The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-09-15
Alress of DR.. T. B. Magruder to
3 Citizens of Claiborne County.

e O1C18eQB OF C1a1DOru6 S0uuty.
bt of my own seeking but at the solici-
/ tus of mauy friends in different parts OF
thtounty, am again before you as a can
/ dide for the lower House of the Legisla-
| tn. As it has been nv custom In life to
me no coneealments, and as | do not be-
/ lia in political dssimulation-throwing
du in the eyes of the people by the use oil
uneaning platitudes and generaiities, l
prose to state briefly the ground occupy
Onhe many questions which will come up
| Reconsideration.
be helpless condition of our people de-
ma1s from legislation such adequate relief
as an be given without doing injustice to
0nclass in fayoring or protecting another.
TIT legislation has been too much for capi-
tal.ad against labor, for wealth and against
posrty, is proposition which the new code
vi. substantiate, and while l would not
len myself to stir up the prejudiees of
padeian or plebian, if We have such classes,
yesmy sympathies are with and for the
opressed and the distressed, and hence, if
4 yluation law such as | voted for in the
legislature forty years ago, will help the
heIless as it did then without working
tDtt&1fC MIOH2 I'D ULUElG3 SuSLAA WIZ Ava ~
aHsgladly vote for it.
he HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION LAW needs
sue amendments as will give it the force
andasefulneSs which it is intended to have
in te interest of humanity and beneVO-
LEND 1t is the spirit of exemptions to
presnt pauperism and especially to protect
the helpless, hence the head or heads OF
q heasehold should not be empowered with
theFsght to mortgage the exemption ana
thu take from innocent childhood Its home
andhopes and reduce it to pauperlsm. Pa
rem and children are joint partners IN the
benevolent purposes of homestead exempt
iop,and the rights of the helpless minors
should not be put in jeopardy by the pro-
dignity of those who should be but are too
oftei not their protectors. Hence, shall
supprt law making the mortgage OF an
excepted homestead invalid, and placing
it bgond the reach of judgment creditor.
Tie LIEN LAW has served its purpose
andhas exemplified the fact that good
Iawinay be so abused as to defeat It's pur-
pose. 1t is not likely that the Legislator
coun mature and pass a repeating act be-
fore the first of March, and in the mean
tim, contracts will have been made, and
hene, it occurs to me that in the interest
of hndlords and tenants, merchants and
labrers, it will be better to pass an act re-
pealng the law prospectively, to-wlt to
take effect on the 1st of January, 1866
This enables the merchant to secure his
old balances, and gives the planter and la
borG time to arrange for the new condl-
ton 1t works no injury and does not dis
turb the industries or the commerce OF the
country. Hence | will vote for an act re.
railing the lien law, retaining its ancient
cannon law feature, the landlords prior
lien, and making repeal prospective IN Its
operation, that it may do no damage to
those who have already advanced under
that law.
Much is said in behalf of the encourage
ment of immigration, and whilst | fear ii
is more hobby than a utility, / will moi
hesitate to support any practical rational
scheme or plan to aid in increasing the
population of the State, with thrifty, in
dustrious emigrants.
1t occurs to me that having population
of eleven hundred thousand, most of whom
complain of hardships and trouble, that Il
will be rather adding to the evil instead o
reducing it to tax the people to bring help
less and dependent emigrants into our midst
| am not however, committed against, bul
will vote for any act or law that will moi
oveftax the people and will bring gooC
class of emigraats into the State.
What we most need is law to regulate la
bor-LAw To ENFORCE CoNTRACTs-lav
for landlord and laborer, and equally bind
ing upon each and both. Such law car
be framed as will work justice to all parties
by imposing penalties for the fraudulen
violation of contract, and until we hav,
such a Law aiRae hi II be 15gf til
e4periients of relief4-neFelY enolient ant
paili8tiFes for the true eVil-and the de
poralization of our industries ruin o.
our plantations, and our property, will G,
on. Labor must be controlled by the in
tegrity of the law, and TO that end an!
fraudulent violation of contract betweel
u ~rnnlnvee should be made
employer anu N.--r
crime with penalties adequate for It's pur
po9es.
The New Code is in some respects q new
curse, and I take it that it will go through
the process of remodeling and overhaulln
by the Legislature and not by "a COD
CoMMITTEE AND THE WRITER OF tn
CODE" 1t is Draconian in its exaction:
and merciless in its dealings with the des
titute and the helpless, and much OF
should be blotted out.
Citizens of Claiborne, you know me.
have resided sixty years in your county
and during that time have been identiie
with all public interests-the farmers NOR
particularly. 1t is urged against me that
am too old Forty years ago l represente
you in the Legislature, faithfully, and
feel that | am more capable to-da
than when l was forty years younge
Ny life has been life of STRICT soBRIETY
and the same good Being who has given m
such length of years has preserved M
health, and my mind is unimpaired.
cast my first vote for James Monroe fC
| President, in after years l became a Viii
and followed the fortunes of that patriC
statesman, Henry Clay, until the Viii
party passed out of existence. Since th
new order of events | have allied myse
with the Democratic party-the Solid Sout
party-and with it expect to stand or fall.
If age, experience, and constantly keel
ing up with the current events of the da
and closely observing the wants of tt
country fit man for legislative duties, an
a sober life and proper walk entitle hi
to public confidence, then feel that no OF
can have higher claim to your snffral
| than, Yours, faithfully,
THoS, B. MAGRUDER.