The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-10

was arrested and imprisoned. Gov Sharkey
was appointed in his place. The latter, at
the instance of the President, called a State
convention to adopt constitution This
convention assembled in Augu t, 1865, and
adopted a constitution Republican in form
aboiishing 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 18th article, as an amendment of the
Constitution of the United States, intended
to confer the elective franchise on the Iced
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
delepates to the convention to be assembled
under said acts-and that when said con-
yeution should adopt constitution extend
mo the elective franchise to all male adults,
of whatever race, color or previous con-
dition, twenty one years OF age ana upwards,
atcl said States should be admitted to rep
resentation in Congress. The convention
was accordingly elected-it assembled at
the capital and could have performed all
| th., dnty assigned it by striking a single
word from our present constitution.
Duty OF CONVENTION.
Tho electoral clause in the present consti-
tu,ion nroyides that Every free Whtfe male
nerson of the age of twenty-one years and
nnwards who shall be citizen OF the
| TTnited States ard shall have resided In TINS
State one year next preceding an eiection'
| and the last four months within the county,
city or town, in which he offers TO Vote' s%naii %
be deemed qualified etector.
' ~ s,r;king ,,nf the word "tchite, in the
| f;rst line of this clause, it would include all
| free male persons of the age OF twenty-one
wears and upwards, of whatever race, Color
and nreyious condition, and this would have
been a full adoption of the act OF Congress
and a compliance with it's terms
The first section of the bill OF rights Ills m "I
4he present constitution also declares That
Iii freemen when thev form a social COM
1 nact are equal In rights" AS the negroes
lrara made free by special ordinance, ap-
| s.,5aa fr this constitution in August, 1000,
p%ar- "a included ia this declaration OF the
sa;ii yoS rights. and hence it is seen that tne
oaIv objection which Congress ever made 70
on,y onr present constitution could have been zen
our eg;ed geb by the convention. by striking out out
feneaisu rem sa;d word ~ white; and this work could
have sn been accomplished within twenty-fous, ssa,
hours after the convention assempisu, t,,rss nrs
the body could have adjourned Wl'i - work
Says S after its organization, with It's woss :
ali complete and at trifing expense W sno
| State a ass