The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1884-01-17

Sutnclently known. Several enterprises
of a similar nature have occurred in our
country, at which Mississippi was but
lmperfectly represented, for the reason,
in part at least. that the Legislature of
the State was not in session, until it WIS
too late to make necessary appropriations
therefor.
l recommend that you make liberal
appropriation to have Mississippi, fully
represented at this Exposition and that
you provide by law for commissioner
or commissioners, to he chosen as you
may direct, and to receive such compen-
sation rs You may consider reasonable,
to select, prepare and forward exhibits
for Mississippi, and to superintend and
control the same, and her department on
the occasion.
The Exposition WIS pr jected hy the
National Cotton Planters Association of
America, m institution Incorporated I'M
del tho laws of Mississippi; the prlze for
the best plan of the Exposition building
has already been awarded to a citizen Of
Mississippi, and trust that these facts
Indicate The rank that Mississippi and
hississippians are to take. by your CO.
| optIstIDu, III we Whole III II.
PAoGREss OF MISSISSIPPI
In some respects the history of Mis-
sissippi since the war III without II par,
relief in the annals of the world 1t
cannot he considered without exciting
surprise that the misr.pras"n-a tiuus of
our people and institutions h We been 70
generally acccpte MS true, unless it be
upon the idea that bodies in motion
will overcome bodies Mt r-st." While
our people have reposed in conid nee
upon the conscious rectitldr Of Their
conduct, our rnem ga have been swift to
seize upon and listort every circum,
stance to our detrlmeut. Bnt truth is
mighty and will prevail. Our defense
comes from An unexpected quarter. The
census OF 1880 has been iesued to the
publlc and our vludicaiiou is fnll nnd
complete, for the marvellous progress it
records is wholly inconsistent with the
disregard OF law and order which is ns,
crihed to rs, In no partisan spirit
with malice towards none, with charity
| Tor all'-.et us compare the past and
| present and draw from it us ful lessons
| for our guidance in the future.
At the close Of The war our people
were without money or or, dir to pur-
| chase the Simplest implements II bus
bandry. Firms and factories and rail
roads had been drvas.ed and destroyed.
Labor was lomora,iz Il. Our slaves were
lntOXica ed with their new born freedom
and huddcd together in cities and towns
or followed lhe victorious army. The
State was practically without governs
tn"nt, and society resolved itself into its
original element
The three years that followed saw lit.
tie or no improvement III our condition.
The seasons were had and crops w,ro
short, while all supplies we we're com.
PEELED to purchase commando d enormous
prices. la 1868 the Federal Govern
ment had sent its agents abroad to col
lect cotton alleged to have been sold to
the Confederate Government. No checks
we're provided and the CONSEQUENCES
might have boon anticipated. Cotton
was seizel Unfortunately and no re.
dress could he had for unjust and IN
lawful cxartlOgs. Now the oppressive
cotton tax was levied and the cilzru- of
Mississippi alone were compelled to con
tribute $4,000 coo of their scnnt earn
iugs in this direction, Then came the
era of reconstruction with all its untold
miseries. In 1871 the State tax WIS in
creased 400 per cent, in 1872, $50 per
cent in 1873, 1850 per cent; and IN
1874, 400 per cent. County and local
taxation was increased in still erenl er
proportion. All this time, it must he
remembered II debt was being piled ND
30 per cent. larger than The yearly
revenue Properly of every description
was steadily drprccmtlng in value. and
in f,ct, hnd no market. the sssessment
Of property Tor purposes Of taxation de-
creased III the years from 1877 TO 1875.
$42 900 600. In that time 6 800 600
acres OF land, being more than 10000 |
square miles and about 81 rer cent OF
the totnl area of the State. was fOIfeitpd
for taxes. During this period the cx-
pcnses of the government were enur- |
mously increased the animal AVERAGE
cost icing 81, Ash. go 50
We approach now different and moro
prosperous era. In 1879 the burdens of
government had become too greyious TO
lie borne longer, and the people resolved
upon a new departure in the direction
Of retrechment aud reform. What has
been done since is II matter of pnblc
notorlety. The public debt has been
almost eXtin9uished. Tnxntiop has been |
rRlucpl from al milo in 1879 ., 81 III |