MIS.MSSIITI. 



521 



of the equal rights of so many of our worthiest 

 il tflury :in<l lustre upon 

 ami our race, both in tin- forum 

 and in tin- field, siu-h a gross usurpation of tho 

 1 Midi a centralization of 

 ' ..niiiu-nf, t!i:it 1 pre- 

 iding of it will cause its rejec- 

 < . .! I lights" bill, passed 

 at thi'samu session of Congress, came in con- 

 flict with many of tho State laws passed in 

 to tho amendment of the State con- 



..n niianripatin^ the slaves in the State, 

 and requiring tho Legislature "to guard them 

 from tho evils that may arise, 

 from their sudden emancipation." Commis- 

 sioners were therefore sent by the Governor to 

 .\vs he- lore the President, with a re- 

 que>t that he would indicate which of them the 

 military authorities in tho State would beallow- 



nullify. The President in reply gave them 

 jsuranoe that none of them should bo nul- 

 lified exeept hy the civil courts of the land. No 

 violent collisions occurred between tho State 

 and Federal authorities, neither did the Govern- 

 or apprehend any. All questions which could 

 not bo otherwise adjusted have been submitted 

 to tho judicial tribunals. Tho Governor stated 

 that, u as the negro has shown a confiding and 

 friendly disposition toward tho white race, and 

 a desire to engage in the pursuits of honest 

 labor, justice and honor demand of us full pro- 

 tection to his person and property, real and 

 personal. Fire-arms are not essential to his 

 protection, prosperity or happiness ; and so- 

 ciety should be guarded by requiring him to 

 procure a license to carry them a privilege ho 

 can always secure where his character for good 

 conduct and honesty is known." He further 

 uri^ed the admi.-sion of their testimony in all 

 oases brought before the civil and criminal 

 courts. 



No complete returns had been received of 

 tho number of destitute disabled Confederate 

 and State soldiers, and their widows and their 

 indigent children, but the number was so largo 

 that tho Governor recommended an agent to 

 be sent to the Northwestern States to purchase 

 provisions, which should be distributed as soon 

 as complete returns were received, and that, 

 instead of $60,000, twenty per cent, of the 

 entire revenues of tho State should bo appro- 

 priated for their relief. Tho sum of $9,000 

 had been sent by ladies of Baltimore for their 

 assistance. Measures have been taken to pre- 

 serve the public buildings at Jackson from utter 

 ruin, but large sums are required to restore 

 them. The number of convicts received at tho 

 Penitentiary was 160, while there were only 

 100 cells for their accommodation, and an abso- 

 lute inability to find employment suitable to 

 their confined condition. Tho property of tho 

 Bait works of the State cannot be found, and a 

 portion of that of the State distillery baa been 

 sold for $531. According to tho returns there 

 are about 800 maimed soldiers in the State who 

 require artificial legs. 



The second session of tho State University 

 since the close of the war, opened on Septem- 

 ber 24th with one hundred and fifty-seven 

 pupils, which number soon increased to two 

 hundred and one. This equals tho pro-; 

 of the university at its most flourishing period 

 before tho war. Tho university was originally 

 ( -tablished on a grant of thirty-six sections of 

 land made by Congress in 1819, and vested in 

 the Legislature. A part of tho land has been 

 sold and the State is indebted to the university. 

 The institution now asks the State to appro- 

 priate $30,000 in two annual instalments as 

 ample to meet its present necessities. 



From every portion of the State appeals have 

 been made to the government for immediato 

 relief from tho burdens which oppress all 

 classes of citizens. The desolation and ruin of 

 their fortunes, the heavy indebtedness, both 

 foreign and domestic, of the people, the scarcity 

 of the necessaries of life, the want of means to 

 procure them, and the uncertainty of their 

 future treatment by the Federal government, 

 sunk tho public mind in gloom and despon- 

 dency. Painful apprehensions existed that 

 the Federal tax on the only production of labor 

 and the suits on tho appearance and issue 

 dockets of the courts, would turn thousands 

 from their homes in want and destitution. 



Tho Legislature on December 4, 1865, passed 

 an act requiring an enumeration of the inhabi- 

 tants of the State to be taken during the ensu- 

 ing year. Complete returns were obtained 

 during the year from all excepting nine coun- 

 ties. Compared with the returns in 1860, they 

 present tho following results (see table on page 

 522): 



The white population in the fifty-one coun- 

 ties in 1860 was 322,2 C 3 



Do. in 1866 308,073 



Decrease 14,210 



The black population in the same fifty-one 



counties in 1860 was 399,176 



Do, in 1860 346,795 



Decrease 52,381 



Total population in 1860 in tho fifty-one- 

 counties 721,459 



Do. in 1866 654,868 



Decrease 66,591 



The population of the State in 1850 was 

 606,526; of which 295,718 were whites, and 

 810,810 blacks. 



Tho extra session of the Legislature convened 

 by tho Governor continued about fifteen days, 

 and adjourned to tho ensuing year. The acts 

 passed in 1866 were almost entirely of a local 

 nature, relating to the penitentiary, county 

 courts, repairs of public buildings, finances, 

 practice in courts on suits for debt, etc. An act 

 was passed to accept tho donation of public 

 lands granted by Congress to States providing 

 colleges for the benefit of agriculture an'1 the 

 mechanic arts. The following resolutions re 1 "- 



