The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-07-28

uniting the power OF the common law To set
aside special statute. His position would be
tenabe were there any conflict between the
Constitution and the cannon law, or if the
Constitution was intended to protect fraud
uient contracts. l. not contract, in the
absence OF statutes, construed with reference
u the common law which becomes part Of
il? Recently our High Court decided that,
where a merchant d'seriminates between
persons upon whom he has security in ma
ture the same, the excess of such dscriIni-
nation To be void because LIST, it was with
out consideration and the InOrtgager WAS
incompetent 10 contract. In the wisdom
and justice Of this doctrine We all agree. Is
there no analogy between this case aud that
Of the railroad which charges 81 per bale on
cotton from Meridian 70 Vicksburg. and
$2.25 from MOrton-One half the distance
Whether Or not there exists necessity
for some reform can be settled by references
To a few statistics
Rice New Orleans to jackson 30 per cwt.
. Jackson Lake lie cwt
Coffee New Orleans jackson 5Sc cwt
=. Jackson Forest 66e cwt
Flour ST. Louis Yieksbg 4ee bill
weeks utg Morton Sic cwt
Tobacco Virginia Mei idian 800 cwf
NJ, ridian Morto T2c cwt
ID nestle Columbus Ga. Meridian 30c cwt
Me'iIian Morton Sc cwt
These illustrations could be multiplied
ad tfytHitum but are sufficient to convince
any intelligent people that the case calls for
immediate action. On the single article of
cotton, Scott county has, within the last ten
years, paid overcharges aggregating 5l62, 600,
II you consider the rate from Meridian rea-
sonabe.
Is it expedient? 1t is said that the move
ment you propose inaugurating will be re-
ceiyed with dlsfavor by these corporations
and 1t Is further threateningly announced
that no more roads will be built so long as
this question is agitated. As to the latter
proposition, We beg leave to dissent. We
rather agree with distinguished gentleman
OF this State who, in speaking on this very
subject, says: such laws would inspire the
people with confidence that public carriers
would be compelled 10 respect their rights
Nothing has given railroad building great
er impetus than what are known AS the
Granger decision in the Western States The
people have been induced to encourage such
enterprises more than ever, since they have
been assured by the courts that, if wrongs
are Perpetrated by corporations, there is a
power IN the Legislature to protect them"
1t Is said that the true remedy is in building
more roads, that the competition resulting
theretrom would Insure a proper reduction
on freights. If this be true, it is remarkable
that the anti-Inonopoly movement originated
in New York City-the greatest railroad
center in the world.
| am grateful to the gentlemen who have
requested the use of name as a candidate for
Representative, for the confidence implied
However, / am less interested in my own
personal advancement than i'm the triumph
of the principles upon which feel the well
fare OF our country in a great measure de-
ponds, and shall be glad if they will select
some one better qualified than myself to
represent them in the Legislature.
Respectfully,
JOHN II. HARRIS