Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-12-07
The Convention Question.
MACON. Miss. Nny- 30

"i7o', ANV'- w., 1000
Editor Of the Clarion.Ledger:
As Il Constitutional Convention ,
this State will probably be called
lhenear future, and as that Conventio
will be called upon to fix the oualiic,
ton of office holders. il becomes in
portam for lis to inquire as to no,
lar we may safely 20 in that regard.
1oHr correspondents on this subice
so far as | have noticed. are all nWar
OF the Siriclions laid upon lis bv III
Fifteenth Amendment to the Fedora
Constitution. They all seem t. h
aware Of the fact that we cannot den,
to any citizen Of the United States ,hI
fl4ht to vote en- account of his race
color or previous condition Of scryi
'uae. hut many of them seem 10 ihiuE
we may safely deny the right of yot
Tag to those who may be wanting il
such educational or property qualiti
rH'loh us we may prescribe, anl
mat rs 20 III" right OF holding otlic,
we may go further and restrict il ia
the white race. They are prrhnp.
right if there are no restrictions upon
Us except those imposed by the Fed
trhi Constitution, hrt undoubtcdly
congress at II time attempted IT,
subject us to other restrictions.
by an act entitled AN act to admit
inc State of Mississippi to representa-,
ton III the congress OF the United
States approved February 20, 1870.
ny virtue o! which we are relieved
from the thraidom ola Military row.
cF'hent and permitted to exercise pre-
negatives OF u State in the Union, il III
provided that the State Of Mississippil
Is admitted 10 representation in Con.I
Sress as one Of the States olthp Tuioul
upon the following fundamental con !
aiiions:
First thai the Constitution Of Miss.l
'>siPp' slia!l never be so amended orr
changed as TO deprive any c~itizcns
at the United States Of the right toE
vote who are entitled to vote by thre
Constitution herein recognized (ourh
present Constitutions
%"Sefond, that it shall never be law \
iul tor the said State to DEPRIVE anvil
cl''zon OF the United States ON &C I
count OF his race, color or prcviousE
condition OF servilulc, of the right tok
mold Office under the Constitution andE /;
or said State, or upon any sucl 3
ground to require cf him any othcrE
qualification for Office than snch as mr., 3
required Of all other citizens, &
IN my Judgment, the Federal COM )
Stltull0n contcmplatcs . union oiE
STATES, each possessing equal powcrH
WIN the others with reference to i'm
'wn organic laws and each possess-E
.ng the power to amend or change itsH
'rSan'c law so as to give or deny thcE
elective franchise to any class. at will :
only to the restrictions con Z
alhcd in the Federal Constitution 4
'h,ch pears equally upon all the states N
Iild hence | believe the said act of ron m
trsSs TO be in violation of the FcdcralH
and void. But IA. tbatE
'ci ever been declared uncunstitutiou b
= ny the cotrts-or repealed or modi ~
Icu by Congress? # not. have ", N
'o' reasons to apprehcnd that whcnH
chhnGc our present constitutions
''lh reference TO the qualification otEa
"irrs, or the qualification of olGccE
oldcrS, a partizan congress will say! =,
our representatives. and senatorsH
our STATE has violated the conditioning
pom which you were entitled 70 rem. 81
'scht her here and We will not adnit@
on as her representatives.
| nope no man will MISUNDERSTANDING,
10. shall rejoice to see the nccrsso.E
reforms in our organic laws if m,E
pprchcnsions in the premises can bcH>
sincerely hope they mavM
e.. hope some well infol med manE
III show me that my fears are ground nj
SIS, If That be- done | shall crrtaiul,M
Vor, NOT an educational but a propcr.M\
quaiiiirntion. | shall favor such T.
langes in our present constitution ~
w restrict the right of voting apdy
'illng Office to those who are %froe.
'lIers in this state or arc the legit,-H
descendants, immediate or rc-N
Is fecn I?anftnr who is W. ,9M
froo hn, "'yAiA l~as..Afrty wears ~
= nolucrTs Or some otbor ,'c4
c fnitrd States, o'her OH
Respectfully submitted.
H.. e. Rty,n n