St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-04-19

himself. if elected, to give his in
huence and his vote at all times in
the interest of the people and
against monopolies. and to labor for
the general welfare and prosperity
of the people. His remarks were
listened to with close attention, and
he WAS greeted with frequent and
continued applause. He made an
excellent impression on the large
audience. and at the close all were
convinced that he is indeed "the
right man for the place." and there
is no doubt that he will be elected
as our next Senator, by large ma
jority, over his opponent.
Judge j. NJ. Thompson was then
called upon, and responded in his
usual forcible and happy style. He
also opposed the first amendment,
and advised everybody to vote
against it. He stated that as a
member OF the Constitutional Con-
vention he carefully examined into
the State debt, and being convinced
that much of it was not just debt,
he was opposed to accepting it as
whole, but the majority approved it.
He called attention to the fact that
under Radical rule the rate of State
taxation was 35 mills, and the
Democrats had reduced it to 6
mills, one-half OF which was de-
voted to the expenses of the State
government, and all the rest went
to pay the interest on the State
debt; he was of the opinion that 3
mills was all the people could afford
to pay for this purpose, and that if
IL "dS ihCtcuScu W thlilS, Tile
State would not be able to pay it,
and by failing to meet her obliga-
tons, the State would he disgraced
in the money markets of the world;
il the first amendment WAS adopted,
it would not be long before another
amendment was proposed, to in
crease the State tax from 6 to Z
mills. While opposed to the first
amendment, all the other amend
ments met with his approval. H
was in favor of still another amend
meDt, and that was TO change the
time of holding the State elections
aud the sessions of the Legislature
to the fall instead Of the spring OF
the year, for then the crops woulu
all be gathered, and farmers would
have more time to devote to til.
affairs OF State; at present many
farmers who might wish to tende,
their services as members of the
Legislature are prevented from do
ing SO because they are busy with
their crops: he also pictured III
glowing colors the hardships viii, u
candidates for Office were compel
ed to endure at this season of the
year. crossing streams on logs and
fallen trees. swimming rivers, and
arguing their case with the farmers
in the fields, mp one furrow and
down another" it ought to be
changed to some more convenient
season. He then referred to his
opponent. Judge Kemp. with whom
he differs on many important ques-
tons. Judge Kemp was not in
favor OF holding court 'b.fore
breakfast" Judge Thompson be-
lieves that if a merchant, farmer or
mechanic can go to work at seven
o'clock in the morning, a lawyer
can and should do the same.
Judge Kemp claimed that parish
with large floating debt. and war
rants worth little or nothing, was
just rs we'll off as if it owed moth
ing. Judge Thompson is OF the
opposite opinion. He desires to
see the parishes out of debt; he
claims that jurors and witnesses
ought to be paid in full for their
services; that what they lose by re-
ceiving deprecated warrants is n
small item compared to the loss
caused by being compelled to ne
glect their business. and they
should at least be paid in cash; be
claims that parish that is out Of
debt is naturally in a more pros
porous condition than one with a
large debt hanging over it, the
same as is the case with individ-
uals. He believes in transacting
the business of the count in the
shortest possible time, not holding
it single day more than is neces-
sary, III order ~ make the cost to
the parish as small rs possible.