The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-03-04
THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THREE
STATES TO BE INVESTIGATED.

THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THREE
STATES TO BE INVESTIGATED.
The Laws of Massachusetts,, Mississippi
and Idaho Declare to be in Violation
of the Fourteenth Amendment to the
Constitution.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-Mr. Caswel,
of Wisconsin, submitted to the House
to-day the report of the majority of
the House committee on the judiciary
on the resolution of Mr.. Houke, of
Tennessee, instructing the committee
to inquire into and report to the House
if any of the States are violating the
second section of the fourteenth
amendment to the Constitution.
The resolution, the report says, re-
quires the committee to inquire and
report to the House whether any of the
States, by their constitutions or legis-
lative enactments, have denied to or
abridged the right of any citizen to
| vote, so as to bring them within this
clause of the Constitution.
/ The committee have not deemed it
necessary, tae report says, as prelim-
mary step to the adoption of the reso-g
luton by the House, to make an ex-
tended inquiry into the constitutions
or legislative enactment of all the
States bearing upon the subject, but
deem it sufficient to refer to two in
stances, leaving further investigation
to be pursued, should the resolution be
adopted.
In their judgment, they say, the con-
stitutions of the States of Massachu-
setts and Mississippi are clearly with
in the provisions OF this section of the
Constitution.
The report, after referring to the
constitutions of Massachusetts, and
Mississippi, says that the fourteenth
amendment is broad and comprehen-
sive in it's terms whenever the right to
vote Of any male citizen of any State
over twenty-one years of age, and not
abridged by crime is denied.
The attention of the committee, the
report says, has been called to the legis-
lative enactments in several States, but
no special attention has been given
them, as the majority believe that the
Instances cited are sufficient to show
that the resolution should pass and a
thorough investigation of its subject
be had.
A minority report, signed by. Messrs.
Oats, Culbertson, Henderson, Wilson
and Stewart, protesting against the
passage of the resolution, says the COM
mittee in their report assume that
some of the male citizens of MlSsissip-
pi and Massachusetts who are over
twenty-one years of age, and not dis
franchised for crime, are by the consti-
tutions of those States denied the
right to vote. This may be true, but
we cannot shut our eyes to the fact
that the constitution of Mississippi
has not gone into operation, and that
there is no law by which the commit
tee can legally ascertain the number of
voters disfranchised. There has never
been any legislation by Congress pro-
viding means by which there may be
ascertained. fol. other causes than par
I ticipation in rebellion, or other crime,
the number disfIanchised in any State.
Prescriptions are worthless 10 such a
grave matter Legal proof must be
had to reasonable certainty. and until
such legislation is enacted it is utterly
futile to adopt resolution such as re-
ported. because it cannot be complied
with.
Mr.. Rodgers, besides signing the mi
nority report, also submits a report
giving additional reasons why the res.
olution should not pass. Mr.. Rodgers,
in opening his report, says that pre-.
cisely what the learned and expe-
rienced author of the resolution de-
sired the committee to inquire into
was evidently, at the time it was de.
feated, in state of impenetrable nu-,
bulosity in his own mind, and the reso-
luton itself has the inherent and un-
mistakable evidence of being the pre-
mature offspring OF chronic attack
of political strabismus, doubtless great.
ly aggravated by the humlliating dis
appointments in the results of last No.
vember's elections and the haunting
CAD fly Of memories OF election cases
ID the present Congress.
Mr.. Rodgers reviews the constitutions.
of Massachusetts, Mississippi. Yer
ment, Connecticut. Kansas and Idaho,
and says that of all the States, the one
whose constitution is the most fagrant-
| ly offensive to the second amendment
to the 14th amendment is our sweet
little sister, Idaho, who was brought
into Statehood by this Congress under
cloud of disloyalty to the coDstltu--
tion, after long labor and successful
performance of the Casarean operation
by the Speaker, now known as count
ing constitutional quorum" and now
stands most prominent and deserving
Of the consideration OF the majority OF
the committee.
There are quite a number of other
States, says Mr.. Rodgers, whose con-
stitutlonal laws restrict suffrage 1or
other causes than participation IN re-
bellion or other crimes, and accordlng
to the language of the resolution,
therefore, violate this action OF the
constitution" and, according to the re-
port of the majority, and clearly with
in the provisions of this section.
In conclusion, Mr.. Rodgers says that
in view OF the fact that only four OF
the committee voted for the favorable
report of the resolution, the chairman
not voting and not being counted, as
the rules of the House permit, and the
point of no quorum not being made, ne
recommended that the resolution be
laid on the table.
Meets His Match.
New YORK, Feb. pa special to
+Lo IIorold from thenS Ca saws. An