Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-18
MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION.
All the Suffrage Propositions Inadequate to
Meet the Present Emergency.


JACKSON, MISS. Sept. l4.-Now that
NEST of the debate has been cleared away
from the atmosphere of the constitutional
convention, it may not be untimely to
give short review of the work done
The perplexities that surround the suf-
frage problem seem to have increased
with the discussion. The debate of the
past ten days has developed powerful OPP
position to either an educational or prop
erty qualification, and the delegates of
the white counties are uueom-
promising IN their hostility to
such restriction of suffrage.
They maintain that large numbers of
their white constituents. will be dis
frauchised by the engraftine of such
suffrage Limitations upon the constitution
and a serious sehsm in the Democratic
ranks is imminent If Crsm IS amendment
which embodies that idea is carried
through. The delegates from the Black
counties contend on the other hand that
the situation is desperate and demand
heroic remedies. Four plans of settling
the suffrage question have been proposed,
and neither one of the four has met with
the preponderance of support necessary
to harmonious adjustment of the
question. The committee TO whom was
entrusted the task of formulating a suf-
frage plan submitted a plan which its
chairman announced did not reflect the
views of any considerable majority of the
committee, but represented basis of
compromise which was thought to be the
best settlement possible in view of the
divergent views that prevailed. The re-
port is divided into three branches-ap-
portionment, franchise and electoral
college.
Under the superintendent plan the
state is gerrymandered, giving prepon-
derance of power to tine poorer white
counties and taking from the rich black
counties which pay the heaviest share of
the taxas large portion of their sover-
eighty.
The electoral college plan makes an
electoral college of the lower house
of the legislature and its prov
ince Is to elect all state
officers in accordance with the wishes of
the people as expressed at the primaries,
each county TO have as many votes in the
ELECTORAL college as it has representa-
tives in the house.
The franchise branch of the report
limits the right to vote TO those who have
resided two years in the state, one IN the
county and have prepaid poll tax of 81.
1t also prescribed system of voting
modelled upon the Australian plan. OBJ
jections TO the report are reflected in the
speeches of tho Sc who have opposed it.
The black counties demur to the abridge-
ment of their sovereignty. Others insist
that the proposed educational ouaiifea-
ton is temporary expedient and that in
few years the danger of negro domina-
ton and the consequent financial ruin
of the state will be greater than ever.
The Australian ballot system is
criticised as easily evaded and wholly
inadequate to meet the present emer-
gency. The report is also objected to
because il makes no provision for white
supremacy IN county government, which
is considered to be of weightier import
ance than executive or legislative con-
troll.
Unless change comes over the spirits
of the convention, 1t will have assembled
in vain.