The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-01-04


Il becomes my duty at the close Of my official term
and at the beginning Of your to rive you
Information of the state Of the government, and
recommend to Your consideration such measures as
may appear to me necessary ana S. expedienf
ession shall the discharge Of the duty assigned
he BY the Constitution confine myself to a brief
Statement Of the condition of public affairs during the
last two years Of nv administration, with suggestion
for such changes as me necessary and leave
to my worthy successor who viii share with You the
Tespons btes Of your acts to indicate measures Of
public policy.
You have assembled as representatives of the people,
under the most favorable auspices The affairs Of the
State condition, IS almost entirely
free Of debt and the laws are generally faithfully exc
cuted The health Of the people has been generally
good no epidemic or serious sickness having prevailed
any part Of the State save IN two localities
and there only for short te and with comparatively
The yield of the crops for the last two years has not
been satisfactory, but the reuneratVe prices for our
chief staple have, in most instances brought to the
farmer fair return for his labor andits evident that
the discomfort manifest In many portions OF the
State few years since is rapidly disappearing and
that feeling of contentment and growing confidence
in each other generally obtains among our citizens Of
all classes. Since your last session peace and quiet
throughout the State has been the rule No serious
disorder has come to my knowledge, and no distuT
bance has occurred which not promptly suppressed
by the local authorities Onthe Dist of August 1885,
Just prior to special eectonfor sheriff in 1aobusha
county, difficulty occurred in the streets of Coffee
vile in which several persons were wounded but for
tunately none killed Considerable excitement ensued
IN the community and for lime the public peace was
seriously threatened Onrep4iTing to the zsne Of the
trouble and deeming it necessary ordered he Coffee
vile Guards. amlitary company commanded by Capt
R. IT, Wyatt, under with Instructions to coope
rate with the civil authorities and preserve the peace
Every order given to Capt. Wyatt was promptly
obeyed peace was preserved and the election passed
off without further Disturbance The conducto OF Capt
Wyatt and that of the officers and men of his company
was most commendable TheyIwere under arms sew
era days and nights. claim will be presented to
yonr honorable body for pay for said service. and
trust it will receive favorable considerations This
the only instance in which the local authorities have
called upon the Executive prassistance to preserve
tie peace
proceedings , sIs will bs el By q practical and
deliberate consideration of Us z.ures involving the
pDS painfully ys5s apparent m SsT CONFLICTING pn provS
ions of law that 50 frequentoccur IN the acts Of our
Legislatures.
Your predecessors at their list session adopted and
put in force Code of the statute laws Of the State
which was intended to supersede all previous legsla
tion of general nature, and to serve for tne at
least permanent expresslollof the Legislative will
on the subjects therein embraced.I Allow to express
the hope that while it is entirely within your power
to make such changes in this system of laws you
fit, this power will be sparngy exercised. Ihe
Code of 1880, is in the main reproduction of the
Code Of 1897, which has been called sMissssippis
Model Code The great body Of the later Code IS
simply reenactment of the older one; the language
used being, IN the main, IDENTICAL There OF courses
a good many changes and new provisions, but the
wisdom OF these IS generally conceded upon all Sides
In the recent canvass the merits and dement's OF the
Revised Code largely discussed both by the press
and upon the husngs, and though the attack upon it
promised at first to be severe and angry believe It
soon resulted IN settled opinion that the work was as
aWhole an admirable one, rejecting credit upon all
concerned with it, and giving promise of lasting and
important benefit to the State.
My own opinion, fortified by the almost unanimous
concurrence OF those best qualified to Judge in the mat
teris that s far the best Code the State has ever had