The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-08-29

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out. He said: II
For the past ten yeats our struggle has :
been to overthrow misrule and to secure ,
the favor and opportunity of self govern
ment. We were then without
policy beyond the determination that
economy should supereede waste. and hon
esty and competency should expel vice and
ignorance from official life The particular
measures by which people can be made
great and prosperous did not attract our
attention. Now it behooves us
to consider what measures will most pros
per and advance US, and TO see that they are
adopted.
Prompted by the conviction that in
order to maintain the ascendency of the
Democratic party in the State, the Con-
vention should take decided stand,
it promulgated = platform of "prin-
ciple and policy" 50 clearly and emphst-
ically defined, that it was not possible
TO misconstrue it.
Mr.. Prewitt, of Yazoo, offered the
following resolution which was adopted:
Resolved, That committee of two from |
each Congressional District be appointed |
on Resolutions by the Chair to whom all
resolutions on platform be referred with |
out debate.
The Chair appointed the following
named gentlemen as said committee:
LIST District, F. G. Barry, J. A. Blair.
ID District, L. Q. C. Lamar, J. S. Bal
ley.
Sd District, John Powell, Fl. L. Jar
nagin.
4th District, J. C. Prewitt, 5. II. Ter
rell.
9Th District, E. Bsrksdale, T. T. Coop
er.
9th District, H. S. Van Eaton, R. V.
Boothe.
This committee, after calm delibera
ton, in which (the members will re-
member) the following resolution was
duly and particularly considerable
ported a platform containing among
other clauses the following;
Corporations OF every description super
vissble within constitutional limits by State
authority, and subordinate to Slate legis
lation, in the interest and for the protection
of the people.
And it concluded Nith this emphatic
appeal to the people:
That upon this platform OF principles and
, public policy, We invite the cooperation Of
all citizens without regard 10 past liffer-
ences in support OF the candidates nomi-
Z mated by this Convention.
: 1t will not do to say that this DECLARE
ton of principle snd public policy
was made hastily and without due de-
liberation. The question of corpora
. ton supervision had been warmly
= agitated in other States. Parties had
taken their position upon it. Congress
= had discussedit. Courts had decided it.
y 1t had assumed proportions of great
;, magnitude, and it was felt that the
u Democratic party which had taken
charge of the administration of affairs in
4 Mississippi could not afford to be silent
5 On the 18th of July, preceding the Isl
$ of August, the day on which the Con.
re yentiou met, The CLARION, speaking
n perhaps wiser than it then knew, EN-
q ployed language that could not be mis-
Al understood:
CLARION, July 18th, 1871
a The Supreme Court of the United State
has recently made decision on the power
Of the State to ix fares and freight charges
by railroads. Il will be seen that the COur
a holds that railroad companies are carrier
g for hire. possessing extraordinary privilege
thst they msy better serve the public, anC
as they are engaged in public employment
IN affecting the public in,eres., they ere sub
I'd jeet to legislative control, etc.
in IL Mississippi, the decision ia specially i'm
IN portait as armia9 he legislature nth n
o. po,rer Of protection against corporations il
-, which in some instances its influence q
4. stakeholder no longer exists, and in other
where claims 10 exemption from the respon
'e sibility q taxatioR are set up by reason o
Us alleged chartered privileges, etc.
"To arm the Legislature With tn
n power which had been emphaticall.
V. asserted By the Courts, was what tn
a. platform meant and what it pledged.
oe On the assembling of the Legislature
- Il the ensuing January, Mr.. Barry, mem
&c Der of the Committee and of the Senate
r. introduced his celebrated bill designe,
Il 70 enforce the doctrine. 1t was bitterl,
opposed and defeated in consequence o
differences among the friends of the Pol
icy in reference to details. Whel
the next Legislature met Mr.. Humph
:. ries introduced the bill which bears hi
!. name, and though its main feature
- passed the popular branch of the body
m it shared the fate of its predecessor il
), the Senate from 4 like cause. Mean
time, another State Convention held il
1881 -four years after the first adoption
4 Of the PLATFORM when the question hs,
= been discussed before the people, in al
" its phases, and without . dissenting
n voice, responsive TO their demand, thei
y delegates again with unanimity and de
" liberation, resf5rmed the declaration 0
o 1877.
= Now, We desire again to appeal earn
,r estly to the Democratic party 70 tak
I care that the solemn pledge enbodie,
lr in the platforms Of 1877 and 1881, Of
N which they have twice elected thei
!. State tickets, Is eanied cut in letter an,
a in spirit.