convention, it commits them against imposing disabilities
and proscriptions beyond the requirements of the recon-
struction acts. They have heartily adopted the congres-
sional plan, and cannot go beyond it." The judgment of the
Clarion proved to be unsound. ¹

The election to settle the question of a convention was
held in the latter part of November, and the reconstruction-
ists won by a large majority. The following was the result:

The votes in favor of a convention were not only a major-
ity of those cast, but a majority of the registered votes. The
great mass of the whites took no part in the election, but
allowed it to go by default. In pursuing this course, they
made a great mistake. As a result of their refusal to par-
ticipate in the election, the radicals secured a large majority
of the delegates in the convention. ² On December 10, the
commanding general issued an order from Holly Springs,
declaring that inasmuch as a majority of the votes cast were
for a convention, it would assemble as already directed in a
general order of December 8.

On the 28th of December, General Ord was directed to
turn over his command to General Alvan C. Gillem and pro-
ceed to San Francisco and assume command of the Depart-
ment of California. His incumbency as military commander
of Mississippi covered a period of about nine months. From
the standpoint of the reconstructionist, his administration
was a thorough success, being vigorous in character, and in

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