The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-12-04

! was les l'oIl'ttl W ny INC SuDlIllSSloll u
the people Of an amendment to thu
Constitution framed by our RadIca
friends in their own interest, requiring
only biennial sessions. This amend
ment was voted for with alacrty ant
almost unanimously.
There can be no doubt, therefore, Il,
to the will of the people on this sub
jet. Nevertheless, there was not want
ing IL formidable array of Influential
Democratic patriots who in less than
one year after the adoption Of thi,
amendment appealed to Governor
Stone to ignore this emphatic express
sion and convene the Legislature. For
tmately, however,we have Governor
who holds in profound respect the eX'
pressed will Of the people, and who
will not thwart it unless he sees Il
PLAIN necessity for it. He has resisted
these appeals heretofore, and eXpe-
rience has abundantly proved the
soundness Of his Judgment.
What is the necessity for an extra
session now 1t has been sufficiently
proved, and almost universally adj
mittcd, that frequent sessions are in
furious. Before the Governor can be
excused in his own conscience or in his
fidelity to his trust, for bringing on
the inevitable expense and inconVcn-
fence, and the admitted evils of an
extra session, he must be clearly con-
WINGED that the good likely to be ac-
complished would overbalance these
results. Now let us consider what is
expected from this extra session.
|. The submission of an amendment
to the Constitution, fixing a property
and educational qualification to the
right Of suffrage.
>. The re-apportionment of the State
upon the basis Of the new census.
We shall not stop now to argue the
intrinsic justice or injustice of the
these measures. The first cmbodics Il
safeguard to the use of the suffrage
which obtains in Massachusetts,
Rhode Island and possibly other Re-
publican States of the North. EX-
periencc may show that it will be
wise hereafter for Us to engraft this
provision into our constitution, but it
would be the height Of unWisdom to
attempt to force it now, The spirit
which calls for it is probably not the
proper spirit, and if carried at all, it
would be by the employment Of force
or "methodsn which good men are get
ting tired Of. Tosubmit such propo-
sit;on and fail in it would simply open
the way for the loss of the State Gov
eminent to the Democratic party.
According to our judgment there is
vastly more danger of losing on this
question than there is of losing the
next election without it, In other
words, it will be vastly easier to carry
the next and all succeeding elections
without hanging this milestone around
our necks.
If this view is correct one the
main object of the extra session be-
comes the main reason for saving our
selves from it.
The time is not ripe for Mississippi
to initiate Rhode Island and Massa-
chusetts on the vital question of
franchise. We could hope that it
would never become ripe, but
that all classes of our population
would develop into safe and in
telligent voters. But honest cand0r
forces the admission that our faith in
such n future result is very weak. .
However, the race of people who are
to be most affected by the proposition
to fix republication to suffrage should |
have a fair trial under Democratic rule. |
This much has been promised them
and this much they are entitled to re-
oeive. When the baneful influence of |
selfish and vicious Intermediates is f.
and sufficient time given for |
/ wholesome reaction under fair and /.
ust treatment, if they can still bring
Onward no evidence Of fitness for the /.
lulies Of full citizens or adaptation to (
he material development Of the state .
md fidelity to honest government,
hen it will he time to consider the .
yeighty question Of resorting to ne
.essary restrictions. Just now such /
would be regarded as UNI
timely, unjust, and unlriendly to the
legro race, and hostile to the admin
stratiOn of the United States. such
n attitude on our part could do us no
God, and be sure to open again the
landlords Box of Radical evils.
As to the second proposition, it can
cry well wait year for the action
f the regular session. No great point
an he gained by hurrying it prcma-
1rely forward, without mourning
angers and risks immensely more
than any new apportion-
lcnt would ue beneficial. 4
II is an old and AN automatic injUnc-
ION, ''lct well enough alOnew The
tate and the Democratic party are in
tolerably good way. If we under
Ike to do too much We may over,lo it,
nd break down ia the exertiou. We
o not need any extra session.
Cor. e. b. MITCHELL received the