The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-26
MINORITY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
.-l a'-4t ~ ON SUFFRAGE. ~ .s--H y

' The undersigned, minority Of the Committee
on "Suffage and Eligibility to Officer regret
ting that they have been unable to concur with
inc majority o. the committee, beg leave TO sub
init the following report
ID SECTION |. We cannot view without serious
q apprehension, the admission to all the highest
rights and privileges OF citizenship of race con-
sisting almost entirely OF those recently emerged
from slavery and untitled by previous education
b and habits OF thought and seitreiance, for the
intelligent discharge OF the Guties and RESPONSE.
biiities, which would devolvc upon them
SEC. Z We do not regard the right TO vote as
natural or inherent, but conventional merely-to
DC regulated in such way as will best promote
the welfare O. the whole community. Upon this
principle, women and minors have been eXcud-
ed Is there any reason why the negro should
.F' Dc advanced 10 higher position? While we do
not deny that there are individuals of that class
who might be expected TO express their own con-
viclons at the balot-box, still the great mass of
A1 them are 50 ignorant and prejudiced that they
sFl easily become the dupes of designing adyentr
f rurers and demagogues, and through secret asso-
Citations, Introduced from Northern States, mere.
ly follow instructions, and reflect the views of
.1--l those who control them.
SEC. g. We believe that the blessings We have
derived from our government have been due to
the virtue, intelligence and independence of those
usf invested with the right OF suffrage and we trem-
z1g DIE aot Ine safety OF republican institutions,
when It shall be determined to confer this trust
'iAa upon those, who mentally aud morally are unfit
sI1 to administer it" to confde the power of max
zoo ing laws to those who have no property to pro-
Il, tect, and to bestow the right to lew taxes upon
~. those who have no taxes TO paw"
.Gu SEC. 4. But it is said that the proposed alter
e8G ton Is demanded by Congress, and is necessary
so 70 restore our State constitutional relations with
Ine Federal Government. It is certainly n sim
A9Ei guar demand that we should extend the elective
d franchise to them, who are Inexperienced and
sa niue prepared Tor the ordinary business of life
~ tnat Inc government deems it necessary through
t' the Freedmen's Bureau, to exercise Supervision
and iutelage over them
0-,- SEC. 0, But we deny the power of Congress to
- Prescripe 10 NorihCarona who shall or shall
not vote. This has always been recognized as
one oil those great rights reserved to the States
and, in fact it is their privilege to prescribe WHO
snail vote ior members of Congresses the Com
sututon OF the United States, Art |, Sec II.
PROVIDES; The House OF Representatives shall
,Elrbe composed of members chosen every second
year by the people of the several States: ana the
electors ~ each State shall hare the Qualifications
requisite for electors Of the most numerous branch Of
O. the State legislature" EssF ~-'r", '" y
------SEa.-6-C Congress certainly reooan;,ea Mi,
carolina as a State in proper constitutional reln
v.5v uons When the ratlheation of the XIII Amend
- ment oy the Legislature of 1886 was accent
"a, ana also when the proposed XIV Amend
81 Ior ratlhcaton We can, then, only regard the
. present measures as punishment for our copduct
on the latter occasion. Snch legislation strikes
hl'S us as er post Jaeto, tyrannieal and niust We
gas cannot consent that our State shall be-
10 an inferior position to her ssters-tfat sha
shall expunge from her Constitution cIanses ep.
Guiding the negro from voting and boldino olice
(Which other States have Indignantly renscd =,
strike from their own. We refer esnec;oIlv, tn
the Constitutions OF Ohio, Pennsylvania indi.
ana, Illinois and New York We do think that
the requirement would come with much better
grace IL these and other States had altered the;,
Consultations, or If 1t was proposed to SO amend
.J-a tue Constitution of the United States as IN NAL
-4r the application universal ~ '>e
viewing the matter in every light that presents
iiseii and willing 10 extend TO the negro ,,onnIs
non every right that would legltimately result
iloun tne late war, cr that is Necessary to their
adj seSslty ana happiness, We yet think that the
4 meiiare Oh ootn races Is best promoted by retain.
p Ing our present Constitution. We consider th
scheme as intended to advance Marty mr.
~ goses-in the expectation that the States Of ths
South being Atriranizeu and RadicaIiyad ,n ny
more than acounterbaauce the loss of slac,n ~.
o. votes That will occur In other sections of III
Union We advise that North Caroline shei rs
Al Iuse TO alter her Constitution under dictatior
rom Congress, composed Of members whn
nave ceased To represent their cunstjtuents onJ
grlzs VINO, an defiance OF the voice of the neonIs
Us expressed IN recent elections. still barda
tnsir hearts ana devise new tasks for ms 7 az -,
a.ner trust to returning sense of iustice N th
AZ part OF the Northern people and thai sn;.; ~.
Magnanimity which will revolt st thp az "
=. iorelSs the South to accept, in hnge rass
s;aat ,wnlce the North rejects in minnie onont;
Aet US act upon our own consc,ent1o
rps "a s OF what is best for North Carnl;na
a .'',. wale submitting patiently to the nresan,
s,ah rue, not forget that freedom of ppnin;or
snd na our oirth.rght. II, then, negro spffrses
~. nSfo equality are forced upon ms, we Vii VII