MISSISSIPPI AND THE NULLIFICATION OF THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT The defeat or abandonment of the Lodge Federal Elections Bill was equivalent to a declaration that no further attempts would be made for a good while, at least, to enforce by appropriate legislation the war amendments to the Constitution.

Southern Democrats were not slow in taking advantage of the knowledge of that fact.
My own State, Mississippi, was the first to give legal effect to the practical nullification of the Fifteenth Amendment.

On that question the Democratic party in the State was divided into two factions.

The radical faction, under the leadership of Senator George, advocated the adoption and enforcement of extreme methods.

The liberal or conservative faction,--or what was known as the Lamar wing of the party under the leadership of Senator Walthall,--was strongly opposed to such methods.
Senator George advocated the calling of a Constitutional Convention, to frame a new Constitution for the State.