The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-06-19
The Proposed Amend ment 10 Pro
vide for Bic miaI EIeetiOUs.

We have received several letters in
reference to the resolution of the recent
session Of the Legislature, proposing an
amendment to the Constitution, 80 as to
make elections biennial. One cores
pendent, quoting the second clause OF
section seven, Gas proposed, says: at
is very plain that those officers elected
in 1880, and who go into office the lst
Monday in January, 1880, according to
my idea Of the resolution as it reads, can
serve only the years 1880 and 1881.
There may possibly be a clerical error in
the printed copy"
The resolution as it appears in the
sheet acts, och. Is, PIP. BOB 1, is cor
rect copy of the enrolled bill. The
Trainer Of the resolution, Mr.. Gibson,
evidently bestowed much care and study
upon a most intricate proposition, and,
in our opinion, succeeded, in almost the
only feasible way, in accomplishing the
object had in view. There is not, as our
correspondents suppose, any difficulty 10
bringing about biennial elections, should
the amendment be ratified by the people.
We quote below, so much of the resolu-
ton as bears upon the subject:
''SEcTIoN Z. A general election by
ballot, shall be held on the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in November A.
D., 1880, and bennially thereafter All
officers who go into office on the first
Monday in January, 1882, shall be elect
ed at the general election in 1880. All
officers who 90 into office on the first
Monday in January, 1880, and all Off
GERS who 90 into office on the first Mon
day in January 1892, shall hold their
respective offices for three years, but the
constitutional terms of their successors
shall not be hereby affected"
Now let us work out the proposition.
In November, 1879, District Attorneys,
Senators, Representatives, and all county
and beat officers, will be elected, and,
under the proposed amendment, will
hold their offices for three years, going
into office January 1880, and going out
in January 1888. In November, 1880,
State officers alone will be elected, and
under the proposed amendment will hold
their offices for three years, going into
Office January 1888 ,, and going out in
January 1885. In November, 1882, the
next general election will be held under
the amendment, at which time District
Attorneys, Senators, representatives,
and all county and beat officers will be
elected, the District Attorneys, Senators
and county clerks holding for four
years and the Representatives, and
other county and beat officers for two
years. In November, 1884, State Off
GERS, Representatives, county and beat
officials will be elected As the Sena-
tors are divided into two classes, one
half of them will be elected every two
years, beginning November, 1882.
In 1879, 1882, 1886, and every four
years thereafter, District Attorneys,
Senators and county clerks will be elect
ed, in 1879, 1882, 1884, and every
two years thereafter, Representatives,
Senators, and all county and beat off
GERS, excepting county clerks,) will be
in 1880, 1884, 1888, and every
four years thereafter, State officers will
be elected.
The effect of the amendment will be
to bring all elections on even years, at
the same time with Congressional cleo
tons. In the odd years after 1879,
there will be neither State, District,
County nor Congressional elections, "a
most devoutly to be
wished"