The weekly clarion., 1879-05-28
Shall We Have A Constitutional Con-
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EDITORS CLARION: In j former article L
pointed out . some OF the changes that ought
to be made in our Constitution. There are
Others of equal importance not mentioned IN
that article; the most prominent OF which Is
the apportionment iniquity, under Art. Al
Under this apportionment, sixty one eoun-
ties have one hundred and seven representa-
tiyes and thirty Senators in the Legislature
One county has five representatives. two have
eight ten have thirty, sixteen have thlrty-two,
and thirty-two have thirty-two. | would Ike
10 know some good reason why any county
should have more than two representatives.
Experience and observation both teach that
large deliberative bodies are less proficient
than small ones. They become unwieldy m
harmonious and intractable. We could tur-
nish examples in Mississippi legislation OF
this assertion and as the Democratic party
stands pledged to retreRchms7sf, it should be eN-
tended in that direction. Limit the represen-
tatation of county to the maximum of two
members, and the minimum to one, and secure
more efficient body of Legislators and at the
same time save thousands OF dollars to the
people, now uselessly expended on the Legis-
IatlNG departments OF tile
A wise Roman once truthfullv said, ''oNE
bad general is better to command an army
than two good ones" \ Legislature OF seven
tv-five or one hundred members, would be far
more efficient than one, or two hundred mem-
bers
There is another reason why this Art Nj
should be changed and that is, that it was a
''gerrymander'' 10 keep the white people OF the
State under carpet-bag rule, by giving the
negro counties the larger representation.
Let Us take, for example, Warren and lssa-
quena counties. With population OF about
80 600 they have six Representatives, and two
Senators in the Legislature, or one member in
the Legislature to every 1000 population.
Now take Jasper and Newton counties, with
a population OF about 2,100, with only TWO
Representatives and one Senator in the Legis-
lature. or one member to every 1000 popula-
ton And so it runs through the whole list.
This is a great outrage upon justice, fairness
and equality and unless it is righted, the
signs of disntegration now so visible in the
Democratic party in some sections of the State,
will increase and gather strength until no
man stay it.
This idea OF Iegislating for party, or sec
ton or race does violence to our theory of
Republican government, and ought to be at
once discarded by all fair-minded men.
Section OF Article XII, is disgrace to
any free people. 1t makes it the duty of the
Legislature to enact a penal transportation
bill, bv which man may be indicted and
tried Gin any country other than that in
which the offense was committed"
This is one of the crowning iniquities Of
the ''Black and Tan Convention" that enacted
our present Constitution. No argument is
needed to show that it is at war with every
principle of Constitutional liberty taught by
the fathers and and cherished for a century
by their descendants.
Section II, same Article which authorizes
the Legislature to designate by law such
legal paper or papers in each Circuit Cour
district as shall publish all legal advertising"
&c, is another relic of carpet-bag reign that
no man in the State can now have the check
to defend
There are many other objections that might
be urged; it isn't even gramm atical the very
preamble carries a falsehood upon its face in
saying, I'VE, the people of the State of Missis-
sippi, grateful to Almighty God fol the free
exercise OF the right to choose our own form of
government, do ordain fhis Constitution.
Every man, woman and child in the State
who remembers the dark days OF 1868, knows
that this preamble contains and perpetuates
the gravest historical falsehood. and fidelity
to truth alone requires that it should be re-
futed
1t will not do to say that the powers con
ferred in this Constitution Will never be exer-
cised to the detriment of the people.
There is a well defined spirit OF discomfort
manifesting itself throughout the State. And
why? because our leaders have not come up
to the standard OF public expectation. Our
State Government was torn to atomsby thet
ruthless and remorseless hand of a military
despotism. Our Governor was evicted from
his office, and the Executive mansion CONVEX
ted into a bachanalian hail. where lewd and
disgraceful revelries were indulged; our
Judges, Sheriffs and other officers were removed
and order of things set up-or in the
cant phrase of the day the ''bottom rail" was
elevated upon the point of the bayonct and
laid ''on top" and sort of government insti-
tuted which, instead of fostering the rights
and liberties OF the people, t0iSted upon them
wrongs and expressions.
In obedience to the instincts of nature, as
well as of reason, the people rose and hurled
the reUeterS from place and power.
This was more than three years ago, and the
people had right to expect that those to
whom had been entrusted the duty of guiding
the ship of State back to the haven OF peace
and prosperity, would do so at the earliest
possible moment without peril to those on
board. To do this the old ship should be
thoroughly overhauled, and furnished with
new chart for her future voyage
We have the power to do this now, but who
can tell how long we may possess that power.
There are loud thunders beyond the political
horizon, that portend coming storm. The
National Republican party now distinctly
avow the doctrine OF the subordination OF the
civil to the military power of the government
They will soon hang upon the outer wall their
banner, with 'strong government" as their
shiboleth, and Grant for their leader, and who
can tell what may be the result
Let us be wise, and put house in order.
Let us call Convention and ordain Consti-
tuition that shall be indeed and in truth the
magma charter of the liberties of the WHOLE
people, without regard to race, so that, what
ever mutations in parties or government may
occur in future, they shall be powerless to
Cypress the people. B.