The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-10-13
Address Of the democratic Com
mittee.

Address of the democratic Com
mittee.
To the Voter, Of the Third CongressenAl Lstrst OF
Mississippi. /
In inaagurating the present canvass /
for Congress, We deem it proper TO brief |
Nv review the situation and call your |
attention to the issues involved
This is the only district of the State |
which hes, outside of the issues involved
in general politics, direct, vital, material
interests TO be presented TO, advocated
and urged before the National Legisls-
ture
The improvement of the lower Missis-
sippi by the general government, and
the benefits TO be derived therefrom
bv the commercial cities and the alluyi-
al lands of the district, has for years
past been agreed by common consent TO
be a subject of prime Importance TO
their material development and prosper
ity.
Two wears ago the Democratic party
pledged itself for the zeal, efficiency
and ability with which its then esndi-
date, Gen. Catchings, would serve the
district in this its most important IN
terest. That pledge has been amply
and fully redeemed. The Congress,
then about to expire, had refused to
make any appropriation for the river
or to substantially recognize our har-
bors.
GEN. CATcaINGs,
upon his entrance into Congress, was
enabled at once TO obtain a position on
the Rivers and Harbo-s Committee,
position which he still holds and which
NAV be said to be essential to the eff
cheney of the member representing this
district. To his holding this position
and to his earnest individual effort is
alone due the fact that the commercial
Importance of Iicksburg and Green
vile was recognized at the last session
of the present Congress, and approprla-
tions made for the protection of their
harb ors
But vastly more important to the
district generally was the obtainin OF
renewed recognition by Congress OF the
claims of the Mississippi river upon the
public Treasury. The difficulties that
stood in way are but little understood
| by the general public. The rivers and
| harbors bill had been defeated by the
preceding Congress, mainly because of
the item for the benefit of the Missis-
sippi. The first and most important
work to be done at the last session was
| TO secure favorable action by the com.
mittee. Unless the bill as reported from
that committee contained an appropria
ton for
| TIE MISSISSIPPI
| further effort was idle and hopeless.
| Without it, the river would not be able
to obtain even hearing on the floor of
| Congress.
OF the fifteen members of that com
mittee only two, Messrs. Catchings and
| Blanchard, represented districts imme-
diately interested in the lower Mississippi
| Upon their efforts mainly it had to rely
| for recognition by the committee, and to
their efforts is mainly due the fact that
the bill as reported by the committee
contained an appropriation of $4,000
600 for the lower river and appropria-
| lions for Memphis, Greenville, Nieksburg
and New Orleans.
| When the bill came before the House
the appropriation for the Mississippi
river provoked bitter and able opposi-
ton The railroad interests of the
North and East, directly interested in
preventing cheap water way transporta
ton, combining with those who antago-
nized it on constitutional grounds, those
who desired to make party capital by a
show of economy, those who were unwill-
| ing to vote ANYTHING that benefited the
SOUTH, and with the large number who
| felt indifferent and voted on general
L Al Il IS
public money, except where their own
districts were Immediately benefited.
made formidable combination, which
was led by the aolest men of both
parties in Congress The same comb.
nation had defeated the appropriation
in the preceding Congress.
THE FIGHT WAS HARD
and bitter. 1t demanded at the hands
of the friends of the river all of their
energy, tact, zeal and industry. 1t re-
suired work, hard, persistent, unfiagging
| work.
Always in the right place, always on
the alert, never unmindful of duty to
his constituency, with his whole soul
and every energy of his mind embarked
in the contest, 1t can be safely asserted,
and proved by the record, that to no one
of the gallant little band of members
representing directly the lower Miesis-
sippi, was the final success of the appro-
] Iriation for its benefit more Justly due
than to Gen. Catchings HIS position
on the committee gave him influence in
framing the bill; his ability and per-
sonal dignity of character gave him
weight on the floor of the House, and
his industry and ardor made the best
use of his opportunities.
Services of this kind are positive, tan
gible. They can be sensibly felt. They
amount to an infinite deal more than
| the reflected glory obtained by district
from the eloquent airing of himself on
general subjects by one OF its favorite
sons. They signify with this district
GRADUAL RELIEF FROM TAXATION,
protection from overflow by the abund-
ant resources Of the government and,
through the same means, rescuing our
river towns from destruction. A wise
and thoughtful people would not read
| lily be persuaded to substitute for the
man 10 whom they owed SO much, and
occupying a position enabling him to be
of so great service in the future, any
other man, of either party, in the dis
trict. His unanimous endorsement and
denomination by the intelligence and
property interests of this district, as
embodied in the Democratic Convention
of last summer, is evidence of the ap-
probation of his services. No patriotic
citizen, with an expression so unanimous
from convention composed of the ma
terial Of which that was, and represent
ing che class of citizens and the great
property interests which it did, would,
one would think, dispute its choice,
although he might be of opposite poll
tics That
PEARCE
should have GAINED two years ago to
represent this district was, from his
standpoint not unnatural. Indeed. there
was certain kind of logic in his claim.
TIE NEGROES
were greatly in the majority. He was a
negro. 1t was proper, therefore, that
the majority of the voters should be
represented by one of themselves The
issue presented by his candidacy was
narrow and easily understood. The
Democratic party saw the danger I'M
derlyiBg its success; it realized the
effort 10 pnass one race araipst apo+bor