from you, as we so to our respee-
tive homes, with sorrow.
/ again sincerely thank you, gentlemen,
for this manifestation OF your favorable
estimate of my humble services.