The Grenada sentinel., 1899-02-18
GRENADA MISS, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY ,8, 1900.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. j. JONES
Accepts the Call on Him to Become a
Candidate for Governor


WOODV1LLE, Miss, Feb. 6. 1899.
CAPT. r. NJ. MCGEHEE, CHAIRMAN OF
THE DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COM
MITTEE, AND OTHERS:
GENTLEMEN:-Replying to your fat
terlng request for Inc to become Il can
dida.e for Governor Of this great State
L beg leave, in accedin@ thereto. to
give my views on some Of the issues
involved, as follows:
am unable TO see the nece s:ity of
indul ging in lengthy manifesto OK
pressing my own views on many of the
important issues Of the Cay that more
property belong to the sphere of lcris-
'atiOn. An experience in tfe Leeisla-
ture OF the State OF twelve years tus
taught me that the Governor of the
State is not very powerful factor il
shaping It's laws. 1t is true he is
charged with the duty of recommends
Ing such Legislation as he may deem
necessary and proper, but it does not
follow that his recommendation vii,
be adopted by the Legislative branch Of
the Government; and they arc very
often entirely ignored by that Depar,>
ment.
1t is eminently proper to discuss all
public measures involving State inter-
ests, in the conduct of campaign, but
[ fail 10 see the wisdom OF LAYING down
an extensive platform of principles and
OF proposed measures. which the cal~
didate, If elected Governor will have
40 power to carry out. shall, there
fore, contine myself to those duties ard
obligations which appertain peculiarly
to the Executive Department of the
State.
may say that am Democrat and
stand upon the platform of the party
adoD,ed at Chicago.
The Governor Of the State is clothed
with the veto power by the Constitu-
ton. My conception OF that grant of
power in our organic law is that it VII,
never designed or intended to enable
the Governor to thwart the expressed
will OF the Legislature. or to force his
peculiar views of any pending measure
upon that body 1t was granted to the
Executive Department rs a safeguard
and a check upon the Legislative De-
partment, for the purpose of prevent
ing unconstitutional, or other legisla>
tion that might prove detrimental to
the interes.s Lf the State. 1t should,
therefore, not be lightly or hastily ex-
eriscd.
Before invok ing the veto power the
Governor should be fully convinced.
after most painstuking Investigation.
that the bill submitted to him is either
unconstitutional or Injurious. He
should bear in mind that The Legisla-
ture always numbers among its men.>
bers men who are quite the equals. and
sometimes the superiors of the Cover
nor In brain-power: and that the con.
census of judgment of one hundred and
seventy-eignt men should always be
entitled to pe,tful consideration
when opposed to the views or wishes
OF single individual. For these rea>
sons reach the conclusion tha: how
ever much the Governor may differ
with the Legislature on the wisdom or
policy Of IL proposed law he has no
moral right to veto bill solely on the
ground that it is not entirely satisfac-
tory to himself.
The governor is also clothed with |
the power of appointment of many Off
GERS. and especially Of the State Judges
and Chancellors. This is very grave
resnor sibility that the Constitution |
imposes upon the Executive. it is even
more than this, it is a most sacred .
trust, and one that. more than any 9TH
err, should be faithfully and con-
administered in the inter- !
est Of the people of the State. Upon !
the proper selection OF judges and |
chanccllors depends, in great meas
urc, the most vital interests Of society.
and the proper protection of lie ana
property, hence it goes without saying.
that none but the rurcst and bes.
should be appointed to judicial posi-
lions. The Governor of the State is