Voter rights were the main point of contention for the delegates at the 1868 and 1890 constitutional conventions. Arguments about who could vote stemmed from Mississippi’s refusal to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment. The Fifteenth Amendment guaranteed the right to vote to Black men, but the 1890 Constitution’s requirements to qualify made it nearly impossible to exercise their right.
Pictured: A Coahoma County tax receipt. The paper is now yellow from age with black and red ink and faded writing in pen. The top of the receipt reads: “Sheriff’s Office, First District, Coahoma Co. No. 302.” The number “302” is in red ink. The next line reads “Friars Point, Miss.,” with a blank line for the date, and the year “1896” to the right of the line. This receipt has individual lines for “State Tax,” “County Tax,” “Special Tax,” “Court House and Jail Tax,” “Levee Tax,” “Poll Tax,” and “Damages.” On the right side of the receipt are faded totals for each type of taxes paid. The numbers two and six are the most visible.
Credit: MDAH Collections
