The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-27
Removal az the Capitol constltn-
tionsl Difficulties


JArzs0z, Rob. Is. 1884
rs,,ror c4anroS: I en- Impressed with /
tie aesiduity, industry and aoillsy O 49, -
I ,avislature on al subjects oro18ns pe- N.as.
4. but am more strongly impFea Nh
the conviction that # Prssszis 49, - 49,
~ their valuable labor on pE91ec. sna.
beyond thar legal capacity, ana ~
EN- more strongly impressed win ne 1oE-
49, eonr.ction fhat tD Meridian eelega-
49,. 49,. - iissfpatsn2 fhSlf time and Fenu-
i L.,s;- . ser IocsI vanity for nsught.
Mimi this Legislature hes No power e
49, Weridien the seat 81 government q
Mississippi .z.,.s. -. go ~
80 TSnited States gave to the State q MS
sissirri for the purpose Of locating there
=, ia seat Of government tract O lana
sh.t Xississipd accepted the git tor ina.
nnrnosa. and On the track located 1ts So 80
"a Government, built its State hoase. ~
Coyarnor,s mansion and other pubic pelio-
mos That on it the United States aas 70
cafad her courts, her Offices and Dule ~ "
emilio buildings because IL was the seat q
Government of Mississippi 70 SsaSe
GoDs.itution of 1882, made that town tne
sast If Government of the State of Mlssls-
sinni until 1850, and provided that during
az fi-st session of the Legislature there
sFtar II sho1ld have power to designate Dy
Iau, the pernanent seat of government
Int If such designation be not then mace
tha seat of government shall conanne per
roantIy At jackson. See Code Ct 81, P. -
S 80. -. 1ern Honse
ionrn,l. paoes $50, COS, $50, the effort was
made TO remove the seat Of government
from Jackson. It failed and JACKSON py
f,rca Of the Constitution became per'nd' aeHag
| tba seat of government, and has remained
/ 20 10 this day. The language quoted aoose
1 untiI 1869 was reprinted in every volume
2! of the session acts. During the whole NLne
/ the terms seat of government, when usee'
! meant jackson. The Constitution OF 1oO0,
! though it does not quote the LANGUAGE 81
/ the Constitution of 1892, Jet u mas az
equivalent, for it provided that the heglSl (,
ture shall meet at the seat OF government en-.
until altered by law. art. 4, 2. Al tnS ellll'
that constitution was adopted JackSon 10
the seat of governments, the cohs el.s 49,
which adopted it met at the seat Oh ~.
ernment," but according 70 sne sSc1loi
that seat of government eoulo e a .H.".s;
h., Isw The very fact that it was suscepn
I,Ia of alteration by law il reco2nltio4
thot Jackson was the seat of government
established by law, and if BY law, BY VIVA
J IawY None other but the constitution o
I939 for that is the only direct law TO 0
found on the subject.
In other provisions of the cOnstltut1o'
of 1864. there are like recognitlons o
JacIeaon as the constitutional "seat OF gov
eminent" of the State of Mississippi,
seat of government defactO and BY force Q
The constitution, not for time, bat accord
} iny to the constitution, permanently.
The Constitution of 1863 does nc
; change or attempt to change the seat 2
| government nor give nor attempt to CIV
the Legislature the power to change II
Rpt am told that the amendment tou
of the Consultation (Code of 1880, page ~
does give the Legislature the power
change it. 1 think it confirms my solution
for it provides that on a specified day %
g LEGISLATURE shall meet at the seat OF 60,
: ernment" and biennially thereafter. Ina ~
Q is a positive provision that bienniaily IN
: Ja,,;sIature shah meet at the seq
$ of Government, jackson, TOR Jacl
t son was then the. seat of govern
d ment eztablishedBDy constitutional la
!: neyu,auentty. 1t was not changed by tint
> Constitution. nor does the amen'
ment give the Legislature power to chang
, the permanent seat of government, b'
J recognize it as the place for the blennl'
J meetings, but it does declare that the TIN
and place Of meeting may be altered o
law; that does not even imply that the pc
manentIy located seat of government ms
, be changed by an act of the Legislature.
implies no more than it says, that u
place of any meeting may be changed
law. but the Legislature is given no pow
, to change the permanent seat Of goverl
= ment. u. "taA4Lh"'''