Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-10
suppressing the CoIored Vote.
J. O. SMITH. Seer, tary.


With the passing away of 'bayonet
rule in the South we were promised by
the democratic party that the elections IN
that section should be free and fair. Moth
ing they said interfered with far elections
but federal bayonets. But it appears the
Southern democrats have not yet got
things quite to their mind. The colored
people are inclined to vote the republican
ticket when they have opportunity, not
withstandng the absence vi federal bay
onets and to stop such an offence to the
white democracy the latter are resorting
to legislative enactments to prevent the
colored people from voting North Caro-
lima furnishes a late instance OF an at
tempt TO repress the negro vote 10y arbi'
trary, unjust, harrassing laws. A letter
to the New York Times explains the pro-
cess in full. The enactments in ques-
tion,' says the Times "when shorn OF le-
gal verbiage, provide simply that the vote
of any citizen OF North Carolina may be
challenged by any person who places him
self at the pJlls for taat plrp)s Being
so challenged, the democratic election law
presumes that the citizen is not entitled to
vote. and not only in its spirit, but almost
in the letter, assumes that he is att 5mpting
challenge, almost unheardof difficulties
are thrown i'll the way of the voter. In
the first place he is obliged to prove his
identity aud to show his continuous resi-
dence in given district, and is then fur
Their required to take all oath that he is a
regularly qualified vot II and the person he
represents himself to be. Having gone
through all this process, however, he is
still almost as far from the ballot-box as he
was when first challenged, for the admira-
bic democratic law under which he at.
tempts to exercise his rights stipulates
very distinctly that in spts OF the proof
referred to, in spite of oaths and afiirma-
tions. the citizen may still be deprived oil
his vote. provided the Judges Of the
Election are satisfied from their own
know ledge that he is not legal voter
II will TINS be seen that the decision OF
each case raised by 3 challenge rests en-
tirely with The Judges. They are abso-
lutte in the power to say who may vote or
who msy not. and from their ruling there
is no appeal.
1t is, OF course, obvious to the most cas-
ual observer of political events in the
South that the North Carolina law is en-
tirely directed against the colored men,
and exists Tor the sole purpose OF keeping
them from the ballot and depriving them OF
the representation and influence 10 which,
because oftheir majority, they are entitled
If votes are to be challenged, they will
be exclusively colored votes. The right
of white democrat to cast his ballot is
never questioned in the cotton States. Ii
would be bold man, indeed, who would
dare to challenge him at the polls. OF
course, the contrary is true in regard
to the negroes. At every election.
even under republican government,
it was one part OF the White
League programme to have men sta
toned at every voting precinct for the
avowed purpose OF challenging colored
citizens. How much more thoroughly
will this plan be carried out In the cleo.
tons that are to come The Practical
effect OF the North Carolina law can
well be estimated even before it goes
into practice. BY their modes of life.
and the necessities of their occupation.
the negroes are obliged 10 90 from place
to place and change their residence fire..
quently. To prove their identity and
their right to vote to the satisfaction ~,
the Judges of Election-a majority .,
whom are, in every instance, Democrat.
will be simply impossible All ,he
election machinery is in the hands of thei,
opponents, and under the new law the,
are absolutely defenseless. Il is safe I,
assume that thousands Of those who at
tempt to vote Will be challenged. an,
there can be but little doubt that such ,
challenge wilt be tanlamount to dis
franchisement. The days of bayone
ruIa in tho Soutb aro mat :,