The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-03-17
80. VEG code-ffs Merits and De-
fecfs

uaner attacks upon this book Is 70 one WIZ
has made himself conveTsant with ITS con-
tents, very great surprise. In many aspects
il i ! great improvement upon each and all
of its predecessors, and had it even many
more defects than can justly be imputed to
il. they would be more than counteroai-
anced BY the changes it has introduced IN
our iurv system and revenue laws.
I have seen two courts held under the
new Jury system, and take them altogether,
that is both the grand and petit jurIes, l
have never before seen as good juries in any
eourt house in this State. That honesty and
capacity were requisite in the jury box, had
become an obsolete idea, but in the Camp
bell Code this idea has reasserted itself, and
for this triumph of common sense and reason
over ignorance and demagogueism, Judge
Campbell and the Legislature are constantly
entitled to the thanks of the people.
The amendments made to the revenue
laws. will save annually to the State more
than was paid to Judge Campbell and the
Public Printer for their labors respectively
in the preparation aud publication of the
Code. If the taxes are not now closely coll
lected and faithfully paid over, it will be the
fault of the Circuit Judges. 1t is the duty
of the Judge to charge the Grand Jury in
regard to the Sheriff@s settlements, and OF the
Grand Jury, at the first term of the court
after the time fixed by law for the
Sheriff annual settlement, to examine his
books, accounts and vouchers, and report
to the court the result of their investiga-
tions. If the Boards of Supervisors only do
their duty in the selection of grand Jurors
and the judges theirs in giving the subject,
the attention it merits incompetent and
defaulting Sheriffs will be few and far be-
tween in the State. The changes which
have been made in our Code, and which are
an improvement are, indeed, very numerous,
whilst there are but few, to which we think
exception can be justly taken. 1t is true,
however, that among these few are one or
two greatly to be deplored, and which will
doubtless be remedied at the next meeting
of the Legislature.
Tenants should not be denied the benefits
of the exemption law. Indeed, if discrimi-
nation is made at all, it should be in favor
of the tillers of the soil, and not against
them Agriculture is the basis of all pros
perity anu wealth, and no law should be
found on the statute book calculated to
bring it into disfavor. The settled policy
of every State should be to promote and
encourage agricultural pursuits.
As for the changes made in the liquor
laws, they are certainly all in the wrong di-
rection. Revenue and not the protection
of society against intemperance, is the end
had in view by the authors of the laws now
regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors
in this State. This policy we reprobate as
''penny wise and pound foolish" and such,
we are confident, is the conviction of an
overwhelming, majority of the voters of the
State We have never known any law so
universally condemned the ''pint law
which now disgraces the New Code of Mis-
sissippi. The remark is frequently heard
that as yet no single member of the last
Legislature has acknowledged that he sup
ported it. Grand juries have indicated it
as a public nuisance. Communities have
risen in arms against it. As specimen of
its fruits, we subjoin a literal copy of a
petition recently sent to one of the Circuit
Judges in the State, signed by every woman
in the neighborhood from which it came.
This document speaks only the language of
truth and soberness
g To the Judge of the Circuit Court at --,
State of Mississippi
The humble petition of all the ladies whose
names are underwritten
WHEREAS, There is in the town (settle>
men) of = $ liquor shop situated on
the only public highway to and from our
churches and post office, and in consequence
of so much drunkenness, profanity, vulgar-
ty, the firing of pistols, the running Of horses
and the many heinous and immoral deeds
committed by the intoxicated rabble in, |
around and about the said liquor shop we
fail to enjoy the liberties of the free-our
children are overrun, our homes being beg |
III ! r l.. i
appear on the church, school and social /
circle, all of which originates, in our hum
bic judgment, from the nuisance above
mentioned. This is humbly recommended /
to your Horrors consideration, and we hope
YOU will permit no further insults, and we.
your lady constituency, in duty bound will /
every pray, and may God bless you in the
effort to help u.s."
From fifty-eight genuine signatures-a
very large number certainly to be obtained .
in country neighborhood,
A letter received from different locality,
IN the same subject, says:
SIR am a married lady with a refined
md christian husband but this husband has
not woman's fear of drunken men and
'hotguns-hence the unpleasant duty of
directing your attention to a certain serious
grievance that has fallen upon me. l am
Nv are t1dL at CLlO pLCSCAI JtlL0 lIlcI0 Is no
aw for the prosecution of sellers of sHome
8itters," but | do most earnestly beg
hat you will at least investigate the
,ase to which / now refer. Drunken men
ay around, our premises are invaded, oaths
earful and loud greet the ears of my little
amily, cards are played and our farm
lands are demoralized generally. Please
question Mr.. ---, who is now on the
,rand jury as to who has kept this shop
will only add that the present
eler is at this time doing quiet business,
Waiting for court TO pass-then our trouble
will commence with renewed energy.
am often left alone with
ny little family. If you have family, sir,
'ou can imagine my situation, and again |
10 earnestly beg you to aid us if you can"
Both these earnest appeals are directed
gainst "pint liquor" houses.
Surely, if there is spark of maniness
eft in the breasts of the voters of the State,
me of the first acts of the next legislature
will be to correct the errors of the last in
egard to the laws regulating the sale of in
oxicating liquors.
SENEx.