The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1886-03-02

EpiToR CLARION: II not too late, /
should be pleased to give you few OF
my ideas, together with facts and figures,
on the very properly named, "Mer'
chants, Capitalists and Recording Clerks
Stare Law.' For every person benefited,
Outside OF the above named classes,
forty-nine are either ruined, badly
crippled, or hopelessly involved in this
most seductive and enchanting legal
robbery ever devised by man, and twin
brother 10 the present State Constitution,
being Radical curse,up the prosperity
OF the State. The fiftieth man is now
within the outer circle Of this malstrom
Of financial ruin to The farming interest
Of the State, and gliding nnconsciously.
perhaps, into the vortex of destruction.
Go to merchants ledger, sud what
is the first item charged against his
customer? "For making and recording
lien, $780," which averages in thi.
county not less than 81, 10000 per annum
or a greater sum than the annual State
tax. The males over q years are $500
and this calculation is based or less thar
half OF that number, which is surely
not too many, for full one half are in
The hands u the supply man and
money lender.
] learn, from the Census OF 1880, thai
this county approximate very nearly Il
an average in population to the II
counties in the State; su fiiciently neal
TO base thereon the following estimate
$4,000 90 by rs equals, $500, 10000 pei
annum, for acknowledging and record
ing liens. Multiply the amount
by the number OF years (15) the Law
has been in force, and we have the sun
Of $4,500,000. But this trifling sum i
not worthy OF notice, in comparison
with the estimate following, made OF
the. same basis, viz: 1850 liens to the coun
by, multiplied by rs, equals 1871 $50 lien
III the State. Say the amount advanced
on ch Item, is $4,000 average, and ",
have Sl9,6S7 200, as the lien law bust
ness OF the State for one year. One-hal
OF this is clear profits. (above casl
prlces), If collected; il not, woe be t.
unfortunate debtorl He is now moving
slowly upon the outer ring Of the whirl
pool, but it is only question IF time
when he will sink to rise no more.
Thus we see the amount wrung from
the sweat and toll OF the poor, is $9.843,
$50 each year: multiply that by the
number Of years Of this iniquity (15)
and we have the snug sum of Sl56,656,
800 Add to this small item Of -four
and half millions for executing liens,
and we find that $l6l, 1862 has been
taken from the tillers of the soil, or ii
held against them, as a recorded wit
ness. to stheir lost liberty and man
hood and enslayement Of their chill
dren.
Estimating the cotton crop of the
State at 900, 1000 bales, and the price $40
per bale, it will aggregate $36,000,0 900.
As previously shown, the amount wrong.
fully taken from labor, is over ten mil
lions per annum, or Dearly one-third Of
the entire cotton crop.
How little is left for taxes, doctors
bills, improvements, accidents, misfor.
tunes, education, etc, and nothing for
the printer. We scan't read, have not
time to read. or money to buy books
and papers; il we had, ,oork, ,cork, from
early morn till weary eve, would leave
us but little time to cultivate the mind
and heart One thing alone is left as
we can pray 10 God, for deliyerance
from this great oppression, and He will
hear and answer. JEFFERsoNIAN.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Feb. q, '86.