The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-04-25
S0ME SUGGESTIONS TO THE CONSTI-
TUTIONAL CONVENTION.
PINEY WOODS, Miss, April Is, 1890.

PINEY WOODS, MISS, April Is, 1890.
Editor Democrat-Star:
Happening TO be in Judge
H-'s neighborhood not along
az, | called upon his Honor, and
finding he was at leisare. spent two
or three hours with hf4N, aderiying
both pleasure and instruction from
my visit. or course we had talk.
Among other subjects we touched
upon the probable results of the
lahors of The coming Constitution
al Convention. Tne Judges sug-
gestions in regard to a number OF
much needed changes, both in the
organic and statutory laws of the
State, disclosed comprehensive
knowledge of the subject that sur
prised me, and gave rise TO a wish
on my part that goodly number
Of men with similar views might
be sent to the Convention. lie
thinks there is much Improvement
in the prevailing methodod5 under
the present Constitution and laws.
During our talk he took from his
desk an ominons looking book,
which proved to be the Code OF
1880, and alter reading several sec
lions, cited some instances OF in
consistency and injustice in the
present system as it pert aims to his
office. I quote his own language
as near AS | can remember.
He promised by asserting that
justices of the peace are very use.
| ml men, and that the State is large
lv indebted TO them for the peace
; and quiet prevailing throughout It's
length and breadth and that they
are not justly treated. He went
on TO show, from the Code, that al
though the law declares a Justices
court 10 be a court of record, with
power to enforce its mandates and
maintain its dignity, yet the law
withhOl0s the most essential pass
port to recognition OF its acts, VIZ ::
a seal. That every oIher court Of
record in the State is not only au-
thorlzed, but is required 10 use a
seal to give validity to its acts
that the process Of every such court
without the impress of its seal is
Illegal and void. That notaries
public who are not vested with Ju-
dicial authority, and are not in any
respecs courts or judges, are re-
duired 10 use seal-by use OF
which their acts are held to be
valid and authentic, and are re-
cognized in every State OF the
! Union, and in foreign countries.
Whereas The acts of q justice OF
the peace (whOse court according
to law is court of record J must
be holstered up by certificate OF
his official character from an OH
cial achO has a seal Otherwise his
acts are ignored, except in his own
or some adjoining counties. So
much for consistency, lie then
cited an instance Ofiniustice on the
part of the State towards her mag
istrates in requiring them to per-
form a considerable amount Of la
Dor. attended with more or less ex-
pense out of their own pockets,
without fee or hope of reward. A
failure to perform if, insures the
inaiciion of severe penalties. The
Judge paused a few moments as II
in deeD thought, and then remark
ed that as the State very properly
prohibits its citizens and every
body else within its borders from
taking, receiving or approprlatlng
from others, anything OF value,
whether it be money, property or
services rendered, without just
compensation, and arrogates to IT.
self the right 10 take something
for nothing from its magistrates,
was beyond his comprehension.
That while the law is ngld in re-
quiring citizens and others to dis
charge their honest obligations
the State recompenses its magis
trates with-repudiation.
| shall long remember his con
Guiding remark, that liberty an(
! equality before the law are vouch
safed to all citizens (both plain anC
colored) except the magistrates
They have the first, but not tn
last. With the Judges permis
sion, this is given as a morsel o
, food for reflection to all who fee
! ! an interest in the honor of th
State, trusting it Will receive du
: consideration. Consistency Is
= Jewel, and honesty it the best pol
CIV for States as well as individual
RUSTICUS.