Year: 1866

OkALoNA, Miss, March 1866.


GENTLEMEN The object of this short
communication is briefly to lay before your
honorable body certain considerations which
now seem much to disturb the public mind
at this time. The recent tariff which you
have levied on lumber and corn is evidently
depressing the people. They are little pre-
pared for such a change-few have money
and means to undergo it, and consequently,
must be debarred from rebuilding again
unless yOu greatly reduce your charges


Many too, are very short of bread, and OF
course this bears equally heavily upon
them. These are considerations OF vast I'M
portance for your deliberative body TO con-
slider If ever there was time when
freight should be cheap on these articles,
now is certainly the time: for many VINO
once ahounded in wealth and atfiuence are
now in penury and want The many raids


with which the inhabitants We're visited,
on or near this road, is sufficient to awaken


sympathy and commiseration at your hands.


This is perfectly within yonr power 10 give


by reducing the tariff on lumber and corn,


which articles the distressed so much need.


These are weighty and momentous consid-


erations, the most weighty by far, that was


ever considered by any deliberatlve body


The country has been torn up by the raYaSes


of a cruel, uncalled for war, and do they NOT
deserve your warmest sympathies Many


have declined building altogether under
such a tariff, and why have they done so
/ The reason is obvious. They had made no
+ preparation for it. We then appeal to your
/ honorable and magnauimous body to and the
! distressed and needy who now lie begging
/ at your doors These are objects OF mercy
and compassion. Many of their souS have
/ fought, hled and died on the battle-tields
/ and shall they be turned away and thus be
denied tala6er and corn on account of the
+ high tariff No, we think not. You VIII
reduce the tariF, and especially on these
/ two articles which the people stand SO much
/ in need of. We have the utmost confidence
! in your greatness and magnamimitY. This
/ class of people about whom we are speaking,
are actually suffering; suffering for lumber
/ to rebuild their former houses which the
/ hand of the ravages OF war destroyed; suffer
/ ing for bread because they have none on hand
! and but little money to buy ii. The late
/ high tariff then should at once be removed
! Tor the sake OF suffering humanity. These
are stubborn facts staring us all in the face.


And will you not extend to suffering human
/ ity some thonght aud consideration and


afford to them that aid and comfort which


they SO richly deserve at your hands! They
| have endured all the perls end privations OF


Il long four years war. Stripped of all the
earthly gains, which they ever made


are they not objects of charity for youI


deepest thought and consideration We
! plead for suffering humanity. We only ask
| or desire liberal reduction on lumber and


corn, which articles are so manitestly needed
/ by the people. We do hope your honorable


and magnanimous body will at once reduce
/ the tmiF on hmbc3 and corn, for which the


distressed and needy will ever feel grateful
/ We now, gentlemen, submit these solemn


reflections to your magnanimouS body toI
/ your impartial scrutiny and consideration
trusting you will at once reduce the tariff


on lumber and corn for the oppressed and the


free ID. IL.