The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-09


vas arrested and imprisoned. Gov Sharkey
was appointed in his place. The latter, at
the instance of the President, called a State
to adopt a consti tutlon This
convention assembled in Auguft, 1865, and
adopted constitution Republican in folnl-
aboiishing slavery, protecting the rights OF
freedmen in all respects, but not cOnferrlng
on them the elective franchise.
lt Under this constitution the Legislature
con nvened. The State was regularly organ
ized in all its departments. All State officers
we're duly elected, and Congressman and
Senators were also elected and sent on to
ranresent MS in the Federal Government. Our
Representatives were rejected on the ground
THAT the freedmen were not allowed to vote
CONGRESS EXTENDS ELECTIVE FRAN
CHISE 70 FREEDMEN.
Congress then passed and submitted to
the States for ratification, what was called
the I4th article, as an amendment of the
Canstitution of the United States, intended
~ canfer the elective franchise on the fl 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-
ehlse 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
nnder said acts-and that when said con-
yention should adopt a constitution extend
ing, the elective franchise to all male adults,
of whatever race, color or previous con
dition, twenty-oue years of age and upwards
etc. said States should be admitted to rep
rasantation in Congress The convention
was accordingly elected--it assembled at
the eapital and could have performed all
tn. duty assigned it by striking single
word from our present constitution nw f9
sxnsH DUTY OF CONVENTION. f1aIi
| !, The electoral clause in the present consti'
tution provides, that "Every free tchfte male
nerson of the age, of twenty years and
upyaTds. who shall be citizen OF the
United States ard shall have resided IN tins
State one year next preceding an election
and the last four months within the county
| citv or town, in which he offers to vote, shall
| be deemed q qualified elector," aee... aia,
By striking cut the word, "ichte' IN tht
| first line of this clause, it would include al
| free male persons OF the age Oh twehss-on' a,l
| wars and upwards, of whatever race, colol
and previous condition, and this would have
been full adoption of the act OF Congress
and n compliance with it's terms aas
The f;rst section of the bill of rights q
AZ ,resent constitution also declares Tha
aIls freemen. when they form a. social com
nact. are equal in rights. AS the hegroe
4 were made free by special ordinance, ee I'D
nended to this constitution in August. 1868
tbev are included in this declaration OF tn
| bill Of rights, and hence it, Is seen that tn
i onlv objection which Congress ever made =
our present constitution could nave Dee
remedied by the copYention, by striking on
\ the said word white; and this Eork coul
I have been accomplished within twen1y-iou
l.hours after the, convention assembled. an
/ the body could have adjourned with t tnre
j DAYS after its organization, with us Wos 7,
i ali complete and at trifing expense TO I'd
Il State. 4oa4siasa Gts.4s1aA .sS.1