USA > Mississippi > Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II > Part 89
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was no longer any likelihood that they would ever again get pos- session of the offices, and as some of them were in bad standing among the native whites, there seemed to be little encouragement for them to remain. During the year 1876, a large majority of those who had at one time or another held office moved away. Of those who were prominent in politics, less than half a dozen remained. They were good citizens and were highly respected." (Ibid, 413.)
The main item of the reduction in expenditures was $140,000 in expenses of the judiciary, partly because of the constitutional amendment relating to chancery courts, and the transfer of jury and witness expenditures from the State to the counties. (See Ames Adm.) The appropriations for the penitentiary were cut $66,000 to $19,000; for the lunatic asylum from $97,000 to $28,000. The printing bill was cut down from $50,000 to $21,000, the ex- penses of assessing from $34,000 to $14,000, and the expenses of the legislature were reduced about one-seventh.
When the legislature met in 1876 the State warrants were selling at 80 to 85 cents on the dollar. The average quotation in 1875 had been 84 cents. Before the close of the session of 1876 the price rose to 95 cents, and later in the year it was 99 cents, where it remained for some time nominally, though the warrants were prac- tically at par.
The secretary, auditor, treasurer and attorney-general of the Ames administration served out their regular terms to January, 1878.
The United States senate appointed a committee in March, 1876, to investigate the charge that the elections of 1875 were carried by fraud and intimidation. The committee held a twenty days' session at Washington, D. C., 14 days at Jackson, beginning June 9, and two days at Aberdeen, and the testimony was printed in two volumes of 2,000 pages. The majority report declared that the legislature elected was rightfully Republican, the congressional delegation also, and the recommendation was in general that the State be remanded to a territorial form of government and again be reconstructed. The report was partisan and was made for political purposes. The revolution of 1876 saved the State from ruin and bankruptcy, and placed the control of the government in the hands of honest, intel- ligent and capable citizens.
Auditor Gibbs, in his report to the legislature in January, 1877, said the financial statement for 1876 "shows the financial condi- tion of the State to be very flattering to the wisdom displayed by your honorable body at the last session, and that the efforts to econ- omize and retrench the expenditures of the State government, which were then made, have been to a great degree crowned with success, without detriment to the general public service." Under the law of 1876 requiring fines, forfeitures and taxes to be paid in currency, there had been collected for the common schools $104,000, to which was added for distribution the proceeds of United States bonds in the treasury, $60,000. The two-mill tax brought in $185,933. and
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the total amount distributed was 52 cents for each child of school age.
The total receipts for the year 1876 were $981,373; total dis- bursements by warrants, $518,709. But this statement did not show the bond and certificate account, included in former state- ments. Out of the apparent balance of $462,000 the treasurer had retired certificates of indebtedness, to the amount of $122,500, and paid bonds and interest to the amount of $179,224. The total expenditures therefore, were about $820,000, and the excess of re- ceipts over expenditures $161,000. The total expenditures of the last year of the Ames administration had been $1,430,000, accord- ing to the method of book-keeping then in vogue, including $425,- 000 to retire bonds, etc., and the excess of receipts over expenditures was estimated at $400,000. In his message Governor Stone esti- mated that taking into account the same items of expenditure, there had been a reduction in expenditures from $1,130,000 in 1875 to $547,000 in 1876.
In 1876 the State political conventions were held at Jackson, the Republican March 30, and the Democratic June 14. A spirited canvass was made by the Democrats, thoroughly organized in Con- servative clubs, while the Republicans showed little activity. . The vote was about two to one for the Tilden electors, and the six con- gressmen-elect were Democrats, as were a large majority of the members of the legislature.
The Agricultural lien law was a subject of much discussion in 1877, it being alleged that "the prostration of business and the poverty of the laboring class, are mainly caused by the law which enables the laborer to mortgage the products of his labor months in advance of its performance." The burdens of municipal taxation were yet complained of, and Governor Stone said: "Some legisla- tion is needed to put a limit upon the power of cities and towns to levy taxes for corporation purposes." Among the more im- portant acts of the legislature in 1877 were several authorizing counties and cities to fund their floating indebtedness. The city of Vicksburg was authorized to compromise by issuing 5 per cent. bonds with 50 years to run, to take the place of the ten per cent. improvement bonds and the Vicksburg. Pensacola & Ship Island railroad bonds, at a rate not exceeding 65 cents on the dollar.
In 1877 the Republicans made no nominations, and the Demo- cratic ticket was elected practically by unanimous vote. At the Democratic convention, August 1-2, Governor Stone had been nom- inated for governor on the tenth ballot, and the following, who served with him during 1878-79: Lieutenant-Governor W. H. Sims; Kinloch Falconer, secretary of state: W. L. Hemingway, state treasurer ; Sylvester Gwin, auditor ; T. C. Catchings, attorney- general; James A. Smith, superintendent of education. A consti- tutional amendment was adopted, making the sessions of the leg- islature biennial after 1878. Governor Stone was inaugurated Jan- uary 10, 1878. In his inaugural address he said: "Can a govern- ment, based upon unlimited suffrage, be successfully carried on be-
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tween two races, the most antagonistic on earth, which, while ac- cording equal rights to each, shall tend to the common prosperity and happiness of both? The experience of the past ten years suf- ficiently demonstrates that it cannot be done by governments, the controlling influence in which is wielded by the inferior race. It remains to be seen whether one controlled by the superior will be more successful." By a strange coincidence, Governor Stone. was at the head of the State twelve years later when another solu- tion of this problem was attempted.
In his message of January, 1878, he wrote: "During the past year, general peace and quiet have prevailed. With few exceptions, confined to one or two localities, no disturbances have occurred, the laws have been enforced and the courts have protected the citi- zen in his life, person and property. Local self-government has been sufficient to preserve the peace, and to secure to our people the blessings of good government. The wisdom of the legislation of your predecessors, enacted in the memorable legislation of 1876 and in the session of 1877, is seen in the prosperous and satisfactory condition of every department, and in the general content and sat- isfaction of the people of all classes and races. The finances of the State are in a more satisfactory condition than at any period during the past eight years, and ample opportunity is afforded to every educable child to receive a good English education in the free public schools. Much has been accomplished within the past two years. Taxes, for State purposes, have been reduced from 14 mills on the dollar in 1874 and 91/4 in 1875, to 61/2 in 1876, and 5 in 1877. Reductions equally as great have been made in the matter of county taxation, and within a short time, when the indebtedness of the State and counties shall have been discharged-indebtedness which existed prior to the 1st of January, 1876-the taxes to be paid by the people will be reduced to a rate which will compare most favorably with that of any other State in the Union. The warrants of the State are at par, and have been since the first day of January, 1877. As stated, taxation has been greatly reduced in every county, and where indebtedness existed two years ago, it has been either entirely extinguished, or greatly lessened."
The State tax on real estate was decreasd from $623,000 in 1876, to $475,000 in 1877; on personal property from $232,000 to $160,000. The total receipts from all sources in 1877, were $865,000; dis- bursements, $562,000; besides which the bonded debt was paid to the amount of $305,000 principal, and $105,000 interest. There was an issue of bonds, however, so that the actual reduction of principal of bonded debt was about $100,000. In January, 1878, the nominal debt was $3,227,000, but the "total debt proper." in ex- cess of trust funds, and cash on hand, was less than $600,000.
The summer and fall of 1878 was marked by a terrible epidemic of yellow fever, more than ever before known. "For many months the whole State was a melancholy scene of suffering, and desola- tion and mourning. But in the midst of their distress the charitable world, with unstinted hand, ministered to the relief of our suffering
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people. From the cities, towns and villages, North, East, West and South, large sums of money and many needed supplies were forwarded to our relief associations; and several large donations were received from foreign countries. The different Masonic bod- ies, Odd Fellows, and other benevolent institutions throughout the country, were most conspicuous and liberal in their deeds of char- ity. The relief thus contributed was transported and distrib- uted by railroad, express and steamboat companies free of charge ; and all correspondence for purposes of relief was transmitted by telegraph companies upon the same terms." (Governor Stone.) Kinloch Falconer, secretary of state, died of the fever September 23, and subsequently Henry C. Myers was appointed to the vacancy. Another victim was Chancellor J. C. Gray, of the Third circuit.
The treasurer's report for 1878 showed receipts on warrants, $933,529 ; on bonds sold, $337,150 ; total $1,270,679. Disbursements, $895,347. Warrants outstanding December 31, 1878, $401,516. The report for 1879 was, receipts on warrants, $558,802, on bonds $106,- 650; total $665,452. Disbursements, $759,619. Warrants outstand- ing at end of year, $386,823. There was a decrease in the public debt of $220,000 in two years, 1878-79, and while the nominal debt was about $3,000,000, the actual indebtedness was stated as $379,- 485. There was still held in the treasury $795,000 in paper money of the war period, which was worthless. This was destroyed, under an act of legislature, in 1880.
The receipts by warrant in 1878 were $558,862 ; disbursements by warrant $553,326. The judiciary expenses had then been re- duced to $71,000. Mississippi university was receiving $30,000 and Alcorn university $2,300, in place of $50,000 to each, as in the Ames administration. Public printing had fallen from its former enormous cost to $8,000. On account of the leasing system the total appropriation for the penitentiary was only $121. The valuation of real estate for 1879 was $76,000,000, about 28,000,000 acres being listed, and the State tax imposed upon it was $266,000. For 1879 the report of the treasurer was: Receipts, $665,452 ; current funds on hand at beginning of year, $894,924; Disbursements, on war- rants, $568,019; bonds and certificates of indebtedness retired, $191,600; balance at close of year, $800,757.
Another amendment to the constitution was submitted in 1879 (and lost), to make the legislative sessions biennial in the odd years, and the general elections biennial in the even years. The election that year was for legislators and county officers, mainly. There was some effort politically, construed as an attempt to re- vive the political organization of the negroes. The white nominee for sheriff in Yazoo county, in this movement, was compelled to re- fuse the candidacy. Subsequently, in the campaign, there were some cases of personal encounter and loss of life.
A State prohibition convention at Jackson, July 20, 1881, asked the submission of a constitutional amendment prohibiting the liquor traffic, and local option pending the same.
The general election of 1880, in which the State majority was
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given to the Hancock electors, passed off quietly. The financial statement for this year was: Receipts on warrants, $976,878, on bonds issued, $115,000; Disbursements, warrants, bonds and cou- pons, $1,097,180. Warrants outstanding at close of year, $296,- 620. For 1881: Receipts on warrants and bonds, $597,925; Dis- bursements, $848,165. Warrants outstanding, $218,840. Cash bal- ance in treasury, $545,000.
Governor Stone's administration was marked by the political movement against corporation aggressiveness, called the Green- back party, out of which grew the demand for State supervision of railroad rates opposed by the governor (see Railroad Commis- sion) ; by the beginning of a rational warfare against the scourge of yellow fever under the Board of Health, the beginning of Western immigration in response to the efforts of the Board of Immigration and Agriculture; by a "boom" in railroad build- ing; the common school law of 1878, and the founding of the Agri- cultural and Mechanical college. There were heavy sales of land and the birth of a new prosperity, which, after a temporary check, has since continued in steady growth.
The census of 1880 gave the State a population 1,131,597, an in- crease of 40 per cent. over 1870, and an additional congressman was allowed it, making seven representatives in the lower house. Several important changes were made in the personnel of the Su- preme Court, for which see Judiciary. The Democratic convention of 1881 nominated the following ticket : for governor, Gen. Robert Lowry; for lieutenant-governor, G. D. Shands; for secretary of state, H. C. Myers ; for treasurer, W. L. Hemingway; for auditor, Sylvester Gwin; for attorney-general, T. C. Catchings; for superin- tendent of education, Gen. J. A. Smith. The Greenback-Republi- can convention nominated a ticket with Benjamin King for gover- nor, and the following candidates for the offices above named: J. B. Yellowley, J. M. Bynum, A. T. Wimberly, W. F. Fitzgerald, W. D. Howze. The vote for governor was, Lowry, 76,877; King, 51,- 856.
Mississippi was not represented at the Yorktown centennial nor at the Atlanta cotton exposition, though the State had delegates at the National Cotton Planters' Association which met at Atlanta, December, 1881.
In his last message, January, 1882, Governor Stone congratulated the State on the adoption of the Campbell code in 1880, and the general satisfaction with it, after a thorough discussion in the cam- paign of 1881. The revenue system embodied in this code prom- ised to be of great value and the governor earnestly begged that it might be left unamended. Frequent changes had created great confusion. "The best lawyers and wisest judges are puzzled to tell when a tax title is valid, or what the revenue law of the State was at a particular time." There was great necessity of legisla- tion, however, for the equalization of taxes. The existing laws for that purpose were generally disregarded, and very great injustice resulted. Lands forfeited to the State for delinquent taxes were
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being rapidly returned to the tax rolls, and all lands held by the Levee commissioners for taxes had been sold by decree of the chancery court. By these means, and the sale of swamp lands the sources of revenue were being considerably increased. The sales by the Levee commissioners amounted to 1,300,000 acres. He stated the public debt at $2,685,866, including the school funds, and the indebtedness, aside from school funds, and above the amount of cash in the treasury, $322,615, a decrease in two years of about $57,000. He also called attention to the fact that the State had made no provision for the higher education of women, and said, "The time has come in which our people, with one accord, are pleading for the rights of the girls of the State in matters of ed- ucation." The State Teachers' association also agitated the sub- ject, with the result that the State university was opened to women in 1883, and the Industrial institute was founded soon afterward.
Stone's Administration (1890-96). John M. Stone, for the third time, took the oath as governor of Mississippi, January 13, 1890; and in 1896 he laid down the reins of government, after serving for twelve years, longer than any other governor since the organiza- tion of the State, and lacking less than five months of equalling the term of service of David Holmes as Territorial and State governor. By far the most important event in this administration was the Constitutional Convention of 1890 (q. v.). One of the ordinances of the Convention extended the term of service of the governor and the other elective State officers for two years. making their terms expire in 1896. The officers elected in 1889 and installed with Governor Stone were M. M. Evans, lieutenant-governor ; George M. Govan, secretary of state ; J. J. Evans, treasurer ; W. W. Stone, auditor ; T. M. Miller, attorney-general ; J. R. Preston, superinten- dent of education. Attorney-General Miller resigned January 21, 1893, and was succeeded by Frank Johnston, appointed by the governor.
Toward the close of the legislative session of 1890, the revelation was made that there was a large deficit in the accounts of Treasurer Hemingway, who had held the office since 1876. Under a resolu- tion of February 22, 1890, a joint committee was appointed to in- vestigate, and the shortage was found to be $315,612. Subsequent investigation failed to reduce this amount, or discover the fate of the missing funds. "Penal proceedings were immediately insti- tuted against the ex-treasurer, and the attorney-general brought suit on his bond and recovered judgment for the penalty thereof and interest, amounting to $82,600, of which sum $68.750 have been paid into the treasury, and I am informed that satisfactory arrange- ments have been made with the attorney-general, and that the amount remaining due will be paid at an early date. In the inves- tigation of this cause no proof whatever could be made of any de- fault upon any previous bond of the ex-treasurer, or to fix any lia- bility upon any except the bond and sureties upon which suit was brought, and as the transfer of his property to indemnify his sure- ties was sustained by the courts, no further recovery could be had."
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(Governor's message, 1882). In this emergency the legislature authorized the selling of four per cent. bonds authorized in 1888, but they could not be disposed of at the minimum price asked, 95 cents, and the Constitutional convention, in October, authorized a bank loan. The deficit was tided over by borrowing $25,000 of a Jackson bank for three months.
In 1890-91 the financial affairs of the State were investigated by Robert C. Patty and Addison Craft, appointed under an act of leg- islature.
A great deal of depression was caused throughout the State by the price of cotton, which had fallen below the cost of production. Governor Stone gave his influence to the creation of a sentiment for more diversified production in order to avoid dependence on one staple, and this policy, while slow in gaining ground among the people of the State, is becoming recognized as the only wise policy. The census of 1890 gave the State an increase of 158,000, 14%, making the population 1,289,600. This was not enough, however, to give an additional seat in congress. For the senators and repre- sentatives of this administration, see Congressional Representation, and for the changes in the Supreme Court, see the Judiciary. In accordance with the Constitution of 1890, the governor appointed R. H. Thompson, George G. Dillard, and R. B. Campbell to codify and revise the statute law of the State. The result of their work was adopted by the legislature in 1892, and is known as the code of 1892. On the 3rd of June, 1891, the Confederate Monument was unveiled at Jackson. Under an appropriation of $60,000 in 1890 buildings for the negro insane were erected on the asylum grounds at Jackson in 1891. "It is safe to assume," said Governor Stone, "that no building for the insane, of such character and capacity. was ever before erected at so small a cost." The general industrial depression following the financial crisis of 1893 was felt with espec- ial force in Mississippi, owing to the continuation of the low price of cotton, the treasury deficit of 1890, and the general feeling of bus- iness stagnation. The disbursements exceed the receipts for four years by amounts varying from $88,000 to $248,000. At the special session of the legislature in 1894, it was evident that there would be another deficit for the current year, and the auditor was author- ized to issue Special warrants (q. v.) to an amount not exceeding $200,000, in lieu of cash warrants on the treasury.
By act of congress, 1894, another township of land was donated to the State for the use of the University. Subsequently, the lands which had been reserved for naval purposes, lying chiefly in Jackson and Harrison counties, were restored to the public domain of the United States, and from them the acreage was selected for the University. This was done mainly through the efforts of Chancel- lor Fulton. The land commissioners report for 1895 showed that the State held for sale, 307,984 acres of lands forfeited for taxes, 30,700 Chickasaw school lands (Sixteenth sections) ; 1,470 acres internal improvement lands, and 12,677 Lowry island lands, a total of over 500,000 acres. An act of congress also donated three town-
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ships of land for the use of the Agricultural and Mechanical col- lege, the Industrial institute for girls, and the Alcorn college. W. K. Ramsey, of Harrison county, was appointed to select the most valuable lands from those remaining unsold by the United States land office. During the following administration the proceeds were appropriated by the State, becoming a State debt at 6% in- terest.
Governor Stone's message of 1894 gave considerable attention to the Code of 1891, suggesting the repeal or amendment of many provisions which he said were unconstitutional, unnecessary, op- pressive, etc. Among other criticisms, "There is no provision in the Annotated code for filling vacancies in State offices." In the same message he also made an earnest demand, and reiterated it in 1896, "for the better enforcement of the laws of the State and for the better protection of human life." He called attention "to the necessity of some provision for immediate and summary inves- tigation of homicides. Human life is far too cheap. Manslayers often go unwhipped of justice .. . . . Nothing calls so loudly for correction as the present miscarriage of justice in trials for homicide. It is the source of many evils. It breeds mobs and lynch law. . It has led to the reproach that a man of means may slay his fellow man with impunity." He suggested that the legislature had power to create tribunals that could give criminal cases immediate trial and administer justice, and by providing ef- fective government promote in the minds of the people a respect for government
The Democratic convention in 1895 nominated a state ticket headed by A. J. McLaurin, for governor ; the ticket of the Peoples Party was headed by Frank Burkitt, and polled 12,466 votes against 46,873 for the Democratic candidates, who were elected.
In his last message, 1896, Governor Stone said: "The financial condition of the State, as shown by the current reports of the audi- tor and treasurer, is neither satisfactory nor encouraging. Upon my induction into office in 1890, I was at once confronted with financial complications which, with slight intermissions, have continued until the present time. The difficulties were successfully com- batted until the meeting of the special session of the legislature of 1894, by which the special warrant act was passed. The State's resources in treasury cash are still far below the imperative requirements of the most conservative appropriations at your hands for the current year." (See Finances.) The State tax levy was then 5 mills. In the past two years the appropriations had exceeded the revenues by $180,000. Governor Stone's parting admonition was: "The credit of the State is a matter of the utmost importance to every taxpayer, and to maintain it, the treasury must be provided with means to meet every legitimate demand. If in your wisdom the amount needed for all purposes cannot be raised immediately by taxation without oppressing the people, I recommend the is- suance of bonds at a low rate of interest, not exceeding four per cent., non-taxable, for an amount sufficient to meet the emergency,
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