The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-06-14

Letter from Hon. w. II. Handy of Madison
Citizen
q CANTON. June Z. 1852

/ NItiAch.
canton, June Z, 1892.
DEAR SIR-In the Jackson CLARION of
| May 18th, an article copied from the Lex
| ington Advertiser styled ga Statement by
the Congressional Apporlionment Commit
tee" and signed by "One of the Commit
| tee"
Some of the papers Of the State have at
tributed this communication to the Hon.
Mr.. Noel of Holmes county. Be this so or
not it is immaterial. Ny object in address
ing you this letter is to correct some state
ments that am satisfied does me uninten-
tonal injustice. The Committee appoint
ed by the Senate and House was an I'M
usually large one. At the first meeting the
Hon. L. NJ. Brown, Senator from Clarke
county, was chosen chairman. A motion
was carried unanimously to appoint seven
to prepare and submit plans for the Congress
sional redistricting of the State | do not now
remember all of that Committee. The Hon.
Mr.. Nolan of Wilkinson, Judge Terral of
Clarke. Mr.. Noel of Holmes and myself were
four of this subcommittee. The Commit
tee was in much doubt as to what course to
pursue inasmuch as Congress had not taken
action on the Congressional Apportionment
Bill This was the cause Of the delay as to
action on the part of the Committee. The
reason is plain. Had the Committee laid
off seven districts and Congress refused to
pass the act providing for another Congress
man, it would have involved serious trouble
and expense to the State. As | was the
only member of the Committee, if | remem-
Der correctly, who was in possession OF
printed data taken from the last census of
the population of the counties of Mississippi,
cheerfuly on application furnished them
IN "a Z HOp IF nfI
Holmes county. As members Of the sub
Committee they both submitted plans, when
it was ascertained that Congress had acted
favorably upon the bill. There was quite a.
large attendance on the part of the Com
mittee The 1st, End, Ord and 4th Districts
were agreed upon with but little discussion.
When the 9th District was reached | was
surprised that the plans of neither OF these
gentlemen included Madison county in the
old District.
I went to Mr.. Noel at once and pointed
out to him the I'M Justice that would be done
to one of the truest men in the State, and
further that Holmes county had never in
her darkest political hours called in vain on
the Hon. 0. r. Singleton. / Insisted that
as the county of no other Congressman had
been removed from his District, that the re-
m0val Of Madison did have the appearance
OF QlTeCG thrust. hE" NoeI IeduilJ COu-
scented to put Madison in her old District.
Upon consultation, Mr.. Elmer, the eulti-
waited gentleman from Harrison county,
moved that Wayne and Smith counties be
taken out of the District and that Madison
county be substituted.
When this motion was made, Judge
Terral opposed it very btterly-ifI am not
mistaken he said it would be 'sgerry mander
ing" he concluded his speech by moving
that the Committee adjourn. Col. Luse
and the Hon. A. M. Harlow of Yazoo both
valuable members of this Committee,
favored the proposition to let Madison re-
main in the old District.
After stating these preliminary facts, and
as what occurred in the Committee has
been brought to light by another men,
Der of that Committee, | desire to state
distinctly that / have not the slightest
recollection of making any motion to1sub- |
stitute Madison county in place of Holmes |
in the 9th District. When Judge Terral, |
pending the motion of Mr.. Elmer, moved |
to adjourn, obtained the floor and opposed |
adjournment. The Committee did adjourn
however and did not meet the Committe |
further during the session.
/ ask pardon for the length of this COM |
munication, which is written in the interest
of no aspirant for Office, nor to give any
offense to any gentleman whose name is men
toned, but to put myself in what regard a
proper attitude before my friends.
Very respectfully,
VIM. HANDY.