The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-26
THECONVENTION BILL
1T PASSES BOTH HOUSES OF
THE LEGISLATURES.
ADOPTED IN THE SENATE by 90 TO
4; IN THE HOUSE BY 90 TO 81
ELECTION TO BE ORDERED BY
July THIRD---THE CONvEN-
TIOS FIXED FOR AUGCsT
SEVENTH.

pie OF MISSISSIPPI, IOT the purpose Oh
framing Constitution.
WHEREAS. Ii is manifest that there
are many defects aud Objectionable
provisions i'm the Constitution of the
State; and,
Whereas, Amendments ny lrgisla-
tive enactment are impracticahle on
account of the large number desired
and proposed; and the further fact
that it requires twO-thirds vote of
the Legislature to submit an amend
ment, and two years to engraft il on
the Constitution if adopted; and.
Whereas, Ii is believed the safest,
specdiest and most satisfactory mode
of making the alterations and amend
ments desired. is by II Convention of
the people; now, therefore,
SECTION |. Be it enacted 10y the
Legislature of the State of Mississippi.
That Convention ofthe people of the
State be. and the same is hereby called
to meet in the Capitol, at the city of
jackson, on Tuesday, the 18th day of
August. 1883, for the purpose of franz
ing Constitution of the State.
SEC. =. Be it further enacted. That
Sdlu NbINtHtlOu Slldll tousISl vi lit
same number ofdelegates as there are
now members of the House of Repre-
sentativeS. and each and every COun-
ty shall have the same number of del
egatcs as they are entitled To members
of the House of Representatives under
the provisions of the present appor
tionment law, and said delegates shall
have the same qualifications us MEM
beers of the Legislature, and the Con-
vcntion shall he the judge of the quail
itications, election and return of said
delegates.
See. D. BE it further enacted, That
His Excellency. the Governor, be and
he is hereby authorized and required
to issue his Proclamation, sixty days
before the 3rd day of July, 1888, order
ing an election to be held in each and
every County in the State, on Tues
day. the said 3rd day of July. 1888,
for delegates to said Convention, to
convene at the city of Jackson, the
Capital of the State, on Tuesday, the
18th day of August. 1888, for the pur
pose of framing Constitution, as pro-
vided in Section ] of this Act; pro-
viied. however, that at the election
of said delegates the voters shall have
written or printed on their ballots, the
words 'For Convention or the words
against Convention" and if the
majority of those voting on the ques-
ton of holding or not holding a Con-
ventiOn, shall vote for Il Convention,
the Governor shall by proclamation so
declare. and order the delegates so
elected to assemble according to the
provisions of this Act; and if Il MAORI
ty of those voting on the question of
holding or not holding Convention,
shall be opposed to Convention,
it shall he the duty of the Governor,
by proclamation SO to declare. and
order that the delegates So elected do
not assemble ; and Convention shall
not he held.
SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That
the election of delegates to said Con-
vcnti0n shall be held and conducted by
and under the laws of this State, in the
same manner and at the same places
as elections for members of the Legisla-
ture are now held in this State; and
all persons who are qualified electors
entitled to vote at said election, and
the votes east mt said election. shall he
counted. certified and returned in the
same manner: and within the same
time and by the same officers, as now
provided by law in cases of a general
election, and certificates shall issue as
in election of members of the Iegisla-
ture, to such persons chosen as dele
gates to said Convention, receiving
the highest number of votes. And it
shall be the duty of the Secretary of
State to certify the result of said cleo
ton to the Governor within fifteen
days after the day of said election.
SEC. 5. BE it further enacted, That
said delegates shall be called to order
at ~ o'clock NJ, on the day herein
fixed therefor, by the Chief Justice, or
one of the Associate Justices of the
Supreme Court of the State, who, if
there be not il quorum present. shall
adjourn then to the same place, and
from day to day, until Il quorum shall
appear, and on the appearance of Il
quorum he shall administer to each of
them an oath to support the Constitu-
will not knowingly propose or support
any alteration or amendment of the
present Constitution of the State in
conflict with the Constitution of the
United States or any amendment
thereto, and each delegate shall take
and subscribe to said oath.
Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That
as soon as majority of the delegates
elect, shall have appeared and been
sworn, as provided in the foregoing
section, they shall then proceed to
elect their own presiding officer and
such other officers, employees and ser
wants as they, from time to time,
shall find necessary, and may fill all
vacancies that may occur, and if II
vacancy shall occur among the dele
gates, the same shall be filled, if prac-
ticable, in the same manner as like
vacancies are filed by law in cases of
vacancies in the Legislature.
SEC. 7. Be it further enacted, That
the Constitution as framed by said
Convention, shall be submitted to the
qualified electors of the State for
ratification or rejection, and shall not
be binding until the same shall have
been ratified by the qualified electors
of the State, and the said convention
shall prescribe the mode whereby the
sense of the qualified electors of the
State shall be taken and recorded.
SEC. 8. Be it further enacted, That
the compensation of the delegates to
Oh lA Il