The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-23
A CAUSTIC CRITICISM.
"A MIssIssIPPIAN' REVIEWS THE
WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE.
The Wrongs Put Upon the People
Lowry's Tax-Making Administration
Contrasted with Stones Tax-aeduc-
ing Regime-The Lands of the Della.

The Mississippi Legislature, after fifty
six or iifty-seyen daysof arduous labor, has
and the people are even yet in
doubt as to what ii did for them and what
il left undone, for at this writing ], at least,
have seen no important bill which became
a law, but only notices, and now and then
a synopsis, OF some OF those passed in the
closing days and hours, 10 which time all
important measures seem TO have been
postponed. The following, from the Daily
Advertiser Of the 9th, shows that rather an
unusual amount Of "gush" was INDUCED
in by the grave senators on the night Of
the adJournment
very pathetic scene occurred In the Senate TO-
ward is closing hours The Hon. George 4. Dodds,
dress on behalf OF the senate lie did 40 in beau
tfu speech, during the course of which he referred
TO the Hon, George q. billiard, Of Noxubee, In a
very pathetic manner, and stated that while he and
that gentleman had differed on great many ques-
lions, he was willing 10 shake hands with him and
10 bury the hatcnet and 70 leave the Senate with
the highest personal regard for every member OF IT,
senator billiard was called on 10 reply. but was
30 much affected ~ to be unable TO do 10. lie said
senators. cant speak, and with tears streaming
from his eyes, he walked over 70 Senator Dodds'
The scene throughout was iull Of pathos, aud
there were more moist eyes than one
This is all very interesting, but don't
think anybody outside the circle of weep
ing senators who surrounded tho senators
from Noxubee aud Copiah and witnessed
the pathetic scene care much for IL.
have looked In vain through the pro-
ceedings OF the Legislature, from its COM
mencement TO its close, 10 see that some
man in one house or the other, or In both,
would prove himself 10 be equal TO the ne
cessities Of the day and deserve, II he did
not obtain, the leadership OF u Legislature
which most assuredly needed one.
The following Is taken from the Clarion
Ledger OF the Slh, the day the Legislature
was supposed TO have adjourned:
That unaSumlng and quiet gentleman sitting by
himself 10 the SPEAKERS right 4 Dr. W. l.. God.
bold, representative nom Franklin, who moves
along IN modest way. but secures the passage OF
morc local bills than nine-tcnths VI the members.
No doubt the people Of Franklin county
will be delighted at the proud pre-emi-
hence achieved by their member, but IL Is
hardly fair that the Clarion-L elger should
leave us in doubt M 10 who were the one
tenth who surpassed DIR. Godbold in secur.
ing the passage OF local bills And such
local bills The heart grows sick at the
long list introduced day after day and
even up TO the very hour Of adjournment
almost, and the utter usclessncss OF them
all. But, unluckily for the people, the
Legislature, toward its close, did pass some
measures OF vital Importance, which
promptly received the sanction OF the
autocrat who presides over the executive
department OF the State and who has 80
little faith in the people who made him
what he Is, that he has compelled the
postponement for two years Of their right
TO hold convention 10 revise their
constitution. The only really bene.
fetal act passed by the Legislature was
the one to call convention, but
after its veto no man In either
House could be found who was
strong enough TO answer the absolutely
puerile reasons given by the governor fol
It's veto. And this measure. NJ important,
80 necessary to the people Of the State
yes, 10 necessary 10 the preservation of the
Democratic party Of the State-and the
passage Of which over the veto would have
done much 10 redeem the Legislature from
the rcproaches which have been heaped
upon IL, was killed. As time goes on
and what Il has done and left undonc
becomes better known II will be buried
under a load OF obloQuy such as neveI
fell 10 the lot OF Democratic Legislature
in this or any other State.
I will forbcar comment on the bill e
quiet titles 10 land In the Yazoo delta
further than 10 say that a more outrageous
attempt 10 take away from the courts the
right TO adjudicate titles 10 land was never
before attempted by any Legislature, and .
more absolute gift was never mad,
or attempted 20 be made 10 corporations
and speculatos than lhis bill tries to do
I speak from a long aud intimate knowl
edge Of the whole matter, from the pas
sage Of the lcvce act of 1858 10 the present
time, and from an exhaustive study Of IN,
same title when held by a single indi
yidual, In which ] defended n sui
brought on the title by W. l.. Nugcnl
and other able lawyers.
Few members OF the Legislature knew
perhaps, that II the men who had bought
aud entered these lands, or their heirs, di,
not have right 10 redeem them that III,
land belonged 10 the State and that th,
sale 10 the railroad and the London syndi
cate, 10 called, the principal purchasers
was n gigantic fniud and thPt nearly Of
quite 1900, 900 acres Of the finest lands IL
the world were sold 10 these spectators IL
violation OF the law and the constitution
for the Insignificant sum, on an average, o
about cents per acre.
Hut I must pass on, only asking II am
one chooses 70 deny what have here said
| that I may have space 10 reply. for Their
are other measures passed which viii COM
more directly home 10 the people, though
the giving away Of the States title and In
| tercst In some 2, 900, 900 acres oiland, wortl
today, at moderate estimate, s5,0oO,0OO
Is no small matter.
The receivers bill passed the Legislature
and became a law just before the adjourn
ment II u remarkable that when In lSI
the carpet bag regime was overthrow,
did not leave ~ legacy any burdcnsom
debt upon the State. Nearly all OF III
State debt when that alien power wen
into Office and left Office, were debts Ion
before due by the State. In many coun
tics unpleasant reminders Of this rcigl
were left, and are still with Us. Hence
was that the Legislature OF 1877 was en-
ahled to fix the State tax at 2 mills and
mills for interest aud principal on bonds
In 1873 the Legislature decreased th
tax 10 ~ mills for that year and not 10 on
coed 4 mills for 1879. These amounts
embrace OF 10 provide for the payment Q
principal and interest on bonds.
In 1880 the tax for that year and 1888
was fixed AZ mills and 10 include Ia
and pay principal and interest on lands.
In 1859 the tax was stll further reduces
10 "A mills for that rear and the yea
1888, 30 include tax 10 pay principal am
interest ON lands. In January, 1884, tina
| Gallant oil eol1ier and incorrupffble cen