St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-02-22
THE PROPOSED REPEAL OF
THE FIFTEENTH AMEND
4ENT,

1900 ~ -
THE FIFTEENTH AMEND
NENT.
It IL curious to consider the polit-
ical changes that would come about
il the Mississippi proposition to re-
peal the fifteenth amsudment ahQQld
ind general favor and b adopted.
That amendment declares that ''the
right Of citizens Of the United States
to vote shall not be denied OF
abridged BY the United States or by
any State on account Of race, color,
or previous condition Of sevituds.' .
With that struck out the four
teenth amendment would come into
force. That provision ID in these
words:
SRcrION 2.-Representatives shall
be appor:ioned among the several
States according to their respective
numbers, counting the whole num-
Der Of persons in each State, ex-
GLIDING Indians not taxed. But
when the right to vote at any cleo
ton for the choice Of electors for
President and Vice President of the
United States, Representatives in
Congress, executive and judicial OIL
GERS Of . State, or the members Of
the Legislature thereof is denied to
any Of the male inhabitants of such
State, being twenty-0ne years Of
age aud citizens Of the United States,
or in any way abridged, except for
participation in rebellion or other
crime, the basis of representation
therein shall be reduced in the pro-
portion which the number Of such
male citizens shall bear to the whole
number of male citizens twenty-One
years Of age in such State.
Such States ~ desired so to do
could then pass laws depriving the
co)ored people Of the vote; and the
question arises: Which States would
be likely to do this?
BY census Of 1880 Alabama had
662, 600 whites and 60O, 900 blacks;
59l, 900 whites and 2lO,-
600 blacks; Florida, Ia, 900 whites
and l26,CO0 blacks; Georgia, &c.,
600 whites and 725 900 blacks;
454,0 600 whites and 1884,
600 blacks; Mississippi, $4,000
whites and 65O,OOO blacks; North
1000 whites and $751;
600 blacks; South Carolina, $751;
600 whites and 6O4 900 blacks;
$50, 900 whites and $751;
900 blacks. In these nine States it
is probable the whites would en-
deavOr and desire to exclude the
How would this exclusion affect
their representation in Congress
and their vote on the Presidential
Alabama has 3; Arkansas,
5 Florida, 2; Georgia, 10; Louisi-
ma, s; Mississippi. Z; North Car
3; South Carolina, Z, and
Virginia 10 Representatives, in al
seats in the House Of
By the exclusion
Of the colored vote they would lose
probably one-half, leaving them
The "Solid South" 20 called,
has cast in the Presidential cleo
ions under the present ap,rtion-
nent l5S votes. It would cast,
after the proposed exclu-
lion only l2l. In this very evenly
balanced House the democrats have
l60 votes. II the colored people in
be nine States We have named hsre
we're disfranchised and uncounted
he democratic minority in the pres
mt House would number l26.
Such changes would compel the
Of both parties to revise
heir calculations about the Pfesi-
vote. Such . great diminu-
ION in the vote Of usually demo-
ratio States would give the repub-
il they could hold their
. very great advantage. II
vould give them . chance Of con-
inued power, even II they should
ose some Of those Northern States
'hich now they need and usually
AIRY.
On the other hand, Il would strike
heavy blow at tho democratic
hances. The democrats must, in
hat case, carry . much greater
Of Northern electoral VOTES
L. A.. ------ L