The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-08

was arrested and imprisoned. Gov. Sharkey
was appointed in his place. The after, at
the instance of the President, called State
convention to adopt a constitution This
convention assembled in Augu t, 1865, and
adopted a constitution Republican in for m
abolishng slavery, protecting the rights OF
freedmen in all respects, but not comforting
on them the elective franchise.
Under this constitution the Legislature
convened The State was regularly organ
lied in all its departments. All State officers
were duly elected, and congressman and
Senators were also elected and sent on to
represent us in the Federal Government. Our
Representatives were rejected on the ground
that the freedmen were not allowed to vote
CONGRESS EXTENDS ELECTIVE FRAN
CHISE TO FREEDMEN.
Congress then passed and submitted to
the States for ratification, what was called
the i4th article, as an amendment of the
Constitution of the United States, intended
to confer the elective franchise on the f. eed-
men. This was rejected by our Legislature
Then came the Reconstruction acts-the
object of which was to compel the people
of Mississippi, with other States, to enfran-
chIse the negro. These acts provided that
the negroes should vote in common with the
white electors, not disfranchised, for the
delegates to the convention to be assembled
under said acts-and that when said con-
vention should adopt constitution extend
ing the elective franchise to all male adults
of whatever race, color or previous con-
dition. twenty one years of age and upwards
etc said States should be admitted to rep
resentation in Congress. The convention
was accordingly elected-it assembled al
| the capital and could have performed all
tb,, duty assigned it by striking single
| word from our present constitution
DUTY OF CONVENTION.
The electoral clause in the present consti-
| tnlion proyides, that Every free lchtfe male
| person of the age of twenty-one years an0
| upwards, who shall be citizen OF tne
| United States ard shall have resided in this
| State one year next preceding an election
| and the last four months within the county
| city OF town, in which he offers TO Vote' shai
| be deemed a qualified eIect0r :,
/ Bv striking cut the word "phlfe, In tht
first line of this clause, it would include al
| free male persons of the age OF twenty-ont
| wears and upwards, of whatever race, colol
| and urevious condition, and this would have
! been full adoption of the act of Congress
and a compliance with its terms.
The first section of the bill of rights {"
the present constitution also declares "Iha
| all freemen when they form soclal com
net are equal in rights" As the negroe!
Rara made free by special ordinance, an
nsnded t. this constitution in August, 1868
thew are included in this declaration OF tn
bill bill of rights, and hence it is seen that tn n
oniy objection which Congress ever @ made 1Ist. Z
our present constitution could have beel
remedied by the convention by striking on
the said word white; and tnis VOTE coui' ,i!
have been accomplished "ltnin ewehly-iou
the body could have adjourned with n thre
days after its organization, with It's worl
ali complete and at a trifing expense to tn
: State. ~ ah