Southern standard., 1851-03-22
Convention of the State of Mississippi.
An Act to proude for Convention Of the People of n
State of MiSSiSSiDDi.

State of Mississippi
WHEREAS, The Legislature of the Congress of III.
United States, controlled it was at its last sessia
by dominant majority, regardless of the constitution,
rights of the slavehoding States and refecting tb
will of section whose population hostile in feel
ngs and opposed in principle to long established ana
cherished institution of the States of the South as
fords alarming evidence of a settled purpose on ,L
part OF said majority to destroy said institution ara
subvert the sovereign power of this and other sla
holding States and whereas it is becoming and pro
that sovereign State should promptly resort 10 G
most efficient means for the maintenance of il sso
eregnty and the preservation of its constituon.I
rights, member of the confederacy when assaled
by the exercise of the highest power recognised und
our Republican form of Government the expressed
will of the sovereign people -Threfore,
SECTION L. BE ii enacted by the Legislature Of H.
State of Mississippi That an election for Deeqaes :,
Convention of the People of the State of Misss.
sipp shall be held in the several counties thereof ON
the lst Monday and day following in the month or
September. in the year eighteen hundred and fy-one
that said election shall be held at all the precincts es
tablished by law and shall be managed and conducted
by the shers other proper officers of the counties
respectively in the same and according TO the
same rules and regulations prescribed by law
for the election of members of the Legislature And
1t is hereby declared to be the duty of the Governor to
issue his proclamation to the several shers of the
State, at least ninety days before the time appointed
for holding said election requiring them to hold and
conduct the according to law, and the said sber
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
countless and by posting notices at least four public
places in their counties.
SEC. 2. BE 1t further enacted, That each county
shall be represented in said convention bv the Same
number of delegates such county has of Represep
atves IN the House of Representatives including the
representation of any city town in any county
DEC. g. BE 1T further enacted, That no person not
citizen OF the State of Mississippi who shall not at
he time of said election have resided for twelve months
revlous thereto in the county, and shall not have at
AIMED the age OF twenty-five years Shall be eligible 10
seat in the Convention.
SEC. A. BE 1t further enacted That it shall be the
uy OF the sheriff proper returning officer of each
hd every county, within twenty days after said cleo
on to make complete returns to the Secrv of Stats.
the votes cast for delegates in his county, and the
ertihcate OF election of the returning officer of the
roper county or of the Secretary of State in favor of
ny delegate, shall be evidence of his right TO seat
SAID Convention, subject, if contested to decision
sald Convention in such manner as they NAV
-escrbe.
SEC; o. he at further enacted, That the delegates
ected under the provisions of this act shall assemble
the Capital of the State, on the I'd Monday of No.
InDer, A d. eighteen hundred and fifty-one and or
nlze themselves into a Convention by the election
PRESIDENT and such other officers as they NAV
EN- necessary, and the appointment of suitable
mber OF assistants, and shall proceed to consider the
en- existing relations between the Government of
e United States and the Government and neonIo &c
'dte vi MissIsslpp to devise and carry into effect
means OF redress for the past and obtain certain
cury for the future, and to adopt such measures for
lacatlng the sovereignty of the State and the pro
;uon OF Its institutions shall appear to them IN
demanded Said Convention shall adopt such rIles
regulations for its government and for the nroner
nsacuon OF business they shall think proper- E
e olhcers, members and assistants of said Copyon E
shall receive the same compensation as Is nov,
owed by law to the officers members and assistants
the Legislature, and the Auditor of Public Ac {
mus snail Issue his warrant the Treasury therefor
IN the certificate of the President of the Dmonnt
'Ec. o. he further enacted That in case of .n,
dncy occurring in said Convention by the death
ghauon or removal of any member it shall he the
OF the Governor to cause such vacancy to ha f;I0
Dy issuing his writ of election to the sheriff of the
per country, requiring him. on ten dave ,,r,tiu, TO
! an election according to law to fill the same
&c. Z. And De At further enacted That the acts of
convention proposed to be held by this act. he
they become binding this State, shall be sub
ed to the people at the ballot-box for their an
'al' at such time, and such manner, as the Conyen
may determine
JOHN J. MeRAE
Speaker Of the House of Representqtines
JOHN L. GUION,
dn.o,.o4N President of the Senate
approved November 30th, 1850
JOHN