Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-11
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF NEGROES.
Ex-Governor watts Interviewed on
the subject.
IBv telegraph 10 tho DisDsich-l

NGsHvILLE. Tenn. December i0.-The dnaFrS-
cGn VIII publish tomorrow a long interview heia
BY ia Montgomery correspondent with ex-'ioy-
efnor Thomas H. Watts. who was she Attorney
General Of the COME ierato States. on the ques-
tiou OF dsirauchiBine the negro. Goyernor
Watts says: Congress never nah any Iisnt 70
regulate the qualifications Of voters in the states
Perhaps under the power 20 organize TERRITORIAL
governmental. and it, exclusive jurisdiction over
the District Of Columbia, Congress could pre-
scribe the 1cAtiOns Of voters In the Terrific
rlos and in The District ButitisfoO clear 10 admit
o. dispute that Congress has no power 70 pre-
scribe or regulate the quaiihcsuons or Volers Ia
the Slates, 10 the election Of mem bers OF Con-
Press or q presidential electors BY tho
nfteeuth amendment the States are prohibited
from denying OF sbri1giug the right Of citizen
on account Of race, color, or previous condition
OF servituds Tho states are not prohibited ~
Il or by any other clause Of the Constitution from
prsscrhin tle educational or other quRlnca-
tons 70 V0te. 40 that II they SEQ proper. they
have the unduostioned right 20 prescribe an edu-
catsOnal or property or taX-payng quail ncauon
10 the right Of voting. And such qualification. II
prescribed in the State Constitution, Woula
operate IN the state elections and In elections
Tor members OF Congress and OF presidential
electors.
II Alabama we're 70 prescribe an educational
qualification 10 the right OF voting 10 would
necessarily apply 70 tho white az Vel - u mo
caiorsd citizens. Under the census Of 1870. II
Alabama had over 2i.Oo0 whites over twonty-one
years Of aga who could not write and over yay9J
coiorod citizens who could not write. u would, IN
my judgment, he almost p0lucal SUICIDE lOt any
southern state so 20 act
No public man advocating such change Ia our
State Constitution a. TO make an educational or
property qualification % the right OF voting
could politically survive the iust condemnauon
Of the people Without the ton OK the states
10 their separate sOYerelgu capacity no change
IN the qualification OF voters can be made. Con-
greas - without any power on tho subject ex-
ccut % propose amendments TO the fed-
oral Constitution or 20 call conyen-
tOn Of the States on the application OF
the Legislature OF two thirds OF the
States, and such amendments as Il proposes.
or ~ convention Of States proposes, would
have % DO ratinsi and adopted by three fourths
81 the states. such q scheme Is inprachcape,
oven II II were desirable. The increased poiil-
cal power which tho south has acquired by the
freedom Of the negro ought never 70 be relln-
pushed. There IS no policy In the South "hlch
demands II or makes II desirable. SO long a. IN
tslligence IL superior 70 ignorance, or brain
power superior to muscle In the policy or
State, the south has no hing b. fear from tho
presence OF tho negro with the equal right TO
vote.
The northern statos, being the conquerora IN
the war between the states. unwitingly IN
creased the political power Of the conquered IN
Congress and in the election Of presidential cleo
tors. 1hai The conquerors should augment mo
political power Of The conquores was never ue-
fore DONE believe. in the history Of mankind.
u was not magnauimity 70 the conquered, but
The vain belief and hopo that tie former slave
wh9u made free would greatly increase inc
power OF the Rcpublccn party In Con-
gress and I'm tho election OF President
ami Vice. President flr al time which induced
such remarkable action. I doubt not such action
arose greatly from ignorance ~ tho negro aud
his capacity tor government when rdu atei IT
the ulrthern states could uow UNDO their WORK,
the folly ~ which the experience OF tue lat
twenty years so fully shows, thcy would doubtless
sct promptly and vigorously. Fortunately Tor
fhs f0uthcrn States the Constitution ~ The
United sfates presents en- inseparabte barrier 20
the exercise Of such power, however much TIE
fanatlcism and hatred engendorei by the bloody
conflict might prompt