Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1845-08-23


The Democratic Association Of this
county met on Monday last, according
to adjournment. Gen. F. c. Talbert,
who had been appointed at previous
meeting 10 address the Association, spoke
on State and Federal pc litics for some
thing over four hours The speech Of
Gen. Tabert SCENE to be intended as
an expose Of his views as one of the de-
mocratic candidates for the legislature
The General expressed himself decidedly
in favor Of Gov. Browns views in rela-
ton to public education, and acclaimed
IeIoquently for the cause Of home educa-
ton, and the necessity and importance of
having q system Of public instruction
established by law. We are pleased to
find the General so Jealous an advocate
of so good a cause.
Gen. Talbert called attention to the
two proposed amendments Of the consti-
tuition of this State, heretofore published
in the Advocate" The one in relation
10 slaves he was in favor Of. The other,
designed to separate the election Of po-
litlcal and county officers, by having the
elections take place in different years, he
was opposed to-because it would in
crease popular excitement by having
elections yearly instead Of biennially,
and because it would cost the county
some $3.50 every two years in the com
pensalion Of managers and clerks. He
would, therefore, il elected to the legis
lature, vote for one Of the amendment:
and against the other. This opinion wa'
T. certainly founded on misconception o
. the constitution. That instrument pro-
vides that when an amendment is propo
sed by the legislature, it shall be submit /
ted to vote Of the people: Sand if j
r shall appear that majority Of the quail
fed electors, voting for members of thu
legislature, shall have voted for the pro
/. posed change, alteration or amendment
then it shall be inserted by the next sue
ceeding legislature as part of this con
s,tution, and not otherwise"
e 1t is therefore clear that the propriety
Of those amendments will be determined
!, by the people, and that the next legisla
ture will have no discretion in the mat
ter. Each member takes an oath to sup
T port the Constitution, and that Constitu
lion declares tina. il majority Of III,
qualified electors, &c, shall have voteC
for the proposed amendment, then 1t shall
: : be inserted by the succeeding legisla tur'
}. as part Of the Constitution, and If q
!. majority Of the voters are opposed to the
amendment, il cannot DO inserted as q gar
}, Of the Constitution, although every membe,
# Of the legislature should be in fauor of il
y The only question in relation TO these
, amendments which can come before the
9 legislature, is simple enquiry INFO the
: fact whether or no, majority Of the 70
: ters are for or against the amendment
and then act as the constitution directs
: The Constitution does not even permit
the representative 10 be governed by the
/ vote Of his own county in relation to thi.
matter:--he is to be governed by ma jo
:, rity Of the voters Of the whole State
This question cannot, by any possibility,
be made an issue in the election of rep
resenta,ives; and, we apprehend, Gene.
raj Talbert himself, on reflection, will
feel constrained to submit to the .mperd.
the mandate Of the Constitution.
He expressed himself decidedly opPo