The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-21

tahoochee rivers ana pOunueu Oh the
south by the thirty first parallel of lati-
tude and on the north by a line drawn
due east from the mouth of the Yazoo
river, was organized into the Misslsslp
ri Territory in pursuance of an act OF
congress approved April !, 1903 After
wards. in 1904, the country lying south
of the state of Tennessee and north Of
the original Mississippi Territory was
added: and III 1912 that portion OF the
present states Of Alabama and Missis-
sippi lying south of the thirty-hrst de
gree of latitude was annexed. Missis-
sippi became state in 1slt and Alaba-
ma was then separated from it. This
historic statement at the outset will ex-
plain why several matters pertaining to
suffrage III municipalities not now in
the state, are hereinafter mentioned.
The organic law Of the territory en-
acted that the people thereof should "be
entitled to and enjoy all and singular the
rights, privileges and advantages gran
ted to the the people of the territory OF
the United States, northwest of the
river Ohio. in, and by the ordinance OF
of the thirteenth day of July in the
wear one thousand seven hundred and
eighty seven, in rs full and ample man,
ner as the same are possessed and ell,
ioyed by the people of the said last
mentioned territory, and thus in oul
investigation of the subject we are led
to examined he ordinance referred to,
and which we find in the statutes en-
titled An ordinance for the govern,
ment Of the territory Of the United
States, northwest Of the river Ohio, tc
see if it contains any provision relative
to suffrage. We find it, and the words
of this celebrated ordinance are as fol
lows: $50 soon as there shall be five
thousand free male inhabitants, OF full
age, in the district, upon giving proof
thereof to tine governor, they shall 70
ceive authority, with time and place
to elecp, representatives. from thell
counties or townships, to represent
them in the general assembly: provided
that for every five. hundred free male
inhabitants, there shall be one repre-
sentative, and so on progressively witt
the number of free male inhabitants
shall the right Of representation IN
crease. until the number of representa-
tives shall amount to twenty five; attel
which the number and proper
ton of representatives shall b.
regulated by the legislature
Provided that no person be elg
Bile or qualified 10 act as a representa-
tive unless he shall have been a citizel
of the United States three years, AM
be resident in the district, or unles
he shall have resided in the dis
trict three years, and 10 eithe
case, shall likewise hold in hi
right, in fee simple, two hundred acre
of land within the same; Provided
also. that a freehold Of fifty acres Q
land in the district, having been a cltl
zen of one of the states, and bein
resident in the district, or the like free
Z hold, and two years residence in the dis
trict shall be necessary to qualify ma
as an elactor of representative"
With all due respect to the fathers
nothing in statutory language could b
more awkward; the reading of it, how
ever. will serve to remind us nhat tn
modern legislator cannot claim orig
..ne...:ty for his hobitual use of the wor
provided as Introductory to amene
ments. ana with which to string HI
IDEAS together.
The last Of the three provisos is nece
sarily Limitation on the free ma
inhabitants, of full age. mentioned
the beginning Of the section, since thel
is no provision in the ordinance for I'll
election of any officers save represents
tives to the general assembly; all oth'
officers in the scheme Of govelnmei
there provided We're appointive' A
analysis Of the laws of 1877, which ev
IDENTIFY must be the basis OF suffrage
number of states as well as MISSISSIPPI
shows that to entitle a person to vo
under our first suffrage law must hay
been /. free, .. male, 3 Of full age, pr
sumably Il wears, 1, citizen Of the Un
ted States ard resident of the territol
or resident for two years in the teri
tory ana 5. freeholder of fifty acres
land in the district.
While this organic law was IN tof
Of course the territorial legislation "
confined. 90 far as our subject is co
cc,ned, to municipal suffrage, but
have thought reference thereto n
without the scope Of this paper sin
such legislator, Perhaps more than al
other bein q Ia, ur,trammelled as genei
rule by unyieldiug constitutional
strictions, throws light upon the spir
temper ana thoughts Of the people
the subiess Of the enactment.
Before the amendment Of the organ
law herein iiext inenti toned find but Q
piece Of Encli legislation; by an act I
proved ie0s the freeholders, landhold'
and honshollersr Of the city Of Match
were authorized by a majority vote To
lect municipal oAieers.and the act fur
81 reudathst -for the better understal
'ra-