Year: 1868

The Mississippi Reconstruction Convention.


JACKSON, MISS, January 20.-A resolution was
adopted to petition Congress to continue the freed
mems bureau until reconstruction is completed.


A resolution adopted TO appoint committee to
wait on Gen. Gillem and urge him to issue an
order prohibiting shers in this State from enforc


ing any sales under execution until further orders.


A lengthy ordinance on elections and the quail.
fcations of officers and others offered and referred
to the committee on suffrage. The following
its salient features: At any election held by the
people under the Constitution. or in pursuance Of
any law Of the State, or under any ordinance,
or by law Of any municipal corporation, no per-
son shall be deemed qualified voter who has
ever been in armed hostility to the United States,
or the authorities thereof, or who has ever given
aid, comfort, eountenance or support to persons
engaged IN any such hostilities or who has
ever in any manner adhered to the enemies
thereof, foreign or domestic, either by contrib.
utng TO them or by unlawfully sending within
their lines money, goods, letters, or information,
or who has ever disloyally held communication
with such enemies, or ever adVlsedly aided any
person to enter the service of such enemies, or
ever by open act or word declared adherence to
the cause Of such enemies, or desire their triumph
over the armies Of the United States, or ever ex-
cept under overpowerng cOmpulsiOn, submitted
TO the authority Of or been In the service Of the
So called Confederate States of America, or ever
left this State and gone within the lines OF the
armies Of the o.called Confederate States OF
America for the purpose of adherIng to the said





State for the purpose of avoiding enrolment or
draft into the military service of the United States,
OF ever in order 10 escape the performance of
military duty in this State, enrolled himself or
caused himself TO be enrolled dislOyal sympa.
thizer, or having ever voted at any election held
by the people of this State, or in any Of the
United States, or held Office in this State, any
other Of the United States, and shall thereafter
have sought and received under claim OF ale
glance, the protection of any foreign government,
through any consul or other officer thereof, in
order 70 secure exemption from military duty in


the army Of the be gRsS sEbse sfss 81 SS Nqr IL shall s %


any Office Of trust profit under its authority. or
OF being an officer, counselor or manager
of any public corporation now existing
OF hereafter established by its authority,
or of acting as professor or teacher
Of any educational institution, common school, or
other school, sustained in whole or in part by
funds provided by law. Every elector shall take
and subscribe TO the following oath, which will
be known as the oath of loyalty, bat taking said
oath will not be deemed conclusive evidence OF
the right Of such person TO vote. He shall be
registered as a voter: |, -, swear that am
well acquainted with the terms OF the third
section Of article Of the Constitution OF
the State Of Mississippi, adopted In the
year 1868; that ! have caresuly considered
the same, have never directly or indirectly
done any Of the acts specified in said section, and
have always been truly and Loyalty on the side OF
the United States agninst ali the enemies thereof,
foreign and domestic, and that will always bear
true allegiance to the Uuited States. That VIII
support the Constitution and the laws thereof as
the supreme law of the land, any law or ordinance
| of any State 10 the contrary Notwithstanding,
and will always TO the best Of my ability protect
| and defend the union Of the United States, aud
| will not allow the same 70 be broken up or
| destroyed, or the government thereof be
| destroyed or overihrown, under any circum,
| stances il in my power to prevent il, and
| will always discountenance and oppose all COM
bDstions, plans Efforts having for their objects
the dissolution Of the government and will always
1 by word and deed demean myself loyal aud
faithful subject Of the United States and will sup
port the said Constitution OF the State of Missis-
| sippi. That accept the civil and political equal


ty of All men and agree not to attempt 10 deprive
any person or persons, on account Of race, color,
OF previous condition. of any civil, political or re-
igous rights. privileges or immuniues enjoyed by
any other class of men. That make this oath
without any mental reservation or evasion, and