The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1899-02-18
A NEW RICHMOND.
HON. J. II. JONES' ANNOUNCEMENT
AS A CANDIDATE
For Governor of mississippi. Full
Text of His Letter Published In the
WoodviIIe Republican, His Home
Paper.

Woodville Republican, announces
| his intention to become candi-
date for the Office of governor.
The Echo here gives the full text
of Mr.. Jones' letter as a matter of
| news and in that sense of justice
due all sides hearing, but not in
anv wise to conflict with the edi-
torial policy of the paper in its
support of the peerless Vardaman,
Mississippi's next Governor:
| Woodville, Miss, Feb. 6, 1899.
Capt. R.M. MeGehee, Chairman
of the Democratic Executive Com
mlttee and Others: Gentlemen
Replying TO your fiattering re-
quest for me to become a candi-
date for Governor of this great
State, / beg leave, in acceding
thereto, to give my views on some
of the issues involved, as follows:
/ am unable to see the necessity
of indulging in lengthy mani
festo expressing my own views on
many of the important issues of
the day that more properly belong
to the sphere of legislation. An
experience in the Legislature of
the State of twelve years has
taught me that the Governor of
the State is not very powerful
factor in shaping its laws. It is
true he is charged with the duty
of recommending such legislation
as he may deem necessary and
proper, but it does not follow that
his recommendations will be
adopted by the legislative branch
of the government, end they are
very often entirely ignored by
that department.
1t is eminentlv proper - discuss
all public measures involving
State interests in the conduct of
a campaign, but I fail 10 see the
wisd, m'of laying down an EXTENSIVE
platform of principles and of pro-
posed measures which the candi-
date. if elected Governor, will have
no power to carry out. | shall,
therefore, contine myself to those
duties and obligations which ap-
pertain peculiarly to the executive
department of the State.
/ may say that am Democrat
and stand upon the platform of
the patty adopted at Chicago.
The Governor of the State is
clothed with the veto power by
the constitution. My conception
of that grant of power incur Or
ganic law is that it was never de-
signed 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. It was
granted to the executive de-
partment as a safeguard and a
check upon the legislative depart
nent, for the purpose of prevent
ing unconstitutional Or other le-
gislation that might prove detri-
mental to the interests of the
State. 1t should, therefore, not
be lightly or hastily exercised.
Before invoking the veto power
the Governor should be fully con-
vinced, after a most painstakinp
investigation, that the bill submit
ted to him is either unconstitu-
tional or injurious. He should
bear in mind that the Legislature
always numbers among it's men,
bers men VIII o are quite the
equals and sometimes the SUI
perior of the Governor in brain
power, and that the consensus of
judgment of 178 men should al
ways be entitled to respectful con-
sideration when opposed to the
views and wishes of a single indi-
vidual. For these reasons [ reach
the conclusion that however much
the Governor may differ from the
Legislature on the wisdom or pol.
icy of a proposed law, he has no
moral right to veto bill solely
on the ground that it is not en-
tirely satisfactory to himself.
The Governor is also clothed
with the power of appointment
of many officers, and especially
of the State judges and chancel.
lors. This is avery grave respon-
sibility that the constitution i'm
poses upon the executive. 1t is
even more thanl this; it is most
sacred trust, an one that, more
than any other trust, should be
faithfully and cohscientiously adj
ministered in the Interest of the
people of the States Upon the
proper selection, of ljudges and
chancelloIs depends, in a great
measure. the most vital interests
of society, and the pr8per protec-
ton of life aud PROPERTY; hence
| it goes without saying, that
none but the purest and best
should be appointed to@iudieial
positions. The Governorcf the
State. is guilty of a poEtical
crime when he uses this poweG to
reward partisaps, and to foster
and to advance his own persohAl ]
| and political ends; and | do ol
hesitate to affirm that when
does SO he betrays the most
cred trust committed TO his kee
inc by the people, and that s.
annointee who feels that he d
the sIigtest service to the mn
who appoints him is unworthy of
the Office he ills.
The theory of our form of gox
/ eminent IS that the three depar
lments composing it-the execu4