The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-03-03
A Prudent Measure.

We have not heard a valid objection
to the bill authorizing the people 70
vote for or against Constitutional
The present Constitution was framed
in 1866, by a Convention wholly under
the control of persons who at that time
we're aliens 10 the State, and, in fact,
hostile to that class Of its citizens most
interested in its welfare; and when il
was submitted to the people for adop
ton, its provisions we're so obnoxious
that it was rejected by the voters,
though the election was held under
military supervision, and the polls, IN
many Instances, were surrounded by
bayonets It's adoption at later date,
with the obnoxious clauses stricken out,
was farce. In fact when 1t was re
jected by the people it was in law a dead
letter, and its re submission by Pres
ident Grant was the exercise Of a iicen-
tious and not lawful power. lie might
as well have submitted to the people
on his own motion, any other collection
of Constitutional dogmas and restric.
tons, as those contained in the instru-
ment framed by the Eggleston Conven-
ton. 1t is not surprising, then, that
among the first things that claimed the
attention OF the Democrats on their &C
ce.sion to power, was the advisability
Of holding a Constitutional Convention
In 1877, some of the first citizens o
the State urged that Constitutions
Convention should be held, and iron
that time to this, the number Of thos
who believe it wise to reform the Stat
Constitution has steadily increased
: until, as it seems to US, a further pos
b ponement Of the question would be Ii
+ heIght OF unwisoom.
Under the provisions of the SenaI
bill, the responsibility OF decidin
j whether there shall be Il Constitution
r Convention, has been cast upon ii
Z people If they are satisfied with II
y present Constitution, they can retain
u If they are not satisfied with il thu
can have ano.her framed. But if Il
Senate bill or some other bin Of q
"a same character shall not become a la
D no matter how anxious the people m;
ri be tor new Constitution, they will
d compelled to submit to that now
le force.
1t will not do to say that the peoI
do not want a Constitutional Conyentio
IL because no one knows that TO be t
Is fact. The vote in the Senate indicat
u that the people do want a Constitution
le Convention; but whether they want
pi or not can only be definitely decided
one way, and that is by an election.
The Senators, who in the discussi
as OF the question, expressed such wal
to solicitude for the integrity of the Den
or cratic party, greatly magnified the da
r. ger to be applehended from the neg
vote. 1t were far better that the pal
te should do what Is right, and maintain
by struggle, than that it should
frightened into a condition Of inacti
10 by this bug-bear, the negro vote.
E believe that the State nas made sol
, progress, since 1875; and we have b
little patience with that pessimistic Vi
:" Of State politics which sees i'll the ms
" presence eff the negro an insurmoun
bic obstacle to every honest endeayor
. advance the welfare of all the people
:, If the Legislature shall allow I
, people to decide for Intensely
whether there shall be a Constitution
: Convention, we have faith that til
~ - will act wisely and for the best int
" ests Of the State; and should they c
:" tie Convention, we have equal fai
that much more acceptable Consti
lion than the present one sill be the
suit