The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-01-25
open Letter From a Voter.
Rr.r Po1nr. MS. Jan. Il 1852.


EDrroRs CLARlox oecupying the bach
seat of an humble CITIZEN. | avail myself g
/ your courteous invitation 10 the people 81
large, to express themselves briefly through
the columns Of your able journal, in all mat
tiers Of public concern. do 50, not without
some difidence, because some OF the wissst and
most patriotic minds of our State are to he
found in our present Legislature. Personi'y-
ing that body as one being, l think hear then
say to the dear people:
sIf there be any good thing to BE- done,
That may TO thee do case and grace TO me,
Speak to me-
So like the young man in the Book Of Job,
deferentially arise to show my opinion
First, and above all, abolish the Agricultural
Lien laws-reserving only the landlords lien
for rent Repeal all statutory liens for sup
plies Wipe out the Law authorizing encum-
brances of any kind on growing crops. This
lays the ax to the root of our greatest evil-thv
credit system--which fosters the pernieious
habit of spending more than we make. That
means perpetual poverty and peonage for a
large mass OF cur people. They ought to be
lifted out of that vile and slsEish ru'. They
are prone to run in it.
| When the productive energies Of people
fail to keep pace with their consumption and
and demands, the process of depletion sets in
aud the land becomes mildewed with debt and
poverty. 1t needs 70 political economist to
tell as this The present system says 10 the
farmer: Heads l win. tails you lose. No
IL Of tha Jnffa =
the end of the year, it is not his. His only
solace is in the motto he reads on perhaps one
remaining nickel: I'm God we trust y
That is very good in its place but
the ravens have quit feeding people, and
God no longer sends mama ana quails
among US. These truths are what Mr.. Jeffer
son styled self-eyident. Nor is the hapless
merchant any better off than his wretched
customer whom he has run too lib rally !;
for the average man, when he can buy on
credit, IS but little better than child buying
baubles, he viii take all in the shop, and long
for more.
The piserable meI chant pushes his coIlec-
lions, with meagre returns. Nhyg Because
there is nothing in the country to pay hiat
It is ali consumed. He resorts to ihnum-ra-
BILE shifts and expedients. His creditors
crowd him, his paper goes to protest,
he makes assignment" and gives M the
ghos The lawyers and officers of court per
form the last sad rites at his funeral, taking
liberal share OF his earthly possess 5ons as me-
mentoes of the deceased, while the long line OF
mourning creditors attest the fact that human
ity is too confding.
II is idle to rail against merchants and mid
men.
The seat of the disease lies deeper. The peo-
pie consume more than they produce, aud So
ciety in its every member, nerve. and fibre
feels its paralyzing effects. Not a cent i
saved Nothing is added to the capital of the
country.
Commercial crashes are generally more fire.
quent every year. Let the granger cease war
ring on the merchant, and say Il shall
buy nothing on ereiit, | snail raise
every pound Of meat, every year of corn. and
every head of live stock that need. My cotton
crop shall be extra, and It's proceeds shall be
mine. | shall give nc man deed in trust on
my land or crops In five years the value OF
real estate would be doubled. The surplus
would 90 to identifying and improving the
farms, thus adding to their value and to the
capital of the country. Money would seek in
vestment in real estate, whereas it now flies
from it. The merchant mechanic, profes
sional man and farmer would flourish side by
side.
There would be a circulation of money the
whole year round. The pulse of the body poll
tic would make beautiful music" and the
voice of the turtle wouldsonce more be heard
i'm the land.
The growth of grain and live stock should |
be literally encouraged Pass laws exempt /
ing, say for ten years, every thing of thai
kind produced in the State, from execution |
and attachment If necessary engraft this |
provision on the Constitution. The people |
would ratfy such a resolution at the polls
Next, enact liberal and effective laws in. 1
viting immigration We need an influx Of /
white population with whom assimilation I
and absorption, political AMI social, is not
only bic but most natural.
This will aid in diversifying our pursuits
and promote all the industrial arts. Manu-
factories would spring ap, gail4oa is would be
built. and hamlets and villages would grow
into fourishing towns and popuous cities. As
long we remain purely cotton growing
people, with dense black population in our
midst, we viii never advance an inche. Every
year will tell the same story. It will be a
WI etched struggle for existence, financial and
political That there will ever be in our
midst white men who will seek to band the
blacks together to crush the white minorities
in various counties, for the ungodly love Of
loot has been demonstrated hey ond any doubt.
Can the great Competitive enterprises that
animate, strengthen, enliShten aud enrich a
people find a field for their beautiful exercise
amid such condltions2 OF course not Then, |
in Gods name, let's change the programme,
else content ourselves ingloriouslY to dwell in
he twilight of the sge instead of moving be-
meath its meridian sG4,