Port-Gibson herald., 1845-09-11
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.

AHENONlGN TO THE OOINko III y lOINi
Our readers must not forget that at the mex
election they viii be called upon to decide whe
ther persons shall hereafter be allowed to brinl
slaves into the State Of Mississippi. There i
some difference Of opinion on the subject, tho
principal argument against the amendment see
ming to be that if the doors are opened for the
admission Of slaves, that Kentucky and ot6el
Northern States will soon overstock the market
and by increasing the slave population and con-
sequently, the growth of cotton, will enter into
ruinous competition withthe present cotton plan.
ter Of Mississippi.
Now, for the life Of US, we cannot see the va
ldity Of this objection, for unless all other cotton
growing States make similar enactments. the
present slave labor Of Kentucky can just as rea-
dily come into competition with the Mississippi
planter by raising cotton in Texas or Louisiana,
as though produced on the soil Of the State
itself. Believing therefore, as we always have
done. that the present clause Of the Constitution
on this subject is all fudge, we are inclined at
present to vote for its repeal and in favor Of per-
mltting the planter to increase the wealth and
agricultural productions Of our State, by import
ing Just as many slaves as he pleases. When it
becomes Improbable it will be stopped volunta-
rily, without the trouble of Constitutional clau-
ses or legislative enactments.
The following is the act which provides for
the election above alluded to:
SECTION l. Be II enacted By the legislature Of
the State Of Mississippi, (tsoo thirds Of each
branch thereof concurring,) that the second sec
ton ofthe seventh article Of the Constitution of
the State, under the title or head Slaves be so
altered and changed as to read as follows, to
wit-Section 2. "The legislature shall have, and
are hereby vested, with power to pass such laws,
regulating or prohibiting the Introduction Of
slaves into this State, as may be deemed proper
aud expedient"
SECTION 2. BE ii further enacted, that it shall
be the duty the Secretary Of State, at least six
months preceding the general election in Novem-
Der, eighteen hundred and forty-ive to give no
tice, by advertisement in three or more public
newspapers printed in this State Of this act and
the alteration hereby proposed to be made to the
Constitution of this State, and at said election.
the qualified electors voting for members of the |
Legislature, shall vote for or against the altera-
tions herein proposed to be made in the Consti-
tuition, in the following manner, to wit: Those
voting for the alteration herein proposed, shall |
write on their tickets the words "SiaUcS amend
naent,' and those voting against it, the words |
'SlaueS no amendment"
SECTION 3. BE Il further enacted, that it shall
be the duty Of the Sherifs of the several counties
in this State, to make return Of the votes given
.or and against said alterations, and also the
whole number Of votes given for the members Of
.he Legislature; and if it shall appear that the
majority Of those voting for members of the leg-
stature shall have voted for the alteration herein
proposed, the alteration or amendment contained
n this act, shall be inserted BY said legislature
n the Constitution Of this State, as part there
#. Approved February "a, 1874.