Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1890-08-28
SUFFRAGE IN MISSISSIPPI.

The constitutional convention of
Mississippi is still wrestling with
the question of political suffrage.
In fact that is the only real issue
whose urgency gave rise to the ne
cessity for holding the convention.
and when it is determined the con-
vention will have accomplished the
all-important task set before it.
Other changes may be needed in the
constitution and some other impor-
tant alterations may be made, but
the question of suffrage so conferred
and regulated as to prevent the
Africanization of the state is the
great problem. And the member
who shall suggest a way out of the
difficulty will deserve the profound
gratitude of his people and will
richly merit the appellation of
statesman. The convention seems
to have hit upon popular senti-
ment which is contained in a propo-
sition to confer the franchise upon
women. The idea is embodied in
the following resolution introduced
by delegate:
"Resolved, that it is the sense Of
this convention that it is condition
necessary to the solution Of the
franchise problem that the right to
vote shall be secured by a proper
constitutional enactment to every
woman who shall have resided in
this state six months, and who shall
be q years of age or upward, and
who shall own or whose husband, if
she has a husband, shall own real
estate situated in this state of the
clear value of $500 over and above
all membranes. The vote of
every woman voting in any election
shall be cast by some male elector
who shall be thereunto authorized
in writing by such woman so en-
titled to vote, such constitutional
enactment not to be framed so as to,
grant to women the right to hold
Office"
By providing that the women
shall vote by proxy the objection
that the white women would have
to degrade themselves in scramble
at the polls in order to exercise the
right is obviated and the casting of
their votes is assured. Female suf-
frage with a property qualification
would put the whites in a big ma
jority. 1t is said that the woman
suffrage idea is growing in favor
among the best minds of the conyen-
ton, and that unless safety from ne
gro supremacy can be reached by
other methods the plan suggested
to confer female suffrage or one sim
liar will be adopted. The most en-
barrassing feature of the whole
question, however, is to be found in
the existing relations between the
state and federal government, as
fixed by the conditions under which
Mississippi was readmitted into the
union under reconstruction. The
enabling act under which the state
was restored expressly provides that
neither by constitutional provision
nor by statutory enactment shall
there ever be an educational or
property qualification for the right
vi suffrage be prosecuted This.
says the Memphis Avalanche, raises
two distinct issues: First-Did
the enabling act carry the weight
and force of mandate of the feder-
al constitution Second-Did the
acceptance of the terms of the en-
abling act by Mississippi amount to
a permanent or even a temporary
surrender of the power of self-gov-
eminent inherent in each and all of
the states of the union? Neither of
these issues has been judicially de-
termined, and the convention will
have to meet and adjust them on its
own judgment.