The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-05-30
Shall we Have a Constitutional
Convention?

| 10 Dt ScHcIdi clcCllOn DcAt 1dll
!: and as the canvass will soon open
it is highly important that til,
1 question of calling II convention t
revise our constitution, should b,
agitated that the will of tire peOpl
shall be made known throitgh th'
ballot box upon this grave ques
tion. ..
Our present constitution is tn
offspring of radicalisni of tn,
worst type. The true people of tin
State mad no voice in it's formation
Every line of it was written ant
enacted by aliens and strangers
not only aliens but afien eiiemies
men who had conspfred together
to subjugate and plduder the peo
pie of Mississippi. r.... ......
That such a body of men could
make a written constitution thai
would serve as a shield and helmet
for the liberties of the, people, Ol
as u safe chart to guide the for
tunes and secure a glorious destiny
for a great commonwealth, is pre-
posterous and we have, since the
first day of January, 1876, been
acting over again the transcendent
folly of the foolish man who built
his house OH a sandy foundation.
We have been building and
building, and planning aud planning
and discussing, all to no purpose.
The laws, IN our State, are in a
state of chaos; at least, so far as
the masses of the people are con-
cerned, and cOdification will never
dispel it. What we need is a con-
stitution after the old pattern, save
and except there should be no dis
tinction on account of race or
color: i '.' t..'' "a' h."# @.
We want the Judiciary system
reInodled; the jndges should hold
their term of Office for four years,
and should be elected by the people.
The circuit courts should be vested
with equity Jurisdiction. Estab.
lish probate courts and make the
judge eD-otiCiO clerk and give him
perquisites, but no salary, and
every estate then would detray the
expenses of its own settlement.
Abolish the system of registra-
ton as a carpetbag importation;
and stupeudOus and expensive
humbug.
Abolish all supernumcrary offices,
such as chancellors, registrars, coun-
ty superintendents of public educa-
tiOn, and devOlve the duties of the
latter upon the probate judge.
Have elections only every two
and four years, instead Of every
year as now. Political elections
every two years: judicial and min
isterial every four years.
Prohibit by constitutional enact
ments, ill special legislation.
Prohibit any county or city or
town from voting aid to any rail
road or corpOration;,upon the well
recognized doctri bat the ma
jority have no right to tax the
minority except for the legitimate
expenses Of government.
These are some OF the changes
needed.
1t is folly to say that our present
constitution can ever be perfected
by submitting amendments. The
results of the last election demon
strate the tutility of such hope.
The sooner convention is called
the better and the less it will cost
the people.
AS to the expense of this conven-
ton, it is a small matter when we
come to count the savings to the
peoples to say nothing of the bene-
fits to flow to the whole country |
from that confidence and repose
which such a,constitutiOn, framed |
by our wisest and best men, will |
inspire.
The greatest of all the evils
which afflict our State to-day, is an
almost universal lack of confidence
in the government, and the proper
of it's laws. |
We all feel as il we are sojourn-
,rs here. We have not that deep
owe for our State and government
md its laws, that inspire gratitude
md coptentment. There is an uni
Tersal feeling OF UNREST among the
,eOple, and no Legislation will ever |
correct this great evil, till we 90
back to first principles. Make a
lew constitution, framed IN the will
" the people, and then rear upon
t superstructure that SHALL chal-
enge the love and admiration of
,ur people. fi'H 1t.ia"
1 believe we have as much virtue
md wisdom and craftsmanship in
Mississippi now as at any former
'eriod of her history. But neither
iirtue nor wisdom nor statesman
hip can construct "a government of
aw that shall command the conf.
lence of the people, upon a consti-
ution SO imperfect as ours, a con
titution which does not, and never
lid, reflect their will, and In the
of which they had no
oice. II
1t is the only remaining badge of 2
uuliliation the last heritage OF '
Military reconstruction aud radical v
ouilhation - [
ALI the late reconstructed States h
ave thrown it of, repudiated IL J.
Mississippi in this stands solitary .
nd alone. Let her follow the ex- {
nlleS of her sisters. nnt for .he !.