The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-10


entire section and indefinitely post
pono all amendments to 1t. He said
that tho convention had already
wasted q great deal of time discussing
questions that had no place in the con-
stitutiOn. This, among others, is
=, matter purely for statutory regulation.
Is miscegenation more hcinous than
crime in the constitution why not all
There is no public demand for this
crime to be especially considered now.
Mr.. Wigg (colored) agreed that this
matter had no place in tho cOnstitu-
tion, but it was wrong in tho first
place to bring this section in rs an
insult to the colored people Of the
State, and he was glad that it had
come home to roOst to the whito peo-
pic. He went on to soy that while
visiting Chicago he had seen fine
equippago drive by on the streets with
two liVeried white mon on the box.
In 1T sata white woman and by her
side II negro as black as the ace of
spades. This did not horrify any body
and was an every day occurrence in
the North and West. He went on to
Say that the sentiment of love was
placed in man Oy God Almighty, and
II Il whito man married u negro woman
no man dared to put them asunder.
MIR. JohnstOne said that the real
purpose of the amendment offered by
the Beaufort delegates was to allow
negroes to marry white women and to
compel this white convention to grant
their amendment or put them in an
embarrassing position. He for one
was not in favor, positively and en-
phatically, Of being driven into any
such position.
Mr.. Smalls denied that any such
thing was ever intended. Ho was Us
much opposed to intermarriage us any
man.
MIR. Johnstonc continuing said that
God Almighty never intended the
marriage of Il white man and an Afri-
: can, and he moved to lay all amend
mcnts to the section on the tablo.
Tom Miller said that he was per-
fcctly y willing to keep tho races apart
: as lar rs marriage relation is con-
cerncd. He never wanted such q
thing.
Mr.. Johnstonc, in order to avoid the
possible suppo ,ition that he was max
ing an exception, Withdrew his motion
. TO table SO as to allow Senator Tillman
|, to speak, although he thought tho
+, . subject had bccn sufficiently discussed.
! Mr. B. II, Tillman believed that if
- an indiscreet act had boon committed,
the gentleman from Barnwcll (Mr.
Aldrich) was responsible for it in try
I ing to Oblitcratc section 81. The oucs-
4 tion was here; should wo not meet 1t
|: like men? Whether tho committee
Il was wise IN bringing in the section he
n would not say. If we pass Il law max.
q ing it unlawful for intormarriage OF
J. the races, we cannot in common justice
~ refuse to punish Il white man for dc
buuchlng negro woman. Ho offered
e this amendment and substitute, thu
" amendment to follow section "a "Ant
e tho parties to such marriage. upon
H. conviction, shall be punished us the
III general assembly may prescribe"
Section 30. Any white person wht
ST shall live and cohabt with Il negro ol
is mulatto, or person who shall have nnS
Is negro blood, shall be guilty Of u mis-
IS dcmcanor, and shall be punished IL
the general assembly may prescribe.
n We dare not, said MIR. Tillman, pub
TO liSh it broadcast that after this quus
lc- tion has come up we are afraid to &C
Va upon it.
he Nh JohnstOnc declared that his me
aw lirn was pending, and MIR. Tillmnn
an- amendment was out Of order. 1t ",
mt SO held.
MIR. Sligh, as chairman, held tn;
Ar" all amendments to tho committee
or section WAS out OF order: that sccti(
81 referred only to marriages Il
i
icy tho marriages state wore no. pGrtincr
rry. Mr.. G. d. Tillman agreed with Nj
:ic- Sligh. That section had been copi,
the almost exactly from the Mississip
ar constitution, except that in that COZ
zen stitution marriage with persons
more than l.li negro blood was pr
m hibitcd. he could he said, gi,
'llc reasons for this OF II scientific charu
my ter. but it would take too long.
Mr.. Tiilmun said that tho Quostit
no having been presented hero, it shum
lrd be acted on. Alluding to tho sont
no, mcnt at the North, ho declared tn
Oh We knew nothing about it down her,
cd They looked upon tho intormarriay
ms OF races as natural, and ho suppose
he we would be forced to shake them Il
there in this mattor. Public sent
al mcnt WAS Indicated whom tho la
al ccnsus for New York State shove
AS negro mon. He had soon white Cir
% waitcrs in assachussetts under ordc
les Of negro head waiter. Ho he'd SOC
tcs IL sad sight--a pretty girl, evident
we with gentle blood in her veins. b,
IN who had become poor, married to
he negro, and with two mulatto childre
ch 1c cited those things to show O,
ignorance Of Northern sentiment.
nc Mr.. Tlllman thon moved to lay a
20 pu btlC GuDl
nc This was carried with httlc opposite
IS By viva vocc vote, tho conventic
us not seeming to realize that they TIN
be disposed Of the Cooper amendment
CT ,Smalls' amendment, which they adOp
:, ed tho night previous after IL longtr
I'll debate by a vote Of lO3 to %, and whic
ty reads as follows: "And that an
ia white person who shall live al
:, cohabit with IL negro or mulatto G
I'll person who shall have one ely hth &
n, more Of negro blood shall be di.
IN qualified from holding any otlico {
MS emOlunient or trust in this STATE"
The question turned upon Il motto
C. by Mr.. G. ID. Tillman to consider tn
rs vote by which the amendment to tn
original section, offered by Mr.. John
n stone, was adopted. That amend
Is ment inserted "any" instead OF ono
le eighth on morc," 80 that no inter
IL marriage of white persons with one O