The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-11

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dec. 10.-The Amr~
tcan will publish tomorrow a long inter-
view, held by its Montgomery correspond.
ent with Ex-Gov. Thos. II. Watts, who
was Attorney-General of the Confederate
States, on the question Of DISTINGUISHING
the negro. Governor Watts says.
Congress never had any right to regu-
late the qualifications OF voters in the
States. Perhaps, under the power TO or.
ganize Territorial Governments, and It's
exclusive jurisdiction over the District of
Columbia, Congress could prescribe the
qualifications OF voters in the Territories
and the District. But it is too clear to nd
NIT of a dispute that Congress has no
power to prescribe or regulate the qualif-
cations OF voters in States in the election
Of members OF Congress or of Presidential
electors. BY the Fifteenth Amendment
the States are prohibited from denying or
abridging the right OF citizens TO vote on
account of race, color or previous condi-
ton OF servitude. The States are not pro-
hibited by 1t or by any other clause Of the
constitution from prescribing an educa-
tional or other qualifications to vote. So
that, If they see proper, they have the
unquestioned right to prescribe an educa-
tional, or property, or tax-paying qualif-
cation to the right Of voting. And such
qualification, II prescribed in the State
Constitution, would operate in State cleo
tons and in elections for members OF Con-
gress and of Presidential electors.
"li Alabama were to prescribe an cdu-
cational qualification TO the right OF voting
II would necessarily apply TO the white rs
well as to the colored citizens Under the
census Of 1880 Alabama had over a, 900
whites over 81 years Of age, who could not
write, and over 90, 600 colorcd citizens who
could not write. II would, in my judg.
ment, be almost political suicide for any
Southern State so To act. No public man
advocating such a change in our State Con.
stitution IA TO make an educational or
property qualification TO the right OF yot.
ing could politically survive the Just con.
demnation Of the people.
without the action OF the States in
their separate sovereign capacity nochange
in the qualification OF voters can be made.
Congress is without any power OF the sub.
jet, except 10 propose amendments 10 the
ton OF The State on the application of the
Legislature Of two-ihirds OF the States,
such amendments as IL proposes, or us a
convention OF the States proposes, would
have 10 be ratified and adopted by three
fourths OF the States. Such scheme Is
impracticabe even II il we're desirable.
THE increased political power which
the South has acquired by the freedom Of
Nha ..,,.ltt A.. 4
There Is no policy OF the South which dc.
mands II or makes II desirable. 80 longas
intelligence is superior 10 ignorance, or
brain power superior TO mere muscle in the
policy OF the State, the South has nothing
10 fear from the presence OF the negro
with equal right 10 vote. The Northern
States being the conquerors in the war be.
tween the States unwittingly increased
the political power OF the conquered in the
Congress, and in the election Of
Presidential Electors. That the con.
querors should augment the political
power OF tho conquered was never
before done, | believe, in the history of
mankind. IL was not magnanimity TO the
conqucror, but the vain belief aud hope
that the former slave, when made free,
would greatly increase the power Of the
Ae'lNhhAhl purity w AniElfHrt uUN tHt
election OF President and Nice-prcsdent
for all time, which induced such Temarka.
bic action. doubt not such action aro,c
greatly from ignorance Of the negro and
his capacity for government whom edu.
Gated.
III the Northern States could end their
work, the folly which the experience OF
the last twenty years 40 fully show, they
would doubtless act promptly and yigor-
ously. Fortunately for the Southern
States, the Constitution presents an insup-
portable barrier 10 the exercise OF such a
power, however much fanaticism and
hatreds engendercd by the bloody con.
tlicl might prompt"