The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1880-10-11
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

The Constitution of the State Of Me-
vada was framed and adopted in 1864.
Though the Convention which framed
the Constitution was overwhelmingly
Republican, clause in the instrument
restricted the right of suffrage to achite
male citizens of the United States. In
1869 Lyman Trumbull, of Illinois, then
United States Senator from that State
and now the Democratic nominee for
Governor Of the State, reported to the
Senate proposed amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, pro-
viding that no person born in the United
States should be denied the right of
suffrage on account of coler or previous
ment was adopted by two-thirds of the
members of both Houses of Congress
and ratified by the Legislature Of three
fourths of the States, and by proclama-
tion of President Johnson, became
W L1db 10 huONll dS Vic IUcclibu hiuCHu-
ment This annulled the word white
in Section l or Article III. of the Con-.
stitution of Nevada. Since then, though
the Constitution of this State restricts
the suffrage to aChite male citizens of the
United States, colored citizens have
been permitted to vote in Nevada. In
1877 the Legislature of the State pro-
posed an amendment to Section of the
article of the Constitution quoted
which provides, "that no male citizen
of the United States shall be excluded
from the rights OF suffrage and Office
holding by reason of his race, color or
previous condition of servitude This.
Amendment was approved by the Leg
islatare, III 1872 and at the ensuing
election is to be submitted to the peo-
pile for ratification.
Another proposed Amendment, pro-
vides for amending Article XII of the
Constitution of the State, by adding
new section thereto, which provides
that " No public funds of any kind or
character whatever, State, county or
municipal, shall be used. for sectariap
purposes. !"
This, like the first amendment, was
passed by the Legislature in 1877, and
again in 1879, and is also to be ratified
aprrejeoted by the people at the general
election on November 2nd
These amendments ought to be adopt
ed, by unanimous vote. That regard
ing the right of suffrage and Office hold
ing does not affect. the matter che way
or the other. The Constitution, of the
United, States guarantees, those rights
to citizens whether they be white or
black, and Nevada, even if SO disposed,
cannot nullify that instrument. The
object of the Amendment is to make
the Constitution of the State, which
restricts. the right of suffrage to s1hite
male citizens, conform to the Fifteenth
Amendment, which gives that right to
all citizens, whether white or black.
The Amendment prohibiting the uss
of pablo funds for sectarian purposes,
should receive every vote polled in the
State. Its adoption will end for all
time the. introduction of bills in the
Legislature to appropriate money for
sectarian schools or churches. Every
property holder, regardless of sect,
creed or belief is taxed to support the
Government and the public schools, and
not cent of his taxes ought to be ap-
aplied for supporting any particular
church or school. The Amendment
willvirtually prevent the public schools
from becoming sectarian, as the mo-
ment teacher attempts to make one
4sectarian, that moment the school will
not be entitled to any part of the pub
lie funds.
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