The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1890-07-12
orx GEORGES VIEWS.
Remarkable That Have
Been Presented.
:, p,p1cAL CHANGES SUGGESTED.
- Elect Representatives by Towns and
oal utilities, a Governor by the Legis-
Iature, with Power TO Appoint
The Other State Officers.

Isnd four great truths, which, in my
hiiu no uindgment. furnish the sure guides
,a.t ay'loTb lWTbat good government in Mississip-
AN nT', come only from the predomlnance OF
ssance Gun Ip and political power in the white
Eoea.ond,-That such predominance must be
secgndI ecInd IN the essential truth of the equality
untihr l!ntinr mower. of all who are entitled to
Thrd 1raSde, That the civil and political rights
lIn lnLi ooolorad race, as guaranteed by the
the ales,tution tUif1 of the United States, are not
~ 5danied or abridged. but protected.
" y, tncanacity must be acknowledged and
tnl stadad against to the end that their rights
,he rights of the other race may be pro-
Irpi ,oIrTpritb,-That the end sought to be attain
K the framing OF a goVelninent. SUBJECT
.ho limitations of the Constitution Of the
ted States with such forms and endowed
~ such mowers, as shall make it the fit
rnment TO protect life, liberty and pro-
Nv and secure the advancement and
HIRE Of all the people of Mississippi.
IA meet the two first, and in TACT all four
tbese requirements, there is no other
,"tirable mode, known to me, than a re-
N 10 the spirit of the constitution OF 1872.
Snn that adjust the political forces of the
e, by legislative apportionment which
n vesf the power to control by law the
,tnes of the people OF the state, IN consult
noies which are capable of self-govern-
ThS IPt details by which this is to be worked
tis Of necessity "a matter of compromise
dadiustmcnt, after full and fair delibera-
nv conducted in that spirit, which seeks
rno one section of the State, as section,
nj as against another section, an undue
are of power. The spirit of such an adjust
Snt should be and must be, If it ever be
ttnJ.iplIInI
fesI considerations it must be to secure
state and her people good government
|rd that alone Such an apportionment of
fSislatiye power is in my Judgment, the
fundamental necessity of the situation.
Bv the constitution of 1872, under which
e lived and prospered Tor thirty years the
|rnciple of city or town representation was
FrOgnized This principle might be extend
n % as to embrace other subdivisions of
Nnntips, In this way those counties or
qctions which would lose in their relative
+olitical power might be very largely COM
epsated. The object would be to secure
afe constituencies in whom the legislative
aver Gv gUrl Of the state should be vested And in
0ualizing as far as may be the political in
Fnence and power of the different sections of
he State ii might be so ordered that whcr-
yer a safe constituency of reasonable num-
ers could be found, it should have repre-
$entatiOn
| Nv IliS nlHh or Sb1ilt flDulHtdtlbh VI u,
i to detail. we could secure u legislature at
east elected by responsible and safe constit-
lencies.
Itisa question worthy of serious consi-
3eratiOn whether the convention ought to
tOp here, merely securing good and capa-
felegislature, without going further ana
attempting te secure also-by the same
neans-g6od and safe executive, As to
Ehether we should go farther, or stop here,
depends on so many considerations indcpen-
lent of the merit of the questions involved
ID the measure itself. express no opinion
here are considerations. however. OF great
vsight which may here be noticed.
It may be argued on the one side that Civ
g to the legislature the power to elect the
Gyern0r would be depriving the people OF
% essential right to select their own rulers
| md that such election by so small a body
EOuld tend to the formation of coteries and
| rings in politics, by which the offices ana
lmOrs Of the State would be monopoliZcd'
. aud the interest of the great mass OF the
4 people be neglected and even positively DIS
| regarded.
On the other hand it may be argued that
| itWOuld be wise--in view of the incapacity
|Of a majority of the voters in the state, tC
vest in the legislature the power to elect inc
Governor or to provide for an electoral
body chosen by the same constituencies a>
elect the legislature, and in that body vest
the election of Governor.
The other State officers might be elected as
the Governor is. Should it be determined
however, to elect the Governor by the Legls-
lature it will be worthy Of consideration
whether the Governor should not be maze
responsible for the whole administration
advice Of the Senate.
1t is worthy also of serious consideration
whether in both State and county offices
except judges, the Governor should no.
nave the power of removal whenever in hf
Judgment the public interests demands 1t
In case Of removal he should have the powel
0t filling the vacancy by appointment To-
the uneXpired term.
When consider the character of the ma
lorlty of the population of some of the coun
ties in this State. and when | further con
.ider that by no kind of limitation Of SUI
irage, can this majority be made safe depo
stories Of political power deem this poWe
vested in the Governor as of essential i'm
pOrtance to the preservation OF any sort o
economical government in those localities
influence may prevail this year or mex
year. to prevent wasteful administration
0ut the time may come and will come whel
this conservative power in the governmen
Will be of the highest Importance.
twill be objected to that this power Of re
mnoyal gives the Governor too much power
admit it gives him u great deal; but /
gives him less power in one State than TN
constitution Of the United States gives tn
resident In every one of the forty-tW
States. If 1t be feared that he will use thi
power to advance his own political fortune
prevent it by proper form Of his inaugura
non oath, and by making him ineligible t
reelection for four years. IL it is feare'
mat would not be sufficient, then make hin
ineligible to any Office for four years afte
ne has ceased to be Governor.
! come now to the consideration NOR
a n N n iYla nd
upon which our action in the convention
must be based--namely: that the rights
civil and political, Of the colored race, a
guaranteed in the Constitution OF the Unite
states must not be denied or abridged. bu
projected; and that the aim of the conven
heht, progress and welfare of both races
Every man who has held an office or re
glstered as voter in Mississippi since 1867
mas taken an oath to support the Constitu
.on n OF the United States. We must obe
tnisconstitution or violate our oaths alread
TAKEN aken, We must obey the constitution Il
~, seii, and obey it in good faith. That Consti
tuition declares ''the right of citizens OF tn
Sbnlted sb,,tsed states to vote shall not be denied Q
abridged by the United States or any stat
vh VI account OF race, color or previous cond
t,on don OF servitude." and that no State sha
qSeny tSny 10 any person within its jurisdictio
oae, oae equal protection Of the. laws" Ou
sss@eredly observed and for one, whether /
Vmce ,h or in private life. l propose to redcell
M ms solemn pledge in letter and in spirl
aoenable us to so redeem IL with safety
ourselves w and to our colored fellow-citizen
,"hust "e must have a government so organized
wo W. pe capable of performing the legitimat
IWof ImWSrk OF goyernment--the protection Of lif
iperty and property. When we secure sue
n,eov government the task will be easy, but
difPcn1ee dSitfSPoSe 70 perform 1t whether 1t be easy