the beginning, which resulted in a material increase in the rate of
taxation for the time being, but the Constitution called for the
establishment of the system, and of course the work had to be done. It
was not only done, but it was done creditably and as economically as
possible, considering the conditions at that time.

That system, though slightly changed, still stands,--a creditable
monument to the first Republican State administration that was organized
in the State of Mississippi under the Reconstruction Acts of Congress.

It was also necessary to reorganize, reconstruct and, in many instances,
rebuild some of the penal and charitable institutions of the State. A
new code of laws also had to be adopted to take the place of the old
code and thus wipe out the black laws that had been passed by what was
known as the Johnson Legislature and in addition bring about other
changes so as to make the laws and statutes of the State conform with
the new order of things. This was no easy task, in view of the fact that
a heavy increase in the rate of taxation was thus made necessary, for
the time being at least. That this important work was splendidly,
creditably, and economically done no fair-minded person who is familiar
with the facts will question or dispute.

That the State never had before, and has never had since, a finer
Judiciary than that which was organized under the administration of
Governor Alcorn and which continued under the administration of Governor
Ames is an indisputable and incontrovertible fact. The Judges of the
Supreme Court were E.G. Peyton, H.F. Simrall and J. Tarbell, who in
Mississippi had no superiors in their profession, and who had the
respect and confidence of the bar and of the people without regard to
race or politics. Judge Peyton was the Chief Justice, Simrall and