The Yazoo City Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 183?-1840, 1840-01-17

ton, the propriety of remodeling the whoi
of our election laws. and of inserting sue
new provisions, as will effeciuaIly preserv
the purity of the elective franchise. Th
power should be taken from the Sheriff of al
pointing the Returning Officer, when he
a candidate for reelection, and every pc
son who is Il candidate for any Office, shout
be disqualified from acting as Inspector
an election or conducting the sa me. A
present, the Sherihs are required to forwar
the returns Of the general election, to th
Secretary of State, within fifteen days. TIL
law does not prescribe in what manner the
should be forwarded Five days from th
commencement of the election would b
sufficient TO enable the Returning Officer +
make up and forward his returns. | submit
to your consideration, the propriety of ap
pointing board of CanVassers for each
county, as well as a Central Board to can
vass the votes polled for State Officers. Some
further Legislation is necessary in relation
to the appointment of Clerk of the Superior
Court of Chancery. No provision is made
in the Constitution, for the appointment o.
Clerk of that Court. The act approved
December 25th, 1888, limits the tenure Of
all offices not otherwise provided for, to -four
years. The act providing for the appoint
ment of Clerk of the Chancery Court, does
not limit the tenure ofhis office. An act OF
the last session, divides the state into three
districts for holding the Superior Court OF
chancery, but makes no provision for the APP
pointment Of clerks in the second & third dis
tricts- The safe keeping of the records, & the
despatch Of the public business, demand
that provision should be made for the APP
pointment of a Clerk in each of those dis
tricts. can see no valid reason why the
tenure of the office of clerk of the Superior
Court Of Chancery, should, be longer than
those of the Giro nit and Probate clerks.
The 18th section of the 9TH article Of the
Constitution, makes it the duty of the Lee
gisIature, to reg ulate by law, the cases in
which deductions shall be made from the sa-
laries of public officers, for neglect of duty
in their official capacity, and the amount of
such deduction. Further action is required
TO carry into full effect this requisition.
The 10Th section of tle 9TH article, pro-
vdes that ''The Legislature shall direct by
law, in what manner. and in what courts
suits may be brought against the State"
This would seem to confer upon the Legis-
allure, the power of prescribing that such
suits might be insttut ed in any of our courts
hat may be designated by law. The act
Of May 18th. 1888, provided for the prose-
;ution ofsuch suits in the Superior court of
Chancery, but the High court of Errors and
Appeals, have determined that creditor of
he State cannot maintain a suit in the court
by the lie legislature. If on exa-
of the subject, you find the High
court right in their decision, further Legis-
alton is Indispensable.
Extensive powers are vested IN the boards
# county Police, anal much evil has result
ed from their improyident action, more es-
,ecially at their numerous special terms
Under the existing law, their regular SEES
ions, are but twice in each year. The pub
ic interest would be promoted, by requiring |
our regular meetings Of the Board in each
ear. No provision is made for their first as
after each general election. In |
many instances, they fail 10 appoint the ms |
,ectors of elections. To obviate these
ifficuties, suggest an amendment of the
aw, requiring the Board to hold a term on
he second Mondays Of November, Febru-
ry, May, and August in each year. An
arly authorized organization of the Board,
would thus be ensured, and ample time gi-
en- to appoint inspectors of the general
election. Il would be well, to authorize the
Board 10 fill vacancies in their own body,
aused by death, resignation, removal, out
f, or failure to reside in their proper dis
riots for the space of thirty days. A fair
xpression of public opinion, is rarely had
n special elections for policemen. 1t is
deserving of your serious consideration,
whether the power of filing vacancies, in
nany of the county offices, should not be
on6ded to the Board. The frequentcy of
lections are very burthensome on the peo-
lie, calling them continually from their usu
avocations, and causing the excitement of
be canvass for Office to be almost perpetual.
his fact more than all others, has tended to
1ake the universal election of all our Off
ers by the people, unpopular with many of
he citizens of the State. Rarely one half
f the qualified electors attend special cleo
ons, and the popular will is thus often dis
egarded. The 18th section of the 9th arti-
lie of the Constitutions provides that tall va !
anciesnot provided for in this Constitution,
hall be filled in such manner as thelLegisla-
1remay prescribe" | presume, therefore, that
viii not be contended, that you are unau-
1orized to make the change.
In nearly all of the counties, the various :
Ulcers use all due diligence in performing !
heir duty, and are supported in that course
Y the great mass of the people. My duty,l
owever, compels me to inform you that in
ome few of the counties, different spirit !
reyails. Sheritfs and Coroners have re-
gned about the commencement of the
ouri, for the evident purpose of preventing
he term being held, and thus defeating the
ocular administration of the laws. / cher
ii the hope that this course has not been
ountenanced BY majority of the citizens
single county in the State. Its tenden-