The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1884-01-17

THE OVERFLOW OF 1851.
The Legislature Of is2 appropriated $1,000
for The relief Of the sufferers from the Hood Of
me Miisslssppl an1 its FiDnt TICS ana provlded
/ recfion. As q means Of more efficiently carrying
carrying oct the views Of the Legislature, I in
/ trusted The expenditure Of the fund TO Hon. W.
/ l. Hemingway, In whose judgment ! had entire
confidence. and directed him 10 proceed TO Mem
Phls As the most convenient point from which to
distribute supplies; It affords me pleasure to
bear testimony 10 the able and satisfactory man
ner in wbiclfhc discharged the delicate duties
OF his position. Afterward the suffering and
distress became 50 great that ! found II neces-
sary 70 appeal % the General Government
through cur senators and hepresen..tatives IN
already been heard and the Government re-
sponded With q liberal hand These supplies
| with his usual fidelity and sagacity.
The inundation was so destructive and the suf-
person and co-operated witt the committee Of
that city in such measures OF relief as were
agreed upon, and the circumstances would ad-
NIT OF. The yigilant action OF our delegation In
Congress and the prOmptness Of the Hon. Robt.
Lincoln, Secretary OF War, deserve the thanks
The various lines Of steamboats, and railroads
are entitled TO thanks for their generous coop
Grafton In this time OF distress. The vouchers
| for the disbursement OF the sum appropriated By
| the Legislature are fOn file In my Office and viii
| be submitted for the examination Of a committee
which would be pleased for you TO appoint.
THK EXPOSITION AT NEW ORLEANS.
I commend 10 your IdNDTdUle CONSIDERATION.
| the Worlds Industrial and Cotton Centennial
| Exposition. TO commence at New Orleans next
| December The enterprise, national and inter-
national in Its characters, has been inaugurated
under the most favorable circumstances and Is
| being prosecuted with great yigOr and sagacity.
IL IS to be conducted under the joint auspices
| Of the United States, the National Cotton Plan
| ters Association Of America, and the city OF
New Orleans. Cotton, in all its conditions Of
culture and manufacture, is to be its chief ex-
hibit, but 1t includes also all arts manufactures
| and the products Of the soil and mine.
Its location at the great and growing metro
polls OF the SOUTH Is fortunate; the season of the
year at which IL occurs, Is, in this climate de-
| lghtful. and the objects and purposes which 1t
eOntemplates are patriotic and eleyating. IN
der an act Of Congress, authorizing it. forei On
| nations have been invited by the President Of
the. United states to participate therein, and
such measures have been adopted by he Board
| OF Management as to insure its success.
believe that no such undertaking has ever
| failed In this country. and this promises to
| equal, if not suTpass. all others, in magnitude.
variety and magnihcenee.
| The influence of such institutions tends to re-
move sectional pretudices and errors OF opinion
and TO strengthen the bonds OF union, fraternal
fellowship between citizens of the same country,
and to advance civilization and peace on earth
and good viii toward men, by bringing together,
in friendly and intimate relations. representa-
tives and great bodies Of people from different
sections states and natlOnalities, with the pro-
duets, inventions and discoveries Of each, in
every department Of uman thought and action,
for the examination, study and Improvement OF
all. The zeal with which the most progressive
and enlightened States and nations engage in
them. is sufficient evidence Of their practical
utility and Importance.
know no b-tter method OF advertising the re-
sources and attractions OF Mississippi to the
world, and Of inviting capital and mm grafton
thithcr. than by making at this Expo sitiOn
complete display Of her soils, fru!ls. flowers,
vegetables, cotton, grain, grasses, stock, tim
bers, FISH, and manufactured products OF every
kind.
in the arts Of war Mississippi has an enduring
and satisfactory record. but what size is, and has
accompll shed III times OF peace. since the late
war. under the mos. adverse circumstances, are
not sufficiently known. Several enterprises ola
similar nature ha occurred in cur country, at
which Mississippi was aut inperfectly repre-
scnted for IN" reason. In part at least that the
LagisIturf of the -tgta Was not in session. I'M
til 1t was too late nlake necessary approprla-
tiOns therefor.
recommend that you make a liberal appro-
prai'On 10 have Mississippi. fully represented
at this Exposition, and that you provide by law
for a commissioner or commissioners. to be
| chosen as yDu may direct. and TO rece We such
compens Itloh as you may consider reasonable,
To select. prepare and forward exhibits for
Mississippi, and to superintend and control the
same, and her depart ment on the occasion.
The Exposition WAS projected by the National
| Cotton Planters Association of America, an
institution Incorporated under the laws of Mis-
sisstppi; the prize for the best plan of the Ex-
| position building has already been awarded to a
| citizen OF Mississippi, and ] trust that these
MississppanS are To tate. by your cooperation,
in the VIII ole affair.
PROGRESS OF MISSISSIPPI.
In some respects the history OF Mississ ppi
of the wor d. IL cannot be considered without
exciting surprise that the Misrepresentation OF
our people and institutions have been so gener-
ally accepted Dis true, unless it be upon the idea
that ''DOliieS in motion will overcome bodies at
| rest" While our people have repoSed in con-
| fdenca upon the conscious rectitude OF their
conduct, our enemies have been swift
| to seize upou and distort every eircum-
stance to our detirment. But truth is mighty
| aud will prevail. Our defense comes from an
unexpected quarter. The census OF 1880 has
been issued to the public and our vindication is
lNxyhn fts+ffh no rH of
and order which is ascribed to us. In no par
tisan spirit-''with malice towards none, with
charity for an"-let us compare the past and
present and draw from it useful lessons for our
guidance in the future.
At the close of the war our people were with,
out money or credit to purchase the simplest
implements of husbandfy. Farms and facto-
ries and railroads had been deyasted and de-
strOyed. Labor was demoralized Our slaves
were intoxicated with their newborn freednm
and huddled together in cites and towns or
followed the victorious army. The State was
practically without a government and society
resolved itself into its original elements.
The three years that followed saw little or no i'm.
and the crops were short while all supplies We we're
compelled TO purchase commanded enormous
agents abroad TO collect cotton alleged to have been
sold to the Confederate Government. No checks
were provided and the consequences might have been
anticipated. Cotton was seized Unfortunately and
no redress could be had for unjust and unlawful ex
actions. Now the oppressive cotton tax was levied
and the citizens of Mississippi alone were compelled
to contribute Sl0000OO0 of their scant earnings in
this direction. Then came the of reconstruction
with all ITS untold miSeres. In ISL the state tax
ISL ESQ per cent and in is4 400 per cent County
and local taxation was increased in still greater
proportion All this time it must be remembered,
debt was being piled up 50 per cent larger than the
yearly revenue. Property OF every description was
srS b ~ o o'rT SS n foS 5rnaseS
OF taxation decreased In the years from 1871 to 1873
TO S42 600 In that time 900 acres of land
being more than 10000 square miles, and about q
per cent of the total area of the State forfeited
FOR taxes During this period the expenses of gov
eminent were enormously increased the annual aV-
erage cost being 81, tS4. 500 80
We approach now different and more prosper
Gus era. In 1873 the bardens of government had
become too grievous to be borne longer, and the
people resolved upon a new departure in the dlrec
ton OF retrenehment and reform. What has been
done since is a matter of public notoriety. The
public debt has been almost extinguished. Taxa
mills in issa State and county taxation has been
reduced from an average of S2IS5 on the 81 900 In
All the lands forfeited to the state for taxes have
either been redeemed or purchased, except about
acres have been purchased through the Auditors
ofiee from the State. There is growing confidence
in the future as shown by the purchase of these
lands and of AS. l0 of land held by the Fede
raj government in the last two years. together with
the unprecedented homestead entries, amounting to
The reduction in the debt and the rate of taxation
and the yearly expenditures has been accomplished
without detriment public service neglect Of
the different Charitable and educational institu-
lions. All these have been Literally sustained and
The Agricultural and Mechanical College has been
established at the expense of S2U0,OOO; the new
Blind Asylum at an expense OF Sls l1s So additions
TO the Deaf and Dumb Asylum az an expense Of
about sls.0Oo Many other improvements and ad-
dtions TO charitable Institutions OF the State
have been made. TOO numerous to mention.
During the past two years some 490 miles or rail-
railroad have been built in Mississippi One line
from Meridian to New Orleans traverses the finest
to New Orleans, via EIcks0nrg, passes through
country unsurpassed for fertility of SOIL value and
variety OF timber; another from jackson to Natehez
deyeopes splendid region and lnsures a compete
Ton that VIII result IN cheaper Ireights from the