The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1888-02-02
The Governor Veto of the Con-
stitutional Convention Bill
Sustained.

On last Friday night, after two
days discussion of the Governors veto
of the Constitutional Convention bill
by the Senate. the House in which the
bill originated, the veto was sustained
and the measure defeated.
Those voting to pass the bill over
the head of the Governor were: Bar
ron. Boone. Boothc. Cameron, Dean,
billiard. Groves. Gully, Kemp, Me
Leod, Marshall, Montgomery, Morris,
Ross. Turnage, Walker, Wood and
Iergcr-19. Those voting to sustain
the Governor were: Bachelor, Bin
ford, Buchanan, Burdine, Casey,
Cutrer, Dodds, Guice, Houston, Love,
Luse, Martin, Nelson, Taylor,
Thrashcr, Williamson-16. Absent,
not voting: Fairly, Ford. Mcdonald,
Seal and Wilson, and the bill was lost,
not receiving the necessary two
thirds.
OF those who voted for the passage
of the bill originally only McssrS.
Love and Nelson changed, and
Messrs. Wilson, Fairly, Ford and
Mcdonald were absent thus it will
he seen that with the exception of
Senator Guicc, who alone voted
against the bill originally, and of
Messrs. Love and Nelson who chang
ed, the other sixteen votes in favor of
sustaining the Governor were cast
by Senators who were absent. Upon
the passage of the bill Messrs. Gully
and Ross, who were absent when the
bill passed, voted to override the veto.
4 large number of the Senators
made strong speeches pro and con,
those especially distinguishing them
selves for the bill being Senators
Walker, Kemp and billiard, and
Senators Martin and Dodds against.
The debate was closed by Senator
Walker, who said that if this bill was
as dead as was asserted by Senator
Martin, that it would rise again and
come back from the people to torment
the dreams of its murderers.
The majority attribute their defeat
and the overthrow of the peoples
cause to the influence and manipula-
tons of the powers that be, Il large
feature of which they assert was the
influence of the judicial officers, many
of whom were present from their
districts, and it is claimed were fight
ing the bill.
1t is said the contest will not be
abandoned. With IA majority of both
houses, this is the paramount question
of the session, and it is not intended
that the will of the people shall trail
i'll the dust. New music will be heard
in few days. The New Mssiss-
ippian says another bill to allow the
people to vote on the question of hold
ing IA Constitutional Convention will
be introduced in the House. 1t will
meet the principal objections of the
Governor, and force him, if he vetoes
it, to veto it on other grounds. Among
other changes it will provide that the
election be held next year instead Of
this.
The present constitution was given
the State in 1869, and confers ex-
traordinary powers upon the Governor.
He has the appointing of the entire
judiciary of the State, and there is no
limit to his tenure of Office, he being
perpetually eligible for reelection.
He is vested absolutely with the
power to pardon every convict in the
State at his will. He has the power,
and uses it to retain bills passed by
the Legislature and sent him inside of
five days before the adjournment of
the Legislature, reserving to himself
the privilege of signing them at any
time during the twenty-five months
that the Legislature is absent.
TO divorce the Judiciary and the
executive, to limit the tenure of the
Governor, to establish board of par
dons or otherwise relieve the eXecu-
tive of this great responsibility; to re-
strict the powers of other officers, to
abolish the chancery judges and
cheaper the judiciary system, to have
Il constitutional provision regarding
convict labor, and to in some wise dis
pose of the prohibition question, are
some of the reasons urged by the
friends of constitutional convention,
as well as to consider the suffrage
question, in which no radical measure
would be considered for moment.
The opposition of the otficeholding
class, almost without exception, has
prevented any change up to this time;
they propose amendments to be sub
mitted simply to confuse and preserve
the present status, but in the end the
will of the people will triumph.
A Splendid Appointment.
1t is with peculiar pleasure that we
make the announcement that our
talented friend and neighbor, A. H.