The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-11-03
From he Missisnppian Oct. ri, 1885.
THE MISSISSIPPI ARRIsTOCRACY

= - - \ a#f
'"There is no State in the Union where the
: oristocrucy' has 90 completely thrown of
all disguise, and boldly contested the rights
Of the people as in Mississippi; and yet pro.
badly from that very cause, there is nota State
in the Union in which the would-be exclusives
have been SO rigidly defeated. II was, per
haps unfortunate for this State that the greater
portion Of wealth, in the early settlement of
the country, centered in.one ortwo counties
upon the Mississippi River. These counties
obtained, and for a long time succeeded in
maintaining, a majority Of the legislature
Hence, our state policy was strongly tinctured
with their peculiar interests and sectional
views. We have seen that the leading men
from that section Of the State, have ever ops
posed popular rights; and have endeavored, on
all occasions, TO keep the Offices Of the State
at the disposal Of a few men. We observe
this party regularly organized and endeavoring
to curtail the rights and privileges of the peo-
pie in the convention which revised the con.
~stitution in 1882, with the Hon. John A. Quit.
man at their head. We do not pretend to
question the sincerity Of that gentleman, for
whom we entertain a high personal respect;
he was doubtless conscientious in thinking
the people incapable Of selEgovernment; but
we must be excused from differing with him
and pointing out what we conceive to be the
errors Of his political creed and which we
shall endeavor to prove to be the creed Of his
party also.
"In the convention, Mr.. Quitman led the
van in opposing Our present system Of cleo
tons by the people, and was sustained by
most Of those who now constitute the leaders
Of the White party in this state.
"a majority Of the committee on the judi
cial department had reported a series of res
O%lutions, proposing nearly our present system
Of e%lecting our judicial officers by the people;
from these resolutions Mr.. Quitman and his
friends dissented. He and Gen. Fall
cOner drew up counter resolutions, embodying
their views, from which we make the follow.
ing extracts:
90. ResOhed, That the Cuircuit Judges
should be appointed by the Governor, by and
with the advice and consent of a majority of
the Representatives from the counties of the
circuit for which he shall be appointed. In
case the majority of such representatives
refuse to give their advice and consent
to three successive nominations of the Cow
ernor, he shall be required to present the name
Of one individual to the Senate, and the Rep
resentarives should nominate another
Senate should select one from them to
missioned by the Governor"
''lS Resolved, Thai the Judges of the p
preme Courk and the Chancellor be appointed
by the Governor, by and with the consent Of
Of the senate; and the Chancellor should hold
his Office for the term Of six years"
[signedl JOHN A oUITMAN,
THOS p. FALCONER.
ESee Journals Of the Convention, p. 68,l
@Thus we see that MI. Quitman, now the
Wing candidate for Congress, and Gen. FalCO-
neN one Of the electors for the same party, are
both opposed to trusting the people with cleo
ting the officers Of their own government"
n q = q y
"Of these gentlemen, (QnitmaD, FalConer
and KeeganO Quilman waslhe ablest and most
Opposerofour present system Of elections
the people. He made a speech in the con-
venuOn Of some FIVE or six hours in length, in
support Of his own resolutions, and against
those reported by the committee. In all these
Efforts against the freedom Of elections, he
was seconded BY MessrS Falconer and Kee-
together with his political friends from
the West.
@NOr did Mi. QGitman 6onfne his oppose
lion 70 tile d, palar system to the judges and