528 



MISSISSIPPI. 



It is too late to raise the question whether it was wise 

 to grant to theoe corporations the exclusive right to 

 regulate their rates of charges ; it has been granted ; 

 the Constitution under which the grants were made, 

 empowered the Legislature to make them ; the com- 

 panies have accepted the grants, and any legislation 

 that seeks to alter one of those charters in any material 

 point, without the consent of the corporators, is abso- 

 lutely prohibited. Any power exercised under a gen- 

 eral law may be taken away, but if granted in a charter, 

 and the charter is accepted, it is thereby placed beyona 

 the reach of the Legislature, and must so remain as 

 long as the charter exists. 



A bill was afterward introduced in the Sen- 

 ate by W. W. Humphries, and known as the 

 "Humphries Bill," which was entitled " An act 

 to prevent extortion and unjust discrimination 

 in the rates charged for the transportation of 

 passengers and freights on railroads in this 

 State and to punish the same, and to prescribe 

 the mode of procedure and rules of evidence 

 in relation thereto, and for other purposes." 

 It fixed no maximum of charges, but prohibited 

 discrimination and unreasonable rates, and im- 

 posed severe penalties for the abuse of corpo- 

 rate powers. It also provided for a Eailroad 

 Commissioner, to be elected by the Legislature, 

 to supervise the operations of railroads and look 

 after the execution of the law. The bill was 

 debated with spirit and at great length in both 

 Houses, passed the Senate, and was amended in 

 the House, but failed on the last day of the 

 session to reach a final vote in the latter body. 



The following memorial to Congress was 

 adopted : 



Whereas, Doubts have arisen whether the Legisla- 

 ture of the State of Mississippi can constitutionally 

 enact a law regulating the tariffs on inter-State rail- 

 roads, and the freights on navigable streams in this 

 State; and 



Whereas, Unjust discrimination is made on all rail- 

 roads in this State, as well as by steamers and other 

 water-craft, on said navigable streams, respecting 

 tariff and freight rates in favor of different localities 

 along said roads and streams ; and 



Whereas, Gross injustice is thus done to persons 

 passing freight over said roads and streams, by leav- 

 ing them to the mercy of large and powerful corporated 

 monopolies, without any means of resisting their ex- 

 tortionate and unjust demands : therefore 



Be it resolved, by the House of Representatives, the 

 Senate concurring therein, That we, the representa- 

 tives of the people of the State of Mississippi, do 

 solemnly memorialize the Congress of the United 

 States to provide, by appropriate legislation^ some 

 adequate means of restraining such unjust discrimina- 

 tion by the passage of a general law regulating the 

 tariff and freight rates on all railroads and navigable 

 streams in the United States. 



^ The question of calling a convention to re- 

 vise the Constitution of the State was referred 

 to a joint committee, and two antagonistic 

 reports were made. No definite action was 

 taken oa the subject. An act was passed pro- 

 viding for an enumeration of the population 

 and of the qualified electors of the State. This 

 is required by the Constitution as a basis for 

 the State apportionment. The public health- 

 laws were thoroughly amended, so as to pro- 

 vide for health officers in each county, to au- 

 thorize local boards of health, under the gen- 



eral supervision of the State Board, and to 

 extend and define the powers of the latter. 

 Among other things it may establish a strict 

 quarantine in case of an epidemic. An act for 

 the prevention of cruelty to animals was also 

 passed. 



The following resolution was unanimously 

 adopted by the Senate on the 3d of March, and 

 afterward concurred in by the House : 



Whereas, The late Mrs. Sarah A. Dorsey, of Beau- 

 voir, Mississippi, bequeathed at her death to the State 

 of Mississippi a crayon-portrait of the Hon. Jefferson 

 Davis, taken in the apparel which he wore when, as 

 President of the Confederate States, he was captured 

 at the close of the late war by United States troops ; 

 and 



Whereas, Said portrait is valued by us not only as 

 a likeness of one who faithfully and ably represented 

 the patriotism and manhood of the South during our 

 four years' struggle for self-government, but also for 

 its historic value in presenting ex-President Davis in 

 the true garb in which he was attired at the time of 

 his capture, as appears from an autograph letter from 

 her accompanying said picture : 



Be it therefore resolved by the Senate^ (the House 

 concurring), That the people of Mississippi, through 

 their representatives here assembled, do hereby ex- 

 press their appreciation of the gift, and their gratitude 

 to the giver, who has thus linked her name with that 

 of the illustrious President of the Lost Cause. 



Resolved, further, That the Librarian take charge 

 of said portrait and put it in a suitable place in the 

 State Library, and that the autograph letter of ex- 

 President Davis be framed and preserved with said 

 portrait. 



Resolved, further, That a copy of these resolutions 

 be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Hon. 

 Jefferson Davis. 



There was no State election this year, but 

 conventions were held for the purpose of choos- 

 ing delegates to the national nominating as- 

 semblies of the several parties. That of the 

 Republicans took place at Jackson on the 5th 

 of May. The sentiment of its members was 

 divided on the subject of a candidate for the 

 Presidency between supporters of General 

 Grant, Secretary Sherman, and Senator Blaine. 

 It was freely charged that the Secretary of the 

 Treasury had used his official power to secure 

 control of the Convention, and a caucus of the 

 Grant men adopted the following resolution : 



Resolved, That when it shall become evident that 

 the friends of Ulysses S. Grant can hope for no jus- 

 tice and look for no fair play at the hands of the ma- 

 jority, which, ruled by the office-holders, grossly mis- 

 represents the Kepublican masses of this State, we 

 withdraw in a body, organize a truly representative 

 convention, send our own delegates to Chicago, and 

 formally protest against the action of the clique which 

 has attempted to betray and misrepresent us. 



Those opposed to General Grant's candidacy 

 succeeded in organizing the Convention and 

 directing its proceedings, and a resolution de- 

 claring General U. S. Grant to be " the choice 

 of the Republican voters of Mississippi for 

 President of the United States " was laid on the 

 table. The Grant delegates remained after the 

 adjournment of the Convention, and, besides 

 adopting a resolution declaring General Grant 

 to be the " choice of this Convention," unani- 

 mously agreed to the following: 



