Part of the Civil War & Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi Project. Original held at the Mississippi Department of Archives & History.
Feby 2—1874
To his Excellencey
Adelbert Ames Governor of the State of Mississippi
The undersigned Senators and Representatives of the several Counties Composing the Fifth Judicial District Respectfully show unto your honor that on the second day of February A D 1874 there was passed through both Houses of the Legislature a Bill Entitled Senate Bill No Entitled An act to [gap] In the fourth Judicial District and for other purposes
We would further Represent that this Law was passed in a hurry without due deliberation is manifestly unjust and oppresses [?] the Judge of the 5th Judicial District. In this that the Terratory in question is about equally Divided While the amount of population and the amount of business transacted in the Fifth District is almost equal to all of the Business Trans-acted in the first and fourth District in point of Time consumed and in population
The population of the Fifth being upwards of Nine Thousand While the Combined population of the First and fourth Districts Barely Exceeds Ten Thousand The Judge of the Fifth District is required to hold his Court for Twenty Eight Weeks while the Judge of the First District is only required to serve for Fourteen Weeks
It seems to us sir that the Territory and business is unfairly divided in point of population Territory Business and means of access & would Respectfuly petion Your Excellencey to Return Senate bill dissapproved And as In duty Bound your petitioners will ever pray
John Street
Senator of the 6th Dist
T. L. Mendenhall
Senator of 8th Dist
Haskins S Smith M [?]
J Smothers Represintif Claiborn
Richard Christmas Rep from Copiah County
David Buffkin Rep Copiah
Representative from Simpson S Legett
” ” Lawrence E O Cowart
” Smith G. W. Stubbs
” Jasper J. F. Smith
” Jones & Covington E. M. Derall
H B McClure Senator of Jefferson and Franklin
James D. Cessor H. R.
Wm R. Landers H. R.
Representatives from Jefferson