The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-24
Call for the Mississippi and South Caro-
lima Conventions. ~

Call for the Mississippi and South Caro-
lima Conventions. ~
We append the acts passed by the legisla
turcs of these two States, respectively calling
conventions of the people. -
We republish these acts in full, that the real
position and purposes Of these two States may
be properly understood-many misrepresenta-
tons having already been put in circulation by
persons drawing upon their imagiuations for their
facts.
With reference to the final action of the Mis-
sissippl legislature, the Mis'issiPpinn of the
30th ult says:
The bill calling a State convention to be held
on the second Monday in November next, and
directing delegates composing it, to be chosen
at the election of the first Monday in Septem-
Der, passed the Senate by n vote of % yeas
against nays, and the House by vote of 81
TO 40.
A supplementary bill giving the Governor
power to call the convention together Mt an
earlier day in event Of certain proceedings by
Congress-, was introduced, and passed in the
Senate, but was lost in the House, under the
rule requiring resolutions to lie over one day.
Both Houses adjourned sine die, this evening
at 9 o'clock.
An Act 10 po, ide for a ConrenI,on Of The people
of the State Of Mississippi.
Whereas the legislation Of the Congress of
the United States, controlled as 1t was, at its
last session, by dominant majority, regardless
of the constitutional rights of the slaveholding
States and rejecting the will Of n section whose
population are hostile in feeling and opposed in
principle to long established and cherished in
stitution Of this State, and our sister States
of the South affords alarming evidence of a set
tied purpose on the part Of said majority to de-
stroy said institution and subvert the sovereign
power Of this and the other sla,eholdng States
and whereas it is becoming and proper that a
sovereign State should promptly resort to the
most efficient means for the maintenance of its
sovereignty and the preservation Of its consti-
tutional rights, as member of the confederacy,
when assaied by the exercise of the highest
power recognised under our republican form Of
Government: the expressed will Of the sovereign
people: Therefore,
Sec. l. BE IL enacted by the legislature of
the State of Mississippi, That an election for
delegates to a convention Of the people Of the
State of Mississippi shall be held in the several
following in the month of September in the
year eighteen hundred and fifty one, that said
election shall be held at the precincts establish.
ed by law, and shall be managed aud conducted
by the sheriffs and other proper officers Of the
country respectively, in the same manner, and
according to the same rules and regulations as
are prescribed by law for the election Of men,
bers Of the legislature. And it is hereby declar-
ed to be the duty of the Governor to issue his
proclamation to the several sherffs Of the State
ut least ninety days before the time of holding
said election requiring them to hold and conduct
the same according to law, and the said sheriffs
shall advertise the time and place of said election
for at least twenty days, by publishing the same
in the several newspapers Of their respective
counties, and by posting notices at at least four
public places in their counties.
Sec. 2. Be IL further enacted, That each
county shall be represented in said convention
by the same number Of delegates rs such coun
ty has of Representatives in the House of Re
representatives., including the representation o.
any town or city in any county
Sec. 3. BE ii further enacted, That no person
not citizen of the State of Mississippi, VIII.
shall not at the time of said election have resi-
ded for twelve months previous thereto in tin
county, and shall not have attained the age o
twenty-five years shall be eligible to seat in thu
said convention.
Sec. q. Be ii further enacted, That it shall b
the duty of the sheriff or other proper returning
officer of each and every county within twenty
days after said election, TO make full and com
plete return to the Secretary Of State, Of the
votes cast for delegates in lis county, and the
certificate Of election Of the returning officer of
the proper county or Of the Secretary Of State
in favor of any delegate, shall be evidence of his
right to a seat in said convention, subject if con-
tested, to decision by said convection in such
manner rs they may prescribe.
Sec. 5. Be ii further enacted, That the dele
gates elected under the provisions Of this act
shall assemble at the capitol of the State, on the
second Monday of November, A. ID. eighteen
hundred and fifty one, and organize themselves
into convention by the election of President
and such other officers rs they may deem neces-
sary, and the appointment of suitable number
of assistants, and shall proceed to consider the
then existing relations between the Government
of the United States and the government and
people of the State of Mississippi, to devise and
carry into effect the best means of redress for
the past, and obtain certain security for the fu-
ture, and to adopt such measures for vindicating
the sovereignty of the State, and the protec-
ton Of its institutions as shall appear to them
to be demanded. Said convention shall adopt
such rules and regulations for its government,
and for the proper transaction Of business as
they shall think proper The officers, members and
assistants Of said convention shall receive the
same compensation as is row allowed bv law, to
the officers, members and assistants on the leg.
islature, and the auditor of public accounts shall
issue his warrant on the treasury therefor upon
the certificate of the President of the amount
due.
Sec. 6. Be 1t further enacted, That in case OF
any vacancy occurring in said convention by the
death, resignation or removal of any member il
sail be the duty Of the Governor to cause sucl
vacancy to be filled by issuing his writ of cleo
ton to the sheriff of the proper county, requir
ing him. on ten days notice, to hold an election
according to law, to I'LL the same
SEC. I. And be IL further enacted, That thu
,cts Of the convention proposed to be held b,
Ills act. before they become binding on thi
S,o,a sball ba admitted to tie people at tn