The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1897-08-06
CHANGE OUR CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT.

Editor Democrat-star.
The first act of the human family,
as shown in Eve and Adam partak-
ing OF the forbidden fruit, as they
thought, for their individual good,
shows the selhshness OF our nature,
and from that day 10 this human ma
ture has been the same.
So far as / know our present Con-
gresham from the sixth district can
not DC censured for any neglect OF our
coast interests, yet | have long since
learned that an advocate must feel, as
well as know, the needs OF his clients
or constituents before he can fully
represent them.
1t is well known to everyone who
has fully studied the matter, that a
deep water harbor on our State coast
would be the greatest boon to the
whole State. Yet outside Of those
counties lying on the Gulf, and on
Pearl and Pascagoula rivers and their
tributaries, it Is a fact that the peo-
pie know nor care but little about 1t.
The people land necessarily their
representatives in State and NatiOn)
in the western part OF our district
care much more about the rate OF fare
and freight on the |. c. Il. Il. or boats
on the Mississippi river than they do
about our effort 70 get a deep water
harbor on u coast. Now, it is a fact
not generally considered, that the
black counties" In the western part
OF our district, in effect, vote all their
negro votes against u white votes,
in determining who our nominee shall
be. as they are allowed a vote in Oul
primary or party elections, according
to their representation in our Legis
lature. The real effect Of this is t
the injury of our white counties. l
anyone questions the effects Of thi!
bad union of eastern and western
counties withtheir human %selfshness
then let him accompanyso next can
didate for Congress and lie will SCI
and hear that east Of Pearl river thu
burden Of their message to the dea
people is "Deep Water Harbor," ye
west OF Pearl river it is something
else. The average candidate talks t.
please those hearing him.
Now, Col. p. X, | suggest that tn
papers published in those countie
that would be effected, be asked Il
copy or comment on this suggestion
and let the people determine by tn
next meeting OF the Legislature il
January, 1898, whether or not it wOult
not be best for all concerned, to TAX
from the Sixth Congressional distric
all counties not on Pearl and Pasca
goula rivers, and then add to tn
sixth district those counties that ar
on those rivers and their tributaries
In this way the counties of Adams
Amite, Pike and WilkerSOn would b
left out Of our district and Jasper
Wayne, Smith and some other cour
ties, with the same selfish interes
with US, could be added.
AS the division Of our State int
Congressional districts is by statute
see Sec. 1891 of our Code, and not b
Constitution, the Legislature ca
easily change them and l believe
A but voice the sentiment of all person
who have studied this subject OF dee
water harbors, when l say that II
, other question before our people is @
as much Importance as this one
, trust no n in those counties that ar
proposed to be left out. or to be added
| will suspect or accuse me OF any il
b tention, except for the good of GU
J State, and especially Of those cour
ties who so greatly desire the earl
opening up of deep water on on
coast. What say you. editors an
people Of the counties that would b
! effected?
, Respectfully submitted for Thought
:, full discussion. NJ. A. DEES.
| Moss Point, Miss, Aug. |, 1897.