Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-01-15
Our Jackson Letter.

Regular Correspondence of the Appeal
JACKSON, January 12.-The Legislature
has got down to business, and the indica-
tions are that the best interests of the State
will be closely looked after. The Senate
is fine-looking body of men and contains
some of the best talent in the State, there
being lawyers of note, physicians eminent
in their profession, planters and merchants
OF great practical and financial ability and
marked intelligence. The House presents
the appearance OF practical, sensible and
able body of men.
Upon the whole, the Legislature gives
promise OF being active, efficient and con-
servative. Of course, there are some ex-
tremists on leading questions that are
likely to come before them, such as rail-
road supervision, an elective Judiciary, the
lien law, retrenchment, etc., but it is
believed that the conservative element
will prevail, and that no radical, extreme
nor Objectionable legislation will be had.
Many bills have been introduced in both
Houses. The question of the repeal of the
lien law is one upon which there is a great
division and diversity of opinion, and
which will elicit much discussion.
An attempt, in all probability, will be
made to submit to the people an amend
ment to the constitution, providing for an
elective judiciary. Your correspondent,
however, has too much confidence in the
wisdom, sound sense and intelligence OF
the Legislature to believe that such an
act, to his mind, of seeming folly, can be
accomplished. The only good ever done
| for us by the Republicans was to establish
an appointive Judiciary. 1t would be
| sheer madness to change the system now.
In order to satisfy a few blatant poll
| ticians and some well-meaning but un-
| reasonable people, many of whom are the
dupes of politicians, and in order TO elimi-
| nate the matter from the politics of the
| State, it may perhaps be found necessary
| to enact a law supervisory of charges for
| fare and freights by railroad corporations.
| 1t is not believed that any radical legisla-
| ton that will cripple the railroad interests
in the State will be had. In all probability
| a law will be enacted providing fora mild,
conservative supervision, giving equal
| justice to the people and to the roads, and
| doing violence to neither.
| 1t is expected that the Mississippi river
levees will figure conspicuously before the
! legislature
| 4 bill is pending in the House, backed
| by the leading citizens and taxpayers of
Jackson, providing for the abolition of the
present city government of Jackson. 1t
vests the government in seven commits
| sioners, two from each ward and one from
the city at large, all to be appointed by the
| Governor. by and with the advice and
| consent of the Senate the commissioner at
large to be president and er-otIcio justice
OF the peace, with a salary of 500 per
month and fees as a justice of the peace,
but all fees collected in cases tried for vio-
! lations of city ordinances to go into the
| city treasury; abolishes city clerk, city
| collector and marshall makes the sheriff
of Kinds county tax-collector for the city !;
| oil md
| vides generally for a good, efficient and
economical government, with low taxa
tion-none of which we now have and do
not hope to have unless this bill becomes
| a law.
| There has been some little stir and ex-
citement created here for the last few days,
aroused by the statement of news
paper correspondent, who assumed to
| speak authoritatively, that the Hon.
A. j. McLaurin would be appointed
to succeed Judge J. 4. P. Campbell
on the Supreme bench. There can be
no objection urged against Mr.. McLau-
rim, but there are serious objections to
his, or to anyone else succeeding or super
| seding Judge Campbell. That he should
be his own successor, the bar of the State
demands, the masses of the people de-
mand, and the public interests iRlperiottsly
demand. Nineteen-twentieths OF the bar
| of the State, including the highest legal
talent, have recommended his reappoint-
ment without solicitation. 1t has been
said and the expression has been echoed
and re-echoed from every part of the
State, that Judge Campbell's withdrawal
from the Supreme Bench would be pub
lie calamity" 1t is confidently believed
that he will be reappointed, and that the
aforesaid correspondent was mistaken.