Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-21
THE MISSISSIPPI CONVENTION.
Another Batch of Amendments Regu-
lating the Question of Suffrage.


JAcEsoN. Miss, August 19.-The usual
batch of amendments regulating the sui
trage was submitted 10 the constitutional
convention to-day. but no new features
were presented except IN the resolutions
offered by Delegates Paxton, Of Washing
ton, and Thompson. OF Lincoln. PaxtOns
resolutions read as follows:
Rcs0ird. ]. That the rapid increase Of the
negro population in the YaZoo Delta threat
ems the Attenuation Of The State OF Mis-
sIssiupl.
2. That the threatened danger will be
most safely met by such an apportionment
Of representation rs will vest the POWER
of the State IN the white constituencies.
3. Assuming that the membership the
Houee of Representative is reduced 10 100;
resolved 10 maintain white supremacy ana
consequently good government in the
State OF Mississippi, IL Is essential that the
several counties in the NaZoO Delta be
Limited % one member in the House oil
Representatives.
4. That 10 permanently maintain good
government in the said counties IT Is es,,
sential that all the county Offices be filled
10y executive appointment. as the Cover
nor may be advised by the primary nomi-
nation conventions regulated by law.
To AVERT NEGRO SUPREMACY.
the counties where the negroes largely
outnumber the whites his resolutions are
regarded as indicative of the willingness
on the part of the people he represents to
make political sacrifices in order to avert
negro supremacy. Delegate ThOmpson's
proposition is that the State be divided
into twelve grand political divisions com
posed of six or seven counties each. which
divisions shall each elect ten representa-
tives and two senators 10 serve in the
State Legislature: that all State officers
shall be elected by the twelve State elect
org appointed by the aforesaid twelve
grand political divisions.
wIFE-BEArERs NOT TO VOTE.
DELEGATE McLaren. Of Rankin. raised a
laugh by Offering an amendment provld-
ing that no person convicted of wife beat
ing shall hereafter be a qualified elector
ThisAresolution is based on theory that
many negroes are wife-beaters.
THE REPUBLICAN PLAN.
The views Of the Republican members
Of the convention are probably indicated
bv the plan of suffrage submitted to-day
bv Judge Simrall. Of Vicksburg, who was
Chief Justice Of Mississippi under Repub-
lican rule. Judge Simralls plan provides
"A a qualification for voters n residence OF
two years IN the State, one year IN the
county, and the payment Of poll-taX. 1t
also prescribes the Australian system as
the method under which all elections
shall be held.
IMPORTANT RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
The most important business yet trans
acted bv the convention was the passage
Of ares0lution providing that the Judiciary
Committee be requested to make special
report 20 this convention at a. early "a day
as possible upon the effect OF the act OF
Congress readmitting Mississippi into the
Union. limiting the right of Mississippi 10
impose certain restrictionsupOn the right OF
the franchise, and OF otherwise prohibiting
the State from changing the Constitution
of the State Of Mississippi adopted in 1869,
SO far as the said act shall affect the work
OF this convention.
The report Of the Judiciary Committee
upon this point will shape the course Of
the convention. The Judiciary Committee
Is composed of eighteen lawyers of emil
nent ability. with Wiley p. Harris. the re-
cognized head of the profession in this
State. as chairman.
Their conclusions will beaccepted by the
convention as of the highest authority,
and are awaited with extraordinary in
teTest.
The report Of tho committee on the con-
tested-election cases of Moore and Pear
man. of Bolivar, against Melchar ard Mont
gomerv was presented to-day. The ma
iority report Of three members OF the COM
mittee favored the contestants, the mi
uority Of two reported IN favor Of the con
tcstees.
FORMER SLAVE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.
This case involves the title TO the seat of
/. T. Montgomery, q former slave Of Jeher-
son Davis. and the only cOlored man at the
convention. The case was laid over until
tomorrow for debate and as Montgomery
Will plead his own case, the proceedings
will doubtless be invested with dramatic
interest.
JACKSON. Miss, August 20.-The entire
session OF the constitutional convention
to-day was consumed in the discussion Of
the cOntested-electiOn case of Moore and
Pear1uan Democrats against Melcher and
Montgomery (Republicans) all Of Bolivar
county, where the negroes are in the ma
jOrity.
Although the election committee. by a
majority of 3 20 2, reported in favor of the
contestants the convention decided in
favor Of the contestees 10y vote of 70 TO
%. Montgomery, the only colored men,
Der of the convention, fayors the Austria
lan-ballot system, the prepayment of poll
taxes, and longer period of residence for
voters.