The Chickasaw messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1880-1900, 1889-11-28
ron RATIFICATION.

Our theory is that this Is govern
ment Of the people, for the people and
by the people, and II the people are
qualified to select competent men TO
frame a constitution, they are qualified
to pass upon it after all the compro-
mises and concessions are made IN or
der to agree upon an organic law.
We care not therefore what precedent
may have been set heretofore in this
Stare or elsewhere, the MESSENGER
favors a Constitutional ConventioH,
and that the work Of the delegates
shall be re-submitted to the people for
their ratification or rejection. Let's
have no monkeying business about
this matter gentlemen, Il is too grave
a question 10 be dealt with lightly
and there should be nothing bid be-
hind the curtain; nothing mysterious
about il. The people want new
constitution because the old one franz
ed by corn-feld darkeys and carpet
bag adventures has outlived its day.
Il has been patched and patched until
like negro's shirt it has patch on
patch, and Mississippi should have
new, clean cut, unequivocal document
which fully and fairly expresses the
will Of her honest, law-abiding cit-
zens, aud one that cannot be miscon-
strued or misunderstood. Speaking
for large class OF our fellow citizens,
we want an elective judiciary, because
the system we now have is full Of IA
voritism aud ineficiency savors much
of the Capitalization idea and i in di-
rect conflict with the theory Of our
government which declares that an
power vested in the people, aud
that this poweris vested IN three de-
partments, an executive, a legislative
and a judiciary.
These departments of government
are said to be equal, coordinate aud
Independent Of each other. Such is
not the case in Mississippi and cannot
be so long as the Governor appoints
the Judiciary We believe that each
of these funeiionaries OF government
should derive his authority from the
same great source, the people, and be
amenable TO The people for his faith
ful discharge OF official duty.
The MESSENGER believes too that
our judicial system SHOULD be so
changed as to bring the courts nearer
the people and thereby facilitate tie
ends Of Justice. One Of the most dis
tiueuished jurists Of the State is quot
ed as saving, that for the twelve wears
he has served on the bench, more tinc
has been spent in determining wheth-
en- or not the litigant has sought his
remedy in the proper court, than IN
deciding on the meri.s Of the causes.
This is Simply iutolerable aud should
not be endured year longer.
The MEssENaER favors constitution
al limitation Of official tenure for the
Executive and that class Of public
servants, who handle the peoples
money.
Taxation should not only be al va
loren in theory bitt in fact The
thieving privilege tax system should
be abolished and the constitution
should explicitly prohibit The exemp.
ton Of any species Of property in the
hands of inaiYidnals or corporations
from taxation. Not only should the
power Of the executive be curtailed
but there should be constitutional re-
striciions thrown around the law
making power, for the protection Of
the public veal. One Of these should
positively prohibit the Legislature
from making appropriations in excess
Of the receipts of the State Govern
ment the year preceding, except in
cases Of epidemic or rebellion.
4 Are-apportionment Of the political
powers of the various departments Of
State should be engrafted in the new
constitution. and our election maehin-
cry re-adiusted on a basis that is just
to All classes ofour people, to the end
that full, free aud fair expression
Of the viii Of the people may be had.
The public school system should be
remoleled in the interests Of the COM
mon people, its political features abro-
gated, aud its wire pulling manipuIa-
tors aud hangers-on retired to the
shades Of private BE. n
These are tome IF ihe nIAH, clHR 81
the HrsseNliaa fleHfes n ned aeia
tour organic law, butthis Journal does