The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-04-15
THE STATE UNIVERSITY LANDS.


Scranton. Miss. April u. lse.
Editor Democrat-sta a
a few weeks ago the representative
and attorney OF the State University
came U this place and Mississippi
City 10 contest, and IL possible, dis
possess some Of the citizens of these
counties, who have located on what is
known as the Navy Reserve Lands"
IN Jackson and Harrison counties for
years. 1t looked to me like a small
affair, for an institution like that 10
attempt TO deprive the citizens Of
their just rights, as has since been
decided by Register Hill and Receiver
Matthews. Since that institution has
attempted to wage its unjust war
against the people Of these counties,
let us see if we cannot, In the name Of
justice and right, as well as through
the laws OF the land, claim rs a hertz
age for ourselves and our children,
what the University would lead the
capitalist TO believe was its individual
property.
The truth Of the matter is, from my
investigation, that the University has
no more right u these lands than the
man in the moon, and | will cite the
law on the subject as taken from the
statute, chapter 49,, March =, 1875,
which reads as follows:
IAN act To authorize the Secretary
OF the Navy to certify TO the Secretary
Ut the Interior for restoration To the
public domain lands in the States OF
Alabama and Mississippi not needed
for naval purposes"
In tile marginal reference tn said
act is the following language: Pub
lie lands. naval reservoirs in Alabama
and Mississippi restored TO settle
ment."
The language OF the act clearly
shows that Congress intended that
these lands should he opened TO settle
mcnt only, and up to this time, the
Interior Department has refused to
grant letters OF patent to the Univer-
sity for these lands.
Now, let us see what Congress did
do for the University OF Mississippi.
On June 20, 1894, Congress passed an
act authorizing the State to select out
OF any Of the four hundred thousand
acres or more OF the United States
land, then on the records Ut this State
Ia the several counties, twenty-three
thousand and forty acres OF unUccu.
pied and uninhabitcd lands.
The State failed to make the selec-
ton, as provided by the act OF 1894,
but as soon as the act of 1895 went in
to effect the University attempted to
goble up the whole selection in the
two counties Of the lands opened up
for settlement alone.
Again the selection was irregular, as
the State did not inspect the lands,
but got the descriptions from the
United States land office. Let the
people Of Harrison and jackson coun.
ties 20 on these lands and file their
, applications for homestead purposes;
ii will only cost them SIG each, and il
they are defeated and their claims
rejected their money will be refunded.
! would suggest that a mass meet.
. ing be called TO meet at Scranton on
April 25th, by the people Of this and
/, Harrison county, to lay this matter
before the Interior Department, that
the peoples rights may be protected
( against a greedy institution.
:: ! have no objection to the Univcr.
sity making its pro rata selection from
any Of the lands In this section, hut t.
play the game Of ''grab.all in our
! midst, !, as well as hundreds OF
others, enter u protest against it.
1t cannot be said that l am un.
friendly to the University, for my re.
cord as a member Of the Legislature
/ will show that | was the friend OF
r every educational Institution 10 the
State.
: In this case | am for the people oil
: these counties first, last and all tho
i time, believing they have been unjust.
ly treated by the Ex-Governor in max.
= ing the whole selection In these coun,
{ ties, and to the officers of the Univer.
sity in trying to enforce what | be.
lieyc to be an unjust claim.
8 l Willingly tender my services to
the people of these counties to assist
> them 10 having these lands opened up
0 for settlers, believing it was clearly
the intention Of Congress that they
should be restored to the public do.
main for that purpose alone.
NJ pEJuAM