The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-10-23

laws, though written on every page OF tht
Revised Code, can take away. or lessen ever
fora single day. right guaranteed by ths
Constitution.
The conclusions sustained by this argu-
ment may be summed up as follows:
First. That the Constitution and civil
government was established on the 23d OF
/ February, 1870.
Second. That the first political year under
/ the Constitution commenced on the hrSt
/ Monday In January, 1871.
| Third. That the fractional period of ten
months. existing between the two last
| menti ned dates consti ties no portion oil
| the full terms which the first clVH oflcers
were authorized and required TO hold.
Fourth. That all officers elected IN 1869,
and qualified under the Constitution, were
entitled to full constitutional terms from
the irst Monday in January, 1871.
Fifth. That the terms OF the present State
officers continue until January, 1870, and
until their successors are duly elected and
qualified.
sixth. That their successors cannot be
constitutiOually elected until the first Tn s.
day succeeding the first Monday In NoVem-
Der 1874.
These conclusions. which believe to be
coustitutionally sound, supported, as they
are. by every consideration of wise policy
and regard for economical, peaceful COZ
eminent have impelled me 70 assem- Die
your honorable bodies in extra session. In
the peace and quiet of the state depend
largely on the result of your deliberations
Wisdom would dictate that you SO shape
legislation 10 render unnecessary aud
lm possible such conflicts and com pllcatlons
ia the affairs of the government as nave
lately been experienced by our border
states. incident to the changing OF their
State administrations. The emergency OF
having two IuiI sets of State officers, anu
the threateniny contest between three thou
nd ffiria1
ffcers-on the first of January next, the
present incu mbcnts Claiming unfer author
ity of the Constitution. thaLth~y are entitlei
to continue in office until January, 1879
while the newly elected officers would per
I'm ptorily demand their positions, would
entail calamity upon the people OF the
state, whose evil consequences cannot D.
fprerOld. The solution which is suggested
is plain and simple. Repeal tue present
uncOn> titutioual provisions of the election
law: provide for a general election in 1874,
and biennially thereafter; place our l+glsla
ton in harmony with the letter, spirit ana
intention of the Constitution. and thus save
The state from imminent discord and dis
grace and consequent financial emoarrass-
m~Ht. to say nothing of still graFer conse-
quences; save 70 the pockets of our over
JurdcHed taxpayers the hundreds CT thou-
and, of dollars which are expended IN our
annual elections; save the people from the
,tenora iiZing effects of annual campaigns,
ana the lors oil labor. political strife aud the
neglect OF private Interests. Which they al
ways produce; save them from all those
dam ging and disastrous Consequences
which blight their political and material
welfare. and reuder unanV OF them indiffer
ent to the results of elections, however i'm
portant, instead of having every voter ac
lively Interested in securing and main tain
ing good government.
IN this connection, L call your attention
to the registration law, passed at the last
session. The authority therein granted TO
judges and chancellors to appoint registrars.
seems clearly to- be violation of article
three of the Constitution, which divides tie
government into three distinct departments,
and says that "no person or collection OF
persons, being one of these departments.
shall exercise any power properly belong
ing to either of the other" The appoint
meut of registrars is plainly an executive,
ana not judicial duty, aud cannot lawfully
be exercised by judicial officers. Unless
registrars shall be made elective, their APP
pointment should be placed under executive
control; otherwise, you subject those Off
GERS to the very strong suspicion that their
official tenure is doubtful, il not clearly UNI
constitutional.
Owing to the shortness of the crop, the
low price of cotton and the distress into
which the people have been thrown on ac-
count of the financial crisis which is now
upon the country, recommend you TO con
slider the prOpriety of continuing the time
for the collection of taxes, for period of
thirty or sixty days.
II. C. POWERS,
Governor OF Mississippi.