The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-03-10

Mr.. SPEAKER; AS a member of the Com
mittee on Railroads Offering minority report
in favor of this bill now under consideration
l would state to the House that / advocated IL
before our committee believing that its PASS
age by this House would afford some relief 10
the people of Mississippi from the exorbitant
charges and unjust Determinations that have
been perpetrated upon them bv the rafIron15
throughout this State. 1t is a fact well known
TO every member of this House that some re-
lief is demanded. The people are olamoriup
for It. everywhere. Our constituents are
watching the action Of their REPRESENTATIVE
here with high hopes and buoyant exDecta-
tons. Shall their fondest authorizations he
blasted by the action Of this House2 or shall
we concur with the Senate in the passage Of
this bill, and thereby prove TO the people of
Mississippi that we have their best interest al
heart; and do not intend 70 disregard their
Peuuonsf In my portion of the State along
the line Of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad
every tenth bale Of cotton to say nothing of
other products, has been swallowed up bv
this hungry monopoly, in the way Of frefgbts
wrung from the industry Of honest labor; and
while we have had TO pay this enormous pri 90
for transportation, this same road has brought
cotton from Corinth, one hundred miles above
us, for two dollars per bale. In the name Of
reason and justice / would ask is this riObt-
is it legitimate? 1t does seem To mic tba7 tbis
Legislature should exercise some iuris,iction
over these matters; and if we have thnt right
then 90 not hesitate to say that we are recre
ant To the best interests of the peoDle moi o.
assert it. Where there is a reasonable III
n nv mind in reference to anv matter man
mas been presented to mo in my Legislative
capacity, have IN every instance end eavoral
to give to the people the benefit Of Chat douht
L shall DO likewise In regard 10 this bill for
we know that durint all our financial vieissf-
tudes these railroad monopOlies have fat
tened upon the hard earnings Of a povcrtv-
stricken people. At no time and under no
circumstances have they manifested IA
spirit ofgener)siry or Hberality towards those.
many OF whom aided with their money and
labor IN the construction Of these roads but
on the other hand every appeal las been re
lected-eVery protest and remonstrance on thu,
part OF the people has been disregarde1
'purned might say with scorn, contumelys
and contempt.
Mr. Speaker, do not wish to be considere,7
Is an enemy 10 railroads. On the Othey hand
! am IN FAVOR OF encouraging and fostering-
avery enterprise and Improvement thatis csI
'ulated to build up and develop the resonr~e.
u our state and make as prosperous and
happy people. This | conceive TO be the beet
pan 20 accomplish the objects designed in tbis
'lll' Tor 1t Is universally acknowledged tbat
ompetilon IS the life Of trade" and when
omPeung INES 81 railway are built throuVb
nut our state, then the roads now in evisteT
vii be compelled to accept better terms ace
or, the Iaet that this bill originated IN a..
Alho OF gentleman distinguished foy NJ. ~
al abilltY, the fact, too that il has ID, - -
senate, body OF men noted for the irtaii ~
'ehoe anu patriotism, is Of itself a suaiciant
commentator for me TO endOrg e il Ian NJ
a;"yeI, ana hence know nothin z as to its con-
uIutionallty, but stated in o,,r retr
m willing TO give to the courts ~ - 9 p ~
nance 10 test and settle this vexed 0uestie-,
ma WIN all OF the lights before me 6s-;r
wen TINS Dill careful Consideration 7 a-S
to give it my unqualified sUn+.5rt on
pprobatioD. ~ pPoft4hd