Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1878-06-21

judgment on my part would have war
ranted, and ! now feel that It would
not only be an injustice 10 the Legisla-
ture which enacted them, but 9 greater
injustice 10 our country and body pO-
lilic, not 10 give them the considera-
tlon 10 which they are justly entitled.
Let the people make themselves famil-
lar with the proposed amendments,
and then let each voter put aside pre-.
judice-il any he have-and vote upon |
them according 10 the promptings OF
his nature and honest judgment. That
some, II not ell, Of these amendments
are good, no intelligent and well in
formed man will deny.
There may be some Of the advocates
Of Constitutional Convention so
blinded by their zeal for their hobby,
and in their frothy ire at the Legisla.
ture for choosing rather 10 propose
amendments than 10 call Convention,
that they are unable 10 calculate the
advantage and economy that would in.
! evilably accrue from the adoption Of
these amendments. And II seems 10 be
the disposition Of many members OF
the Press IL this State 10 censure and
cast reaeciiO.s upon every act aud
measure Of the last Legislative body.
BY this snimadversion on the part Of
the Press toward the last General AS
sembly, a great many persons have
been led to believe that that body did
no valuable service to the State, and
that all the amendments, like others of
its enactments $50 considered by them)
were devoid Of real merit and deserv-
ing OF no consideration al the ballot.
box. There are certain members oi
the "art-preservative" who have eu.
per.abundaDce OF top loftinesR, and q
"NapoleOnic" share OF dictatOrial ideas,
and they mark out proscTiptive poll.
cy, and set up their pet boobies g.
guide.posts for The Legislative body,
and for the people at large over the
State, and when their policy is not
adopted and their hobbies not ridden,
they swear vengeance upon the heads
OF those who were 10 ride aud 10 adopt,
f and they forthwith begin and con'nu.
. ously carry on TRADE OF abuse and
falacious arguments against them.
The policy adopted by portion OF
the press Of this State in trying 10 heap
, up 50 much obliquy upon the ac's OF
the last Legislature, | deeIH 10 be not
only Inconsistent with the true mis-.
sion OF the press, but huriful 10 ibe
Democratic party, and TO the general
D welfare Of our people. | do not SCI
i myself as the champion of the last
Leglsla re, nor do ! pretend 10 eulo
gize its every act for some of III
: measures condemn, and for which
:, think its members are justly liable L
i the censure of their constituents
!. Neither do / propose now 10 discus
the policy which led to the submitting
: OF the amendments, or the causes tha
= may have prevented the submitting o
G others which might have been more il
n accord with my views than some o
those proposed. But think the amend
y ments ought TO he placed prominently ly
10 by the press, before the people, and le
i there be fair and free discussion Q
Q their merits. | believe that their adop
a ton would prove more prudent meas
ure than to reject them, and await 70
II the assembling Of Constitutional Con
veution and its ultimate and uncertai
results. The correcibess of this propC
silion is obv us IN my mind for sev
y eral reato lst. The taxpayer
D cannot W, wait for an Cut and OF
new Cons tuition TO give them the RI
lief which Is offered Immediately b
these amendments. 81. Il is by n
means certain that document frame
by a Convention for the organic laV
:, will be adopted when put TO the lei
"a at the polls. %. 1t is not TACT b
~ any means that q Constitution frame
. at this time will be any better lha
, our present Constitution with Il
: amendments proposed engrai;ed inI
H. = its body. And then there is anotht
u !, thing to take into consideration, an
II that is this: The adoption Of theI
- amen lments will cost nothlng-br
- =, will save q great deal before q ne
~ " Constitution could possibly GO into e
y feet aud besides their adoption vi
10 not be any barrier whatever 10 Il
- - holding Of Constitutional ConventiC
I ct any time the people see property
n. do 80.
n. The following statement 10 syno
=, ~ sis OF the proposed amendmenls-i
IN which | bespesk the consideration
- the readers of the Sentinel:
AMENDMENTS.
. No. provides for biennial sessiO
OF the Legislature, (Which will be
rs' saving Of nearly two hundred thousa
ar dollars every other year,
10. No . fixes limit on taxation TO o
be per cenlum on the actual cash value
Tor all real and personal property.
of No. 3 fixes the salary OF the membt
lor of the General Assembly at five hu
be dred dollars per session, and actl
ese travelling expenses not 10 exceed Il
ly, dollars. (Any one conversant with
'ed present law on tue subject will see Il
ich this proposes a great reduction in
,ur compensation OF legislators.)
ID No. 4 prohibits the Legislature frt
ole passing certain laws-such as exem
aid ing property from taxation, creati
of any monopoly, granting any ex
But compensation TO public officers, char
OF Ing any parish seat or creating any n
Mt. nArish oXcent hy the assent of q ms /