Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-02-22
Convention Of the State Of MISSISSIPPI.
An Act to proUide for Generation Of the People Of The
State of Mississippi

An Act to prorde for Generation Of the People Of the
State of Mississippi.
WHEREAS The Legislature of the Congress of the
United States, controlled, was its last SESSION.
by dominant majority regardless OF the constitutional
rights OF the slaveholdng States and rejecting the
will OF section whose population are hostile in feel
ngs and opposed in principle to lcng established and
cherished institution OF the States of the South, af
fords alarming evidence of a settled purpose on the
part OF said majority to destroy said institution and
subvert the sovereign power of this and other slave
holding States: and whereas it is becoming and prop
er that sovereign State should promptly the
most efficient for the maintenance of it ssov-
eregnty and the preservation of its constitutional
rights, rs member ot the conlederacy when assailed
by the exercise Of the highest power recognised under
our Republican form Of Government; the expressed
will Of the sovereign people :-Threfore,
SECTION L. Be 1t enacted By the Legislature Of The
State Of Mississippi, That election for Delegates 90
Convention of the People of the State of Misss-
spp, shall be held in the several counties thereof On
the lst Monday and day following in the month of
September III the year eighteen hundred and ty-one,
that said election shall be held all the precincts
ablished by law and shall be managed and conducted
by the shers other proper officers of the counties
respectively, in the manner and according the
same rules and regulations prescribed by law
for the election of members of the Legislature: And
it is hereby declared to be the duty of the Governor To-
issue his proclamation to the several sherffs of the
State, at least ninety days before the time appointed
for holding said election requiring them to hold and
conduct the same according to law and the said sher-
holding
election for at least twenty DAYS bv publishing the
in the several newspapers of their respective
counties and by posting notices at at least four public
places in their counties.
SEC. 2 BE at further enacted, That each county
shall be represented in said convention by the same
number of delegates such county has of Represen-
tatives in the House of Representatives including the
representation of any city or town in any county.
Sec. 3. BE 1t further enacted, That no person not
citizen of the State of Mississippi who shall not at
the time of said election have resided for twelve months
previous thereto in the county, and shall have at
tanned the age of twenty-five years shall be eligible
a seat in the Convention.
SEC 4. Be ii 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
hon to make complete returns to the Secy 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 of
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 as they NAV
prescribe.
Sec. 6. Be 1t further enacted, That the delegates
elected under the provisions of this act shall assemble
at the Capital of the State, the I'd Monday of No
vember, A ID. eighteen hundred and fty-one, and Or
ganize themselves into a Convention by the election
of President and such other officers as thew NAV
deem necessary, and the appointment of a suitable
number of assistants and shall proceed to consider the
then existing relations between the Government of
the United States and the Government and peopIe of
the State of Mississippi devise and carry into effect
the means of redress for the past and obtain certain
security for the future and to adopt such for
indicating the sovereignty of the State, and the pro-
lection OF It's Institutions shall appear them
be demanded Said Convention shall adopt such rules
and regulations for its government and for the proper
transaction of business they shall think proper
The officers, members and assistants of said Conven-
ton shall receive the compensation is now
allowed by law to the officers, members and assistants
of the Legislature, and the Auditor of Public Ac
counts shall issue a.gEant on the Treasury therefor,
due.
SEC. 6. Be 1t further enacted, That in case of anv
vacancy occurring in said Convention by the DEATH,
resignation or removal of any member, it shall be the
duty OF the Governor to such vacancy to be FL
led by issuing his writ of election the sheriff of the
proper country, requiring him. ten days notice. to