The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-06-16

VIEWS OF MAJOR E. BARKsDALE THEREON.
In reply to an invitation to him to at.
tend a Grange picnic near Meridian,
May 2Sth, to give expression to his
views regarding the best interest of the
State. Maj. Barksdale replied by let
ter, the following of which are extracts
therefrom:
As to the general interests of our
State. I think that the line Of policy
which has been adopted. of low taxes
and economical administration. should
be vigorously adhered to; wherever
there are opportunities of a still fur
ther reduction of expenditures, they
shouId be improved. Our State cannot
recover her prosperity if b~urthened
with oppressive taxes. and every cent
taken from the pockets of the people
beyond what is needed for the legiti-
mate purposes of their government is
robbery. Our obligation to bear faiths
full allegiance to the federal Union is
not incompatible with what We owe to
our first duty, and we should utilize
the conditions which will enable US to
make it a great and prosperous COM
monwealtb, and at the same time. CON-
tribute to the glory and strength of the
common country. To compass this
object effeetually, the thoughts of our
people should be divorced from i'm
practicable aud dead issues. and joined
to the things of the present and the
future. We need material develops
ment. Increased facilities for transs
portation. Manufacturing enterprises
for which our State Is so we'll adapted.
We need immigration. and we have be-
fore us the successful examples OF so
many other States that we cannot go
astray. nor fail to reap the benefits of
earnest and systematic effort.
y 4 q 4
The farmers interest are the interests
of the merchant, the mechanic, the
manufacturer, the public carrier.
These last flourish most when agricul>
tural labor prospers. The establish
ment in our State of the school known
as the Agricultural and Mechanical
College for the purpose of general edu
cation, and especially the scientific and
practical training of those who are to
become farmers. or planters, is II OF
the grand results OF the Grange organi-
cation in Mississippi. A lasting monu>
ment of the wisdoM 1tf benincenc-
Of the Order is the legislation which it
has inaugurated elsewhere to protect
the public against extortion and dis
elimination by common carriers. 1t
was found that the law of competition
failed to protect the people from impo.
eition. and resort was had to what have
become famous as the Granger laws in
numerous States of the Union. This
legislation has been consecrated by the
sanction of the highest judicial tribunal
of the land. Mississippi is behind
nearly all her sisters in this movement.
Tie party of which ! am a member,
has committed itself explicitly to the
policy of this legislation by the follow
ing clauses 10 its platform. adopted by
a State Convention held August End,
1877. I was o member of the Commit
tee that reported i'll apd, it is not in
delicate to say, participated IN franz
ing it:
s~uperyisable within constitution limits
bv State authority, and subordinate to
State legislation. in the interest and lot
the protection of the people"
This provision of the platform re-
mains imperative as yet. I am in favor
Of vitalizing aud enforcing it; thus
placing Mississippi abreast with ner
sister States. at the earliest possible
moment.