Letter from Thomas Keith to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; February 10, 1871

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Letter from Thomas Keith to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; February 10, 1871

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People

Alcorn, J. L. (James Lusk), 1816-1894 Hewson, H. F.Howard, Unknown Keith, Thomas

Events

Appointment to office Mississippi. Legislation Mississippi. Legislation. Article VI (1870)Resignation Taxation

Organizations and Businesses

Mississippi. Executive Department Mississippi. Governor's Mansion (Jackson, Miss.)Mississippi. Legislature

Occupations

Land Commissioners Physicians Secretaries Supervisors Tax Assessors

Places

Decatur (Miss.)Jackson (Miss.)Newton County (Miss.)

Page 1

Decatur Miss
Feby 10^th 1871

Gov J L Alcorn
Executive Mansion
Jackson Miss.

D^r Sir:

I have the honor to present to your consideration the status of the revenue of Newton

D^r Howard (the bearer hereof) will hand you certified copies of certain orders passed by the Board of Supervisors at a meeting held in accordance with a recent enactment of the Legislature, which will place the subject properly before you.—

Upon the passage of the orders refered to I heard the Pres^dt of the Board, say (the members assenting) that "the books could be corrected, but not in the time allowed by law, & further that he would resign his office, before he would undergo the labor of correcting them,"—I would not charge the Board with "misfeasance in office"; but am inclined to the opinion that they were overscrupulous in their examination of the books.

Page 2

I think the principle obstacles were the same lands ~~lands~~ being listed to several parties, which is no fault of the Assessor, he having no right to adjudicate, or settle the question of titles: but in such case I conceive it to be the duty of the Board in equalizing the valuation, to leave the names of all claimants & strike ^out^ all the valuations except that giving the true value,—& some lands not listed at all—in which case it is the duty of the Board to assess the value thereof, marking it as unknown fide Acts of 1870 p 27.

I know some of the difficulties attendant on making a correct assessment of the lands in this County.

Large bodies are owned by non-res=idents, who have no Agent in the County.—a majority of the resident owners are not familiar with land numbers, & cannot render their lands correctly. & in many instances deeds do not embrace the proper numbers.

But let us come to the point "at issue" the revenue is needed & the tax payers are better able to meet it now, than they will be two or three months hence but a ~~[?]~~ assessment has been ordered, & the same difficulties may arise on the examination of that; the Board say they cannot examine every subdivision of

land in the County in two weeks, hence reject the books & order new assessments ad infinitum. The Board certainly assumed a prerogative of the Gov, in appointing a new Assessor,

I think in an emergency like this, if you will allow me to suggest, a private letter from your Excellency to the Board directing them to proceed with the examination & correction of the books, regard=less of time, would be expedient, this action if illegal could be legalized by future legislation. There may have been a bill already passed suited to the case. I have noticed the title of a bill to legalize the assessments generally.

Excuse this trespass on my part, as it has resulted from motives of public good.

I am Sir,
Your ob Servt

Tho^s Keith

P. S. I failed to see D^r Howard in time to forward by him, as intended
T. K.

Page 3

PRECIS.
[gap]

No'. [gap]

Executive Office,
State of Mississippi,
County of Newton

From T. Keith
Address Decatur
Dated Feb 10^th 1871
Received [gap]
Answered [gap]

Speaks of the Board of Supervisors refusing to correct the assessment Books & of their appointment of a new Assessor

JAMES L. ALCORN,
Governor.

H. F. HEWSON,
Private Secretary.