The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-04-18
JUDGE CAMPBELL'S PLAN.

J Having been requested 10 90 SO
Judge j. A. p. Campbell, of The
Supreme Court OF this Stale,
makes public the following plan
for vesting the government IF the
State and counties and electors of
intelligence, who own the country
by legal and proper methods:
Il am for vestIng the power of
governing the country in the elec-
tors possessing The intelligence and
property for The good of all, and
suggest, as sure mears of doing
this, to preserve the right to vote
OF every one now entitled, and 10
add Il provision that every such
qualified elector shall he entitled
TO cast one additional vote for each
forty or eight acres OF land owned
by him or his vile, in the county
of his residence, and one addition
al vote for every five hundred or
one thousand dollars of real est ate
less tlan forty acres owned by him
or his wife. where he does not own
more. The details of The plan
may Ue easily adjusted. The guam
tilyof land may be any number of
acres determined on, and the value
of The homestead in town or cOun-
try, but amounting 70 the quantity
of land prescribed, may be fixed
50 as 10 preserve the proper ratio.
In order 20 prevent the few very
large land owners from undue pow
er as voters, a maximum number
of additional votes, so as TO strike
a general advantage of the com
try, may he prescribed. For in
stance, If the real estate posses
sions is, say four hundred acres,
and eighty acres should be adopt
ed as the basis for an additional
vote, let the greatest NUMBER of
, additional votes onea may cast be
five; If forty acres be the basis, the
limit would be ten additional votes.
This scheme consists perfectly
! with The Constitution OF the United
) States, and with the ornamental
condilins" of The act of Congress
admitting Mississippi 10 represent
alton in the Congress Of The United
States. 1t deprives no one of Il
vote. 1t applies and, operates in
favor of the negro, as well as the
white. 1t simply seizes upon eX-
lsting conditions, and places the
governing power in the hands of
, the intelligent voters and land
owners of The country. It'll world
at once, and beyond doubt and
contingency, because of existing
conditions, secure the overWlIelm-
ing supremacy and control, in
every county in Mississippi,
to the whites. Adopt this, and
we may have free and full vote,
and fair count, without'fear of The
result; unless we are afraid TO
commit the government 10 white
electors Of intelligence and real
estate possessions in The country.
If deemed wise this scheme may
be confined to the election of
State and county officers. Other
useful provisions, such as longer
residence in the State, county and
precinct, and payment of required
tax, as condition of voting, may
be added, and TO meet the case of
men of intelligence, who are not
| land owners, additional votes may
be allowed for educational qualifi-
cation. The whole matter may be
adjusted, with the plan outlined as
a basis, consistently with every
useful device to further the great
object of all patriots.
a secondary and subordinate ef-
feet of this plan, and one of the
greatest value, would be its ten
doncy TO agcrandlze land owners,
and TO stimulate the desire for it,
because of The importance to be
derived from such ownership. The
yeomany of the country would
govern it. This would avoid the
necessity of changing the basis of
representation, as proposed by
some. 1t would dispense with all
indirect methods. 1t solves the
great question OH a just basis, and
has advantages too numerous TO
mention now. No fears need be
entertained as 10 the practical
workings OF 1t, for all evils may be-
guarded against, and any supposed
difficulty removed.
Our claim is that the intelligence
and wealth of the South are chiefly
with the whites and, therefore,
, they should govern IN the interest
, of all classes. Let US embody this
|. in our Constitution, and secure the
i result We prefer 10 desire. | shall
rejoice to see this plan improved
, on, and am ready to embrace a
better one when suggested. | offer
, this as the best that has occurred
! TO me, as basis upon which to
, build, and hope it will be fairly
: considered by the intelligent and
patriotic, and such use made of it
r as il merits"