Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-09-08
THE NEGROES IN THE GEORGIA LIE.
GISLATURE

The fact that the Legislature of Georgia has
expelled twenty-five of its members because
they were negroes, naturally causes discussion.
Coming At the moment when the Northern
democracy seemed inclined to enter upon an
alliance with the colored people to secure their
votes and enter upon friendly relations gen.
orally, upon the ground that the interest of the
employers and the employed were identical,
the inquiry naturally arises as to the meaning
of this new position taken towards the negroes
by the Legislature Of Georgia. Whether or not
1t means an abandonment OF the projected en-
tente eoydiole that was to cause the blacks 10
vote and act with the planters through real
identity OF interests and in opposition to the
common enemy, the "selfish scallawag carpet
bsggeTs," charged in the Democratic indictment
with having no real friendship for the blacks,
and designing to use them only as a means to
rlse INTO office over their backs.
II seems, however, that the Democratic lead
eTs of Georgia do not wish the construction
put spon this action Of the Legislature that il
means hostility to the negroes; and the Colum-
brs Gal Enquirer undertakes to explain il in
way to demonstrate that IL does not II is
well, ssys that paper, for the freedmen to be
informed that the expulsion of the colored
members as ineligible, has nothing TO do either
with the question ofthe right of negroes to vote,
CT the propriety or expediency Of permitting
them to hold ONCE. The question is, whether
the constitution adopted at Atlanta last spring
gives the right 70 hold office. If il confers upon
them the right, no Democrat will seek to de-
priye them of while that constitution is the
fundamental law Of the State. If il does not
confer on them the right to hold ONCE. DO Ii the
Democratic and Radical members Of the Legis-
lature are bound by their oaths 10 support the
constitution to vote for the expulsion of the
negro members. The question IL one of law,
not OF party, and the Enquirer ESSAYS to show
by the proceedings Of the Atlanta Convention
that the constitution adopted by it does not
really confer on negroes the right to hold
Office.
1t has always been supposed that the new
constitution of Georgia was designed both to
confer the night to vote and the right TO hold
office, but according to the views held by the
Enquirer and other opponents OF the Demo-
cratic party in Georgia ne,ther that constitu-
ton Lor the fourteenth amendment TO the ma.
uonal organic law, provide for office holding
BY The newly enfranchised freedmen They
were ineligible under the old State law, and il
Is asserted that proposition in express terms
TO confer the right 10 hold ONCE upon the negro
was made and voted down in the convention
that formed the present constitution. II should
b. stated that the question did not assume
aItOge'her party aspect IN the Legislature of
Georges, as although the Democrats voted in a
body for the expulsion OF the negro men,
bers, some of the white Republicans
voted with the majority. 1t is noticeable, too,
that this question of the eligibility of the ne
gro members seems 70 have been an after
thought, having been raised, not at the COM
mencement OF the session, but after some
months time had passed without direction to
their presence as legitimate members
The question will probably be adjudicated in
the courts, where it can be settled without pre-
Judice 10 either party. As above stated, enough
OF the Republican members of the Legislature
voted for the expulsion of the negroes TO dem.
onstrate that the action was not Of purely
party character, but inasmuch as the bulk OF
the vote that way was Democratic, the Demo-
cratic leaders in Georgia seem to feel called
upon to make an explanation OF the ground for
their course.