The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-20
WHITE RULE BY BALLOT.
MISSISSIPPPS FIGHT AGAINST
APPROXIMATION.

Delegates to the Constitutional Con
vention Suggest Plans to Ward Of
the Threatened Dangsr-1he Whites
willing to Make Political Sacrifices
to Maintain Their Supremacy.
JACKSON, Mss. Aug. 19.-The usual
batch of amendments regulating suffrage
was submit ted to the constitutional conven-
ton to-day, but no new features were pre-
sented except in resolutions offered by
Delegates Paxton of Washington and
Thompson of Lincoln. Mr.. Paxton's reso-
buttons read as follows:
RESOLVED, l. That the rapid increase Of the
negro population in the Yazoo delta threatens
the afrlcanizing of the state Of Mississippi.
? That the threatened danger will be
most safely met by TIE apportionment of a
representation which Will vest the power Of the
state in white constituencies.
5. Assuming that the membership, of the
House of Representatives, is reduced to 100,
Resolved, Tn It to maintain white supremacy
and consequent good government in the state
of Mississippi it is essential that several coun-
ties in the Yazoo delta be limited to one member
in the House of Representatives.
Resolved, That TO permanently maintain
good government in said counties 1t is essential
that all the county officers be filed by executive
appointment, as the governor may be advised
by primary nominating convention regulated
by law.
FULL OF SIGNIFICANCE.
As Mr.. Paxton is representative Of one of
the counties where the negroes largely out
number the whites. his resolutions are re-
garded as indicative of a willingness on the
part of the people he represents to make
political sacrifices in order 10 avert negro
supremacy.
Delegate Thompson's proposition is that
the state be divided in twelve grand politi-
cal divisions composed OF six or seven coun-
ties, each of which divisions shall elect ten
representatives and two senators TO serve
in the legislature, and that all state officers
shall be elected by twelve state electors APP
pointed by the aforesaid twelve political dl-
visions.
Delegate McLauren of Rankin raised
laugh by offering an amendment providing
that no person convicted of wife-beatlng
shall be qualified for an elector.
VIEWS OF THE REPUBLICANS.
The views of the republicans of the con-
vention are probably indicated by the plan
OF suffrage submitted to-day by Judge
Simrall of Vicksburg, who was chief
justice of Mississippi under republican
rule. Judge Simral g plan provides as a
qualification for voters residence or two
years in the state, one year in the county
and the payment of the poll tax. II also
prescribes the Australian system as the
method under which all elections shall De
held
THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK YET.
The most important business vet trans
acted by the convention was the passage of
q resolution providing that the judiciary |
committee be delegated to make & special |
report to this convention at as early day |
as possible upon the effect of the act of
congress readmitting Mississippi into the |
union, limiting the right of Mississippi to
impo g certain restrictions upon the right |
of franchise and otherwise prohibiting the |
state from changing the constitution of the |
state of Mississippi adopted in 1869, so far |
as said act shall affect the work of the con- |
vention.
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 eminence,
with W. P. Paris, the recognized head of
the profession in this state, as chairman.
Their conclusions will be accepted by the
convention as the highest authority, and
are awaited with extraordinary interest.
A CONTEST FOR SEATS.
The report of the committee on tho con- |
tested election cases of Messrs. Moore and |
Pearman of Bolivar against Messrs. Melcher |
and Montgomery was presented to-day. |
The majority report of three members of |
the committee favored the contestants. and |
the minority Of two reported in favor of |
the contestees This case involves the title |
to seat of T. L. Montgomery, former
slave of Jefferson Davis, and the only
colored man in the convention. The case |
was laid over till tomorrow for debate.
Tue proceedings will doubtless be invested
with dramatic interest