Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-08-09
oonyentiop Of the State of Mississippi.
An Act to provide for Convention Of the People Of ii
fA' ~ State of Mississippi


A., Art 70 Drovtde for Convention Of the People of II.
nv State of Mississippi.
xUurrrAs The Legislature of the Congress Of tb
rr;tad States controlled, it was, at its last session
h dominant majority, regardless OF the constitutional
rights of the slaveholdng States and rejecting the
will of section whose PoPulauoh are hoSte IN feel.
ups and opposed in principle to long established and
cher;sbed ;nstit,tion of the States of the South %
fords alarming evidence OF settled purpose the
part of said majority to destroy sad institution and
subvert the sovereign power Oh tnls ana other slave
holding States and whereas it is becoming and nron
err that sovereign State should promptly resort 10 the
most efficient means for the maintenance of il ssor
ereignty and the preservation OF It's constitu ons
rights as member of the confederacy when assail5
bv the exercise of the highest power recognised
our Republican form of Government the expresasl
will of the sovereign people :-Threlore,
SECTION l. Be At enacted by the Leqislatgre n
State of Mississippi, That election for Deegats
a Convention of the People of the State of Ms.s
sppi, shall be held in the several counties thereof ~
the LIST Monday and day following in the month -
September. in the year eighteen hundred and ffyon
that said election shall be held at all the precincts g.
tablished by law, and shall be managed and conducted
by the sherifs other proper officers of the coune
respectively, in the and according TO tbs
same rules and regulations are prescribed BY Ian
for the election of members of the Legislatures Ana
it is hereby declared to be the duty of the Governor
issue his proclamation to the several sheris of tbs
State at least ninety days before the time appointed
for holding said election requiring them to hodap8
conduct the according TO law, and the said sbe
ifs shall advertise the time and place of holding said
election for at least twenty days by publishing the
same in the several newspapers of their respective
counties, and by posting notes at at least four public
places in their counties.
SEC. 2 BE 1t fisrater enacted, That each CONNIE
shall be represented in said convention bv the ss
number of delegates such county has of ReDresap
tatves in the House of Representatives, ncnGingtba
representation of any city or town in the county
Sec. 8. BE 1t further enacted, That no person not
citizen of the State of Mississippi who shall not
the time Of said election have resided for twelve months
previous thereto in the county, and shall not have at
tanned the age of twenty-five years shall be entitled to
a seat in the Convention.
SEC. 4. Be at further enacted That it shall be the
duty of the sheriff proper returning officer of each
and every county, within twenty days after said cleo
tion to make complete returns to the Secry Of State
of the votes cast for delegates in his county, and the
certificate of election of the returning officer Of the
proper county of the Secretary of State in favor
any delegate shall be evidence of his right to a seat
in said convention subject, if contested, to decision
by said convention in such manner they may pre-.
scribe.
SEC. s. BE at further enacted, That the delegate.
elected under the provisions of this shall assemble
at the capital Of the State, the ID Monday of No
vember, A. d. eighteen hundred and ifty-one and or
ganize themselves into convention by the election
of a President and such other officers as they NAV
deem necessary, and the appointment of a suitable
number OF assistants, and shall proceed to consider the
then existing relatisns between the Government Of
the United States and the Government and people Of
the State of Mississippi TO devise and carry into effect
the of redress for the past and obtain certain
security for the future, and to adopt such measures fol
indicating the sovereignty of the State, and the pro-
lection of its institutions shall appear to them tt
be demanded Said convention shall adopt such rule,
and regulations for its government and for the proper
transaction of business they shall think proper
The officers, members and assistants of said c0nven
ton shall receive the same compensation as is now
allowed by law to the officers members and assstent
of the Legislature, and the Auditor of Public Ac
counts shall issue his the Treasury therefor
upon the certificate of the President of the amour
due.
Sec. g. Be 1t further enacted, That in case of an
vacancy occurring in said convention by the death
resignation or removal of any member it shall be tn
duty of the Governor to cause such vacancy to be FIJI
ed by issuing his writ of election to the sheriff of tn
proper county, requiring him, ten days notice
hold an election according to law to fill the same
SEC. T. BE 1t fiH Their enacted, That the acts q
the convention proposed to be held by this act be
fore they become binding this State, shall be sub
United to the people at the baIlot-box for their ap
prevail at such time and such manner as the Conven
ton may determine.
JOHN ]. McRAE.
Speaker of the House Of Representatives..
JOHN |. GUION,