600 



MISSISSIPPI. 



MISSISSIPPI RIVER IMPROVEMENT. 



2. To facilitate and further the organization of pro- 

 hibition clubs in every county and town throughout 

 the State, and disseminate accurate and reliable in- 

 formation among the people aa to the evils of the 

 liquor-traffic. 



3. To render such service as may be deemed proper 

 in the preparation of the constitutional amendment 

 above ivtVnv.l to, and such as any committee of the 

 Legislature charged with the special duty may request. 



4. To call any conventions, btate and county, which 

 may hereafter become necessary, either for the pur- 

 pose of promoting the ratification of such an amend- 

 ment to the Constitution as the Legislature may adopt, 

 or for the more efficient organization of the friends of 

 prohibition throughout the State, should the Legis- 

 lature fail or refuse to pass the amendment desired, in 

 order to secure all needful legislation, and protect the 

 health, lives, and property of the people against the 

 evils of the whisky-traffic. 



JtetolctJ, That any vacancy in said committee may 

 bo filled by the president of this convention, or by any 

 three members of the committee ; and that the com- 

 mittee constituted under these resolutions shall hold 

 office until superseded by some future Prohibition 

 Convention. 



J&solced, That the people of the several counties 

 and towns in this State be and they are hereby urged 

 at once to organize prohibition clubs, and appoint 

 county executive committees, and prepare, by suitable 

 subscriptions and contributions of money, for the cir- 

 culation of petitions for prohibition, after such form as 

 the executive committee may adopt, and the presenta- 

 tion thereof for signature to every man and woman 

 in the State, to the end that there may be a full and 

 fair expression of public sentiment on this measure 

 for the information and guidance of the Legislature ; 

 and that the several county executive committees 

 when organized shall correspond with and be subject 

 to the direction of the State Executive Committee. 



Resolved, That pending the submission of the said 

 contemplated constitutional amendment, the Legis- 

 lature be requested to provide by law for the deter- 

 mination of the question of licensing liquor-dealers, 

 by a direct vote of the people within the towns, coun- 

 ties, and supervisors' districts in this State, within 

 which liquor is sought to be sold, for annulling the 

 existing license lawsj and if the people agree to 

 license dealers, for limiting the quantity for sale to not 

 less than one gallon, while the price of the license is 

 largely increased ; and that the TSxecutive Committee 

 be charged with the duty of bringing this matter to the 

 early attention of the Legislature. 



The Democratic State Convention met in 

 Jackson, on the 3d of August, every county 

 being represented and 521 delegates being 

 present, and was in session four days. The 

 following ticket was nominated : for Govern- 

 or, Robert Lowry, of Rankin County ; for Lieu- 

 tenant-Governor, G. D. Shands, of Tate ; for 

 Secretary of State, Henry C. Myers, of Mar- 

 shall ; for State Treasurer, W. L. Hemingway, 

 of Carroll ; for Auditor of Public Accounts, 

 Sylvester Gwin, of Lawrence; for Attorney- 

 General, T. C. Catchings, of Warren ; for State 

 Superintendent of Public Education, James A. 

 Smith, of Jasper. The platform adopted was 

 as follows : 



1. Resolved. That we re-affirm the following princi- 

 ples, adopted by the Democratic State Convention 

 which assembled hi this city on the 2d day of August, 

 1877 1 



The Democratic party of Mississippi, grateful for 

 the success of its past efforts in the cause of reform 

 and of just and honest government, and invoking the 

 blessings of Heaven on its future endeavors hi the 

 same cause, does adopt and proclaim the folio whig 

 platform of .principles : 



Fidelity to the Constitution of the United States. 



Home rule, and the preservation of the State govern- 

 ments, with all their reserved and guaranteed rights 

 unimpaired. 



No interference by the military power with the free- 

 dom of elections, and with the civil and political rights 

 of citizens of the United States. 



The protection of the equal rights of all classes. 



No discrimination on account of race, color, or 

 previous condition of servitude, or birthplace, and 

 no special legislation for the benefit of the tew ut the 

 expense of the many. 



A strict adherence, in the selection of public agents, 

 to the time-honored Jeffersonian standard, u Is he 

 honest, is he capable, is he true to the Constitu- 

 tion ? " 



A continuation of the policy of retrenchment and 

 reform so signally inaugurated by the Democratic 

 party. 



Reduction of the burdens of taxation to the lowest 

 point compatible with an efficient execution of the laws. 



Corporations of every description supervisable with- 

 in constitutional limits oy State authority, and subordi- 

 nate to State legislation, m the interest and for the pro- 

 tection of the people. 



As the perpetuity of free government depends upon 

 the virtue and intelligence of the people, \ve pledge 

 ourselves to the maintenance of our State system of 

 free schools. 



We favor the granting of such aid as may be ex- 

 tended without violation of the Constitution of the 

 United States, or departing from the established 

 usages of the Government, to the Texas Pacific l!ail- 

 road, and for the rebuilding and keeping in repair of 

 the levees of the Mississippi Eiver. 



That upon this platform of principles and of public 

 policy we invite the co-operation of all citizens with- 

 out regard to past differences, in support of the candi- 

 dates nominated by this convention. 



2. Resolved, That we declare it to be the policy of 

 the Democratic-Conservative party to encourage the 

 flow of immigration to this State, and recommend the 

 passage of all needful laws and the making of all 

 necessary appropriations to effect this end. 



3. Resolved, That we invite the investment of 

 capital, and assure to it all necessary legal protection. 



The Greenback-Republican State Conven- 

 tions agreed upon the following fusion ticket : 

 Benjamin King, for Governor; J. B. Yellowley, 

 for Lieutenant-Governor ; J. J. Spehnan, for 

 Secretary of State; J. M. Bynum, for State 

 Treasurer ; A. T. Wimberly, for Auditor of Pub- 

 lic Accounts ; "W. F. Fitzgerald, for Attorney- 

 General; "W. D. Howze, for Superintendent of 

 Public Education. 



At the election in November the Democratic 

 ticket was elected. The vote for Governor was : 

 Lowry, 76,857; King, 51,856. The Legislature 

 elected at this election is composed as follows: 



MISSISSIPPI RIVER IMPROVEMENT. 

 The first appropriation made by the United 

 States Government for the benefit of its great 

 "Inland Sea" was in 1819, when $6,500 were 

 voted for its survey. In 1820 an additional sum 

 of $20,000 was set apart for this purpose. A 

 general system of river improvement was begun 



