MISSISSIPPI. 



527 



January 1, 1880, $81,950; January 1, 1896, 

 $227,150. The warrants of the State have 

 been at par during the year. The receipts of 

 the Treasury for the year were $865,327.47 ; 

 disbursements, $562,084.69. 



The number of "educable children' 1 in the 

 State is reported at 324,661, of whom 150,660 

 are white and 174,001 colored. Reports of 

 attendance from 59 out of the 75 counties show 

 77,613 white and 69,271 colored children, or 

 146,884 in all in the schools during the year. 

 The number of teachers employed was 3,761. 

 Receipts for school purposes in 58 counties 

 amounted to $56,898.24; expenditures, $443,- 

 857.33. The average number of days that 

 schools were in session was 80.7 in cities and 

 towns, and 77.2 outside of cities and towns. 



The number of students at the University of 

 Mississippi during the session of 1877- '78 was 

 391. The institution has a chancellor, 8 pro- 

 fessors, a principal of high-school department, 

 4 tutors, and 4 members of the senior class act- 

 ing as special tutors. At the Alcorn University 

 for colored students there were 48 at the close 

 of the year. It has a president and three pro- 

 fessors. The Normal School at Holly Springs 

 has 88 pupils. The Normal Department of 

 Tongaloo University, which has been under 

 the charge of State Trustees, had an average 

 monthly attendance of 50. The American 

 Missionary Society, which maintains the Uni- 

 versity, has refused latterly to permit the State 

 Trustees to control the Normal Department, 

 although it has been mainly supported by State 

 appropriation. It is now proposed to with- 

 draw the support and apply it elsewhere. The 

 number of pupils at the Institute for the Blind 

 at the close of the year was 29 ; at the Insti- 

 tute for the Deaf and Dumb, 41. 



The Lunatic Asylum on the 31st of Dacem- 

 ber contained 391 patients. The cost of its 

 support for the year was $58,900. A new 

 wing has been added, and the capacity of the 

 institution is sufficient for 410 inmates. 



On the 1st of December there were 1,012 

 convicts in the State Penitentiary, of whom 

 112 were white and 900 colored. Of the whole 

 number 623 were received during the 12 

 months preceding. The institution is in the 

 hands of lessees who employ the convicts un- 

 der a contract with the superintendent. They 

 have also taken a contract to repair the build- 

 ings, the sum of $22,391.56 being allowed them 

 for the purpose and credited on their lease. 



The State Convention of the Democratic 

 party was held at Jackson on the 1st and 2d 

 of August. Ten ballots were taken before a 

 candidate for Governor was agreed upon, and 

 then Governor John M. Stone was renominated. 

 The other candidates were: for Lieutenant- 

 Governor, "W. H. Sims ; Secretary of State, 

 Kinloch Falconer; State Treasurer, W. L. Hem- 

 ingway ; Auditor, Sylvester Gwin ; Attorney- 

 General, T. 0. Catchings; Superintendent ot 

 Education, James A. Smith. The platform 

 adopted was as follows : 



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 their future endeavors in 

 the same cause, do adopt and proclaim the following 

 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 

 freedom of elections, and with the civil and political 

 rights of citizens of the United States. The protec- 

 tion of the equal rights of all classes no discrimina- 

 tion on account of race, color or previous condition of 

 servitude, or birthplace, and no special legislation 

 for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many. 

 A strict adherence, in the selection of public agents, 

 to the time-honored Jetfersonian standard, '"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, and a reduction of the burdens of taxation to 

 the lowest point compatible with an efficient execu- 

 tion of the jaws. 



Corporations of every description supervisablo 

 within constitutional limits by State authority, and 

 subordinate to State legislation, in the interest and 

 for the protection of the people. As the perpetuity 

 of free government depends upon the virtue and in- 

 telligence of the people, we pledge ourselves to the 

 maintenance of our State system of free schools. 



Wo 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 Rail- 

 road, and for the rebuilding and keeping in repair of 

 the levees of the Mississippi River. 



That upon this platform of principles and of pub- 

 lic policy we invite the coSperation of all citizens 

 without regard to past differences, in support of the 

 candidates nominated by this Convention. 



Resolved. That unity and harmony are essential to 

 victory ; that all independent movements are dan- 

 gerous to the integrity of party organization ; that 

 all independent candidates are inspired solely by a 

 lust for office : that they shall be treated as common 

 enemies to the welfare of the people and avowed 

 enemies of the Democratic party of the State of Mis- 

 sissippi. 



Shortly after the convention an address to 

 the people was issued by the State Executive 

 Committee, in which the Democratic adminis- 

 tration of th'e Government was reviewed and 

 compared with that which preceded it. The 

 Republicans held no convention and made no 

 nominations. Consequently the election of the 

 Democratic candidates was effected without a 

 contest. The total vote for Governor was 

 97,550, of which Stone received 96,882 and 

 1,168 were returned as scattering. Tin- vote 

 on the constitutional amendment abolishing 

 the office of Lieutenant-Governor was 49,910 

 for it and 15,183 against it, no returns being 

 made on the amendment from six counties. 

 On the amendment providing for biennial ses- 

 sions of the Legislature the vote as returned 

 was 68,112 for it and 4,005 against. A ma- 

 jority of the average number of votes cast for 

 Representatives in the Legislature wan neces- 

 sary for ratification. As such average was 

 53,802, the first amendment was rejected and 

 the second adopted. The amendment which 

 was adopted is substituted for section 6 of or- 



