The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-05-10
The People and the Legislature.

EDITOR CLARIoN-Sovereig power is
invested in the people, who have delegated
it to the Legislature as their representative,
to be exercised III such manner as to enforce
good order, secure their political rights, and
protect and advance their material interests.
The question is now in order: Has the
Legislature at its late session strictly OBJ
served this relation as existing and binding
on it--as evidenced by its acts, both OF COM
mission and omission? l. answered mega
lively by the fact, that the blot on our stat
ute book, Of the mortgage law on growing
crops. remains unrepealed, (Which has placed
our greatest interest, Agriculture, under
the control of foreign capital by which the
people and the State are being degraded
and impoverished although demanded in
no uncertain terms by the people.
The failure to enact a law supervising
Railroads by which to restrain them from
ext0rtionate charges, and discrimination
between individuals, and localities, although
demanded by the people generally, and
pledged by the Democratic party, which
composed a dominant majority, and-The
granting of charters to Railroads and other
corporations with privileges and eXemp-
tions not enjoyed by the people at large.
When taken into consideration suggests a
very strong presumption that the lobby of
the money power, composed OF Railroad
corporations, and other organized capital
had more influence over the Legislators,
than their obligations to their constituents,
under the principles stated in first lines of
this article, which have been significantly
disregarded, by the interests of the people
being made subordinate to that Of corpora
tiOns.
To strengthen that presumption, into
conviction, it is only necessary to refer to q
law enacted, entitled can Act to authorize
counties, cities and towns to subscribe to
the capital stock of Railroads" Which |
gives a mandatory power to a President or
Fice-President Of Il Railroad, with which |
no officer of State or county is invested, /
nor any Individual or number Of citizens /
are possessed of) over the autonomy Of
county or town, by which he can levy a .
on its citizens, to his railroad /
stock, in any amount desired the prOyis-
ions of this law enables the Railroad Presi-
dent to enforce his demand by means Of an
election and near registration to be held at
tbs same instant, by same inspectors, on
twenty days notice, dispensing with poll
books, and record Of place OF residence, and
postponing the canvassing Of
returns and declaring the result, 10y which
Juggling is made very easy) and there will
be but little officially in obtaining the
wo-thirds majority made up Of hired non
and illegal voters, as there is no
given to challenge by record Of
illegal votes offered. This tax
to be assessed on all taxable property in an
amount to cover interest, disbursement, re-
lemption, and cost Of collection.
This law is confined to six counties, but
if it is right and lawful there, it can be ex
tended to all others-what is to prevent?
The members Of the Legislature who IA
7ored this famous law, and those who failed
to oppose its passage, should he held to
strict account by their constituents, for the
Liberties of the people are not safe entrusted
o such Representatives as can be inhu-
,nced either actively or passively, in estab-
ishing such precedence OF a.Raiiroad Presi-
lent above all the officers and citizens of
he State.
The journals of the Legislature when
published will disclose who were,the active
nd passive or lodging members composing
he majority, who SO signally failed to pro-
ect their constituents from the aggressive
domination of Monopoly. D.