The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-11-28
Convention Bill.

The following bill was offered in the Senate
yesterday by Mr. Elicit, of Claiborne. 1t
was read three times. and the Senate adjourn
ed penling a motion to suspend the rules to-
put it on its final passage. This looks like
business
An ACT to provide for calling Convention
of the people Of the State Of Mississippi
WHEREAS, The recent election for Electors
of President and Vice President of thc Uni
ted States has9resulted in the success of can
ddates supported by a party composed OF the
people of one section Of the Union only, or
canized upon the ground that there exists an
irreconcilable conflict between the domestic
institutions of the slaveholding and nom
slaveholding States, and actuated by spirit
of hostility to the institution OF African seFVl-
tude as it exists in the Southern States OF the
Union. and resolutely determined in the COM
plete and final extIrmination Of that institu-
tom
And 1chereqs, This result if acquiesced IN,
viii totally exclude the Southern StateF, ior
all time, from any voice in the selection Oh
their rulers, and from any participation IN 'h'
administration of public affairs, and viii place
them in a condition of hopeless subsection to
the dominion Of government pledged to Tue
destruction of their dearest rights and most
cherished interests
And pehereas, The course of the dominant
majority in the Northern States, which has
thus permanently inaugurated Abolltionlsm IN
the seat of Federal power is violative of the
spirit of the constitution and destructive OF
the true relations between the States OF the
Union as contemplated By its founders, and
has converted the National Government lntoa
mere engine in the hands of the preponderant
section, for the abuse and oppression OF the
weaker StateS:-
And uhereas, Every principle of manhood
and honor forbids that the injured States
should submit to the hostile rule thus sought
to be imposed on them, and demand that they
should promptly throw off such government
and institute new guards for their future Sc
curlty;- r.
Therefore, in order that the people of Mis-
sissippi may be enabled to resume, IN due
form, whatever Of her sovereignty has beGR
heretofore delegated to the Federal Govern
ment, and may proceed, in concert with such
of her sister Southern States as may concur
therein, to the establishment OF a new conied-
eracy, more homogeneous in interest anu feel
ing than the present,
the State Of Mississippi, That an election Tor
delegates to a convention of the people OF the
State of Mississippi, shall be held in the sew
erai counties thereof, on the seventeenth day
of December, A. d. one thousand eight hun
dred and sixty, at the several precincts IN
each county, and shall be held. conducted, ana
managed, by the SherifiS or other proper otii-
GERS Of the respective counties, IN the same
manner, and according to the same rules a@d
regulations, as are prescribed by law Tor the
election of members Of the Legislature. The
Governor shall issue his proclamation, as soon
as practicable after this act shall take effect
recurring the holding of such election, and the
Sheriffs of the several counties shall, as soon
as NAV be after this act takes effect, give no.
tice of the time and places Of holding such
election, in the manner now directed by law.
SEC. 2 Be it turtle e79cted, That each
county shall choose, by a plurality IF votes,
and shall be represented in the said conyen-
ton by number of delegates equal to the
number of Representatives to which such
county is entitled in the House Of Representa-
tiyes of the State, including the representa-
ton OF any city or town in such county; and
no person shall be eligible TO seat in the said
convention. who shall not at the time OF SAID
election, be citizen of the State Of Missis
sipp and above the age Of twenty-one Years.
SEC. ,. Be it further eaaaeR That it shall
be Gle duty of the Sheriff. or other returning
officer, of every county, forthwith after said
election, to make a full and complete return
to the Secretary Of State, of the votes cast for
delegates in his county, and he shall deliver
to the person or persons entitled thereto, a
certificate Of his election, which certificate, or
the certificate of the Secretary of State to the
o4l.,ot rb,H lo Of 70,
in the convention. The convention shall
Judge of the election and qualification Of its
members, and ShsA determine the right to
contested seats and provide for filing vacan-
cies IN their body as they may deem proper.
SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That the del
egates elected under the provisions OF this act
shall assemble at the Capitol Of the State
on the first Monday OF 5anuary, a. d. 1861,
and shall proceed to organize the convention
4y the election of a President, Secretary, and
such other Officers as they may deem neces-
sary, and shall provide for the appointment of
such assistants as may be required; maiori-
ty of all the members shall be quorum to
transact business and the said convention
when organized, shall proceed to consider
the then existing relations between the Gov
ernment of the United States, and the Gov
eminent and People Of the State OF Mississippi,
and to devise, adopt and carry into effect such
measures for indicating the sovereignty ofthe
people of the State, protecting her domestic
institutions, and securing to her citizens the
blessings of peace, domestic tranquility, ard
good government, as to them may seem ex-
pedient.
Sec 5. Provides compensation for members
and officers of Convention.
SEC 6. Provides that the act shall take
effect from it's passage.