American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1868-01-18

| Suffrage. Lrgi>lriy Department
!. Executive Drlmrtu'ut, Judiciary.
Banks and Corporations, Education.
Military aud FinE
Mr. Chapman Is d a substitute
: providing for v APPOINTMENT o,
'vt+rrn gs"%"'%h".H~ ny" 7" F' the sa "'
rr o; %|"" o thar :, 'sf o" Of
a printer f. BoU
j rM.~nhi. AMI in nomination
Stricklin the names Of Messrs. Power
& Barksdale. Mr.. Dugan WAS elect
ed on the first ballot, receiving 5S OF
the 50 votes east.
Mr.. Field stated That the Conven-
tinn was assembled by virtue OF the
power and authority of the Military
Commander. 1t was creature OF
tbr military. and what it should or
d3in conll only be considered aS pro
visional until ratified hv the people.
Mr. r lrrv commended tn It the Con
yentinn was the creature OF the peo-
ule. and rrSuonSinle only to them,
and if he thought otherwise would
retire.
Mr.. Barry offered the following:
Reso1reH. That a committee OF Sev.
en- he appointrd by the President of
this Convention for the purpose OF
nnmorinIizing the Congress of the
Jrruted States TO confer II on TINS
Convention the power to declare va
cant all civil offices ut present exist.
ing in the State of Mississippi, and
to invest the appointing power IN
this Convention. in order that all
said civil offices may be filled ny men
of known LOYALTY to the Government
of the United States.
Mr.. Phillips moved to lay the res
olution on the table. and the yeas
and nays being called tor upon
motion, Mr.. Gibbs moved that the
yeas and navs he not called.
Mr.. Strirklin thought this was an
arbitrary mode of procedure.
Mr.. Gibbs said his side OF the house
was prepared for arbitrary measures
Mr.. Townsend said he thought such
action disgracetul.
Mr.. Barry called the gentleman 70
order that that he had no right TO
make uSc Of such terms.
Mr., Townsend said he WAS respon,
sih,e for II views IA expressed.
The Presihent'x3avel stopped fur'
tl,rr personalities, wlle , the discus
sion of the main proposition was
resumed
Mr.. Watson addressed tn Con
vention ut some length in opposition
to the resolution. He warmly pro-
tested against the Convention assum-
ing such extraordinary powers.
Mr.. Haus"r denied that tn" South
err, people had been treated llllher-
ally. He thought, under the clrcum-
stances, they had been fairly treated,
and defended the action of Congress.
Mr.. Orr proceededto give at length
and in detail, his reasons why there
should be Il general sweeping out OF
both State and county officers.
He quoted the amnesty and regis
trdtion oatIs, and claimed that they
were constantly violated by most OF
the officers now in position.
Mr.. Stlick in called him to order.
As a member Of this Convention, he
was AN officer of the State, and the
gentleman from Harrison had no
rIrht to make such assertions.
SIR. atSon remarked that the
wiSeSt PRAYER ever suggested was,
i lead us not into trmptatlon.' lie
would. therefore, offer the following |
Res0lced further, That in rrorgan-
zing the State Government under
he foregoing resolution no member
If this body shall be- eligible to amy
position ct trust Or profit i'll connrc.
ion Herewith.
Mr.. Morgan spoke in opposition to
he amendment, but remarked that
n the reorganization of the State
government he would he willing to
zee members of this Convention ex-
,luded.
The question being taken upon Mr..
,EatSuI's amendment, it was lost by
he following vote:
Yeas SO; nays 4S.
The question recurring on the orig
nal resolution,
Mr.. Barry briefly explained the
'urport nf the resolution, that II was
imply to provide for TIE appoint
lrnt of Il committee to prepare Il
with view to reporting
he same for the action ot the Con
He further remarked that
he present officers of the State have
cen used ~ engines ct oppression
o far as loyalty Was concerned.
Mr.. Herbert wa offering an amend
tent to the effect that the officers to |
q appointrd remain in position I'M
i the State 90 imck into The union,
The cry of "questioL." however,
REVEALING. the matter was brought '
, a vote, and the resolution adopted
v yeas, 30; nays, 20.
Mr.. Alcorn offered the following
.solution and read newspaper re
Ort of recent sales III Marshall conh-
:. Illustrative OF the necessity for a
~ Legislation proposed; v
WHEREAS, The people of MISSis- i
ppi are now laboring undrra weight
/ pecuniary oppression, which 1t not :
,Iieved by governmental assistance, I
ay result in great restitution of $
re necessary means of living; and
hereas. the first mode to accomplish a
lief should be the suspension ofthe /,