The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1889-08-01
An Error Corrected.
From the Clarion-Ledger.l


laws that have been passed have been
for the benefit. directly or indirectly,
of capitalists" meaning other capital
lists than farmers or agriculturalists.
1t is perhaps true that nine-tenths of
the people in Mississippi are engaged
i'm agriculture, but it is not true that
most of the laws that have been
PASSED have been for the benefit, di-
rectly or Indirectly, of capitalists"
and as Mississippian jealous of the
fame of the State ! protest against
such defamation, and demand specl-
fications of the oft repeated charge
that the legislation of the State has
been against the great paramount in
terest of the people and for the few
instead of the many. | deny the
charge, and assert that there is upon
our statute books more class legisla-
ton in the interest of agriculture than
of any other.
More than this, challenge those so
ready to assert that most of the laws
of the State have been passed for the
benefit of capitalists, to mention sin
Gle law that has been so passed. |
have some familiarity with the laws of
the State, and if there is one which
may Justly be charged as having been
passed in the interest of capitalists
others than land owners and land
| lords, | do not recall it. Ours is an
agricultural State and must continue
to be. All desire the advancement
and success of the great controlling
| interest of the State, and legislation
has been shaped in the interest of
agriculture. There is hardly law
upon our statute books not so design
ed. always excepting shameful ex-
emption in favor of banks, which
crept crept into the revenue of laws
! 1888, and. which could not have been
passed, if it had been understood. |
| speak not of such frauds as that,
which the legislature will make haste
to correct, but of the general course
of legislation, and our permanent
body of laws, and as to that defy con-
tradictiOn.
Another statement equally destitute
of foundation in fact, is often made,
viz: That agriculture pays more than
eighty per cent of the taxes in this
State. If the sense in which the as
sertion is made is that agriculture, as
the chief wealth producer in this
State, ultimately bears the greater bur
den, it is true, but i'll the sense they
who own and cultivate land as agri-
culturists, pay more than so per cent.
of taxes, it is wide of the mark.
While about nine-tenths of the peo-
pie of Mississippi it may he, are en-
ployed in agriculture, it is very ques-
tionablc, if they pay Onethird of
State and county taxes. 1t is time
truth on this subject should be known
and recognized. The farmers have
enough in the adverse conditions sur
rounding them to dissatisfy them,
without having imaginary grievances
to still farther make them discomfort
ed and unhappy. lam well acquaint
ed with their general situation and
difficulties, and deeply sympathize
with them, but it is nOt true that the
State legislation caused or can cure
the evils which atflict them. Our laws
are for the most part good, and all the
farmers who have been i'll the Senate
and House of Representatives for
years have not been able to suggest
and formulate any acceptable improve
mcnt of them. Not farmer i'll the
State has proposed or can propose any
acceptable legislative measure for the
ameliOration of the condition of this
class The idea that laws can induce
prosperity is a deiusion. The wisest
and best of earth cannot frame code
oflaws that would produce prosperity.
Individual prosperity does not come
from any such source.
The agriculturalists of this State
have had done for them all that law
can do. The landlord is made secure
in his rent and advances, and the Ia
| borcr or croppcr is made secure for his
claim, and all have plain, simple and
cheap remedies for the enforcement
of their rights. More than this law
cannot DO.
! When government exists rs chcaply
/ as it can to be efficient, when its bur
dens are distributed evenly as to all
classes and interests, when men are
protected in their natural rights of
life, liberty and the acquisition and
enjoyment of property, and are left to
the pursuit of happiness according to
their individual notions, when suitable
pCHdJ dGtlIISl II
and efficient laws for their punishment
are enacted, when tribunals are erect
ed for the redress of public and pri
waite wrongs, and the enforcement of
rights, when plain and simple rules
for the regulation Of the transactions
of the living i'll these respects, where
in it is attempted, and cheap and eff
cient provisions for settling the affairs
of the dead are made, all has been
done that can he by law for the adj
vancement and welfare of society. /
The rest depends on individual effort
and environment.
Away then with the absurd cry that
there has been discrimination in the I
legislation Of this State against agri-
culture. There is no truth in it. The
last Legislature had many intelligent /
agriculturalist5 in it. What did any
OF them propose for the benefit of ag /
riculture! Magruder's bill to regulate |
labor, deemed by him and others es-
sential, was defeated overwhelmingly /
and by the votes Of farmers.
None of the intelligent farmers in /
Senate or House proposed to change |
our laws or to make new ones, except /
as above, / believe. Shall it he be- |
lieved that with most of our laws in /
the interest Of capitalists, as charged,
the many representatives of the land |