Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-07

your Committee on Franchise. Apportlon-
ment, and Elections essayed TO perform
the duties assigned TO IT. The COM
mittee endeavored to keep in view
the fact that it was charged with
the duty of framing law for the
whole people and at the same time law
adequate TO restore confidence between
the races: adequate to restore purity 10
the ballot-box and render 1t what the
genius of our institutions demand that IL
sbould be. a FREQ and untramlnelled eX-
preston of the popular Will
MIR. President the deliberations OF the
Franchise Committee have reached the
conclusions embraced in their report aiteI
prolonged debate which fully developed
have had due care. Mutual sacrifices OF
onlnions and interest have been MADE on
ali sides. | confidently believe, sirs. that
n il the safest measure for this convention
TO adopt. There may be factions mere
strong enough to engrait radlcal
changes but, sirs, l would warn such
that II has its symmetrical proper
lions SO evenly established according
10 the temper and conditions of this body
that IL will be unwise to disarrange 1t, or
the whole structure may topple and fall.
We came here intrusted with the re-
served powers OF q great commonwealth
TO grapple with the grave difficulties here
tofore outlined in my remarks and many
times reiterated on this floor and which L
will row repeat in order to more wildly
present the work Of the committee.
SOME INTERVENING STATISTICS.
According to the most reliable estimates
have been able to procure, quoting from
the Commonwealth of August 18th, the
present population OF the state consists
of
N...ooo g4g.42f
Whito5.......
Total 10000
OF which tho black voters number......... ls9'sSl
OF which the white voters number...... lls.ssJ
Nos,o ,n.ior,tv ........,................ 7O,OO4
Owing to the conditions herein speclh-
callv SET forth this vote. though normally
classed as Republican and Democratic, Is
practically divided upon the race lines.
The white people determined that the
best interests of the State and their own
protection demanded that they should
rule.
SOME UNPLEASANT TRUTHS.
This rule being generally fixed and arbi-
trarv virtually amounts to domination,
with q fixed purpose TO repress the negro
vote. The methods employed to produce
this result have introduced into the BODY
polite every form of demorallzati0In-
ruption and perjury stalk unblushlngly
through the land. The good people OF
Mississippi stand aghast at The spectacle.
The wall comes up from thousands OF
hearts in mute appeal TO this conventions;
"oh, how the mighty has fallen!"
Mr.. President. this in brief is the pro-
blem your committee have presented their
report to meet.
our first consideration should be the
ballot. In treating 1t we, have en-
deayored to throw around the suf-
frage such safeguards as will insure
To the State safe and intelligent
voting population, capable OF compre-
hending the intricate responsibilities that
our present condition necessarily imposes,
based upon the same authority heretofore
mentioned.
HOW IT AFFECTS THE VOTERS.
This bill will affect the voting population
of the State as follows:
Present voters (whitel.
This bill will restrict. dl'eos
And leave a ret white vote lOt,OOl
Present voters tnegroes). ............ lS9 ~
This bill will restrict.
And leave a net negro vote. ob,ooO
Giving white majority of..............''' so,ioA
THE APPoRTIoNMEST SCHEME.
As afurther precaution TO secure unques-
| toned white supremacy the committee
! have fixed an arbitrary apportionment OF
the State which fixes the legislative
| branch of the Government Mt 1870 men,
hers and the senatorial branch at 45 men,
bers.
OF the members Of the House there are
From white constituencies. q members
From black constituencies. 81 members
Leaving the majority OF white con-
stituencies. "A iheihpeie
oh fhprR
From white constituencies. q member;
From black constituencies. .......... q members
Leaving the majority from white
constituencies. Observation-Disclosures memoors
Such. MIR. President and gentlemen of the
convention, is what believe to be the vlr.
tual effect Of the measures reported by the
committee. | believe, moreover, that II the
responsibilities therein imposed upon the
yirtuous and intelligent voters OF the state
of both races. intelligently guided and as
sisted 10y "a fearless and enlightened pubic
press, are properly met that the grave dan.
gers which called this body into being will
be Cispelled as the dewy mist of the morn
ing by the rising sunburst of politlca
liberty, which shall bring into renewed lite
the dormant energies of new South and
inaugurate an era of progress that shall
rapidly bring our State abreast OF any sec
ton in this broad land.
Mr.. President, in the presence or the
grave responsibilities resting upon thi'
convention shall support the committee
report. To quote the language OF lead
inc negro statesman | will say, ut Is the
Ship All else is an open, raging. tempes
tuous sea.
SOME OBJECTIONS NET
have listened closely to every obJec
ton to the committees report, and nov
propose TO file brief answers to lew o
the most important.
There is the charge of legislation. To thi
would reply: The committee has done
no more than was absolutely necessary II
that direction TO give life and vigor to thu
, most important branches of Their work
, This convention came from the people
charged with higher responsibilities thal
any Legislature. 1t is composed OF many
: men who will never appear III the ieglsla
tive councils 1t is incumbent upon then
TO mark out the pathway so PLAIN that th'
, people may see the thread OF their work
, and future legislatures make no mistakes
in the Interpretation thereof This purpose
, rs accomplished by ordinances having
limited time to remain In force. which vii
also save TO the State the expense OF an ex
, ira session of the Legislature.
The qualifications of voters and the Aus
I tralian or Dortch ballot have been saw
: egely attacked.
| Mir. Cnalrphn, tne Irst thought VI tns
! committee was TO restrict the franchise t
; a stable, thoughtful and prudent element
o of our citizens. Stability. and interest il
! the community, instanced by the longer
residence clause; prudence shown by pro
. viding taxes for government support IL
, proper time.
! l'his system also provides mild educa
tional qualification. in that it requires tbs
voter 10 select and mark for himself the
names of all parties for whom he desires tC
vote. The booths provided for the voters
: privacy afford opportunity for reflection
aud perfect freedom from restraint in the
choice of candidates.
Notwithstanding the efforts 10 ridicul,
this system, appeal TO the candid and re
feeting judgment of this convention to do
eide whether il is not q marked improve
: ment on the old system.
THE EDUCATIONAL TEST.
The constitutional provisions for 1891
provide an educational test for the vote
In that he must be able to read any claus,
of the Constitution or be able TO give I