The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-07
IkBY MAKES HIS FIGHT.
HIS OBJECTIONS TO THE SUE
FkAGE PLAN.

HIS OBJECTIONS TO THE SUE
FKAGE PLAN.
The Principles OF tho Reform Move
mcnt Are NiOla,cd-Hc Max es Il
Direct Attack Upon Senator Till
man.
Senator Irby took part in tne suf
frage debate on Thurs day, and his
speech Is given in full herewith
Mr.. President:-l have bccn sick
for two weeks and have, therefore,
had no opportunity TO take part in this
debate. Last night during my alb
sencc from indisposition, | under tand
thero were some slurs by MIR Wilson
and others on this floor against my
" Inconsistency" accusing mo Of op-
posing tho measure | myself had pro.
posed in caucus. MIR. Wilson, not
withstanding the fact that ho praises
the report of the conmittee with this
exception, suggested this very amend
ment in the committee. and | only re-
ply in defense Of myself. He suggested
this amendment. promptly and
frankly told him that would not vote
for it, because it contained the words
read and write, and that under my
pledge to the people of Laurens
County, and for that matter to the peo-
pic of South Carolina. | would stultify
myself and betray their cause, il |
voted for any such discrimination
! against the poor and illitcrate in South
Carolina.
| say now, notwithstanding some
slurs put upon mo in my absence, that
am not the ingratc who would ac-
ccpt tho highest office in South Caro-
lima from the poor and il!itcratc white
mon, and then tramp them beneath
my feet. They have been my friends,
sir, and SO hel p me God D.! | intend to
| be their friend, nnC nndeavOr to pro-
| tect them from what | believe to be an
| iniquity politically. say that by way
0! preface. Fearing 30 trust myself
indisposed rs | have been. have
written what 1 conceive to BIZ IL pro-
test against the pcrpetration Of this
outrage. have to say, sir, that | AIN
not governed by what other men may
do. Thank God ! | think and act for
myself, and stand here to-day to tell
the members OF this convention that |
will vote with the negroes when they
propose to indefinitely postpone this
bill. If we leave tho conditions Of Sec
tion as they arc, | shall vote against
the whole report, If I am the only
white man on the floor who docs 80. |
construe that to be my duty, sir, and
in spite of anything to the contrary, |
Of South Carolina and their verdict
can abide by. but can not be fright
cncd, or ridiculcd or driven from my
position OF honesty or gratitude. be-
cause the members Of this convention
think otherwise.
But MIR. President, with proper re-
Spect, for | mean no disrcspcct in any
sense, Of the right Of this convention,
individually or collectively, notwith-
standing this Repatriation of this agree
mont by the people, | am hero to day
TO tell you, sir, that this convention
ls dominated by men whose names are
attached 20 that written agreement.
The Governor Of our State is now the
junior member Of tho United States
Senate 10 the chairman OF tho com
mittre OF suffrage. Tho present
speaker OF the House Of Representa-
IlVcs Is a vicc-prrSlucht of This convcn-
tlOn Members from AbbevIlie and
Grccnvlilc Counties are also members
{ the suffrage committee. A member
irOu Charleston, II distinguished
lawyer. though not IL party To this
aSrecmrnt, IL the appointed ATTORNEY
TO represent the suffrage committee
ON this lour upGn all legal questions
a member from Charleston Is the
chairman Of the con- .nittec ON cduciL-
Lion. a m mbrr who signed III,
a. recmenJ Is TIL" chairman IL tue com
INIT Z un rpur,Lluno.
prefer PORTUGAL death, even IL pat
nr',i death, before | would strike the
poor man this cruel blow. viii give
iLn Instance.
When the war started in 1861, the
poor man rushed TO the camp ana the
muster ground to arms. There was a.
white boy who hal nothing but II
strong arm ana the clothes lie wore on
his back. He WAS one OF the first whO
volunteered in the service Of South
Carolina. That man went to Virginia
and fought for four years, without
coming home to sec his wife and little
ones. He made IL record, sir, of which
the whole Of Lhurcns County is proud
lie made us gW'd a soldier us far as he
vas concerned, as General Lee. To-
day he has sons who can not read and
write. He is not able to buy the right
to vote, he can not tell you what IL bill
OF attainder is, or an cX-post facto law
Is, but he is n II former OF the deepest
dye, and yet he and his sons arc TO 20
down beneath this ruin and dish0nOr.
| need not mention that the factions
are closer together than they might
Imagine. Some say that this will
qualify 10000 negroes
Now, Mr.. President, | say | regret
thatfthis convention is uOminatcd and
controlled by the parties to this agree
mcnt, for the reason that they signed
in writing Il pledge among themselves
Officers, us many OF them were, Of
the State gOvcrnmcnt-by their iDllu-
ence to enforce white supremacy by
the Adoption Of this constitution with
out the disfranchiscmcnt OF single
white man except for crime, which
was in effect equivalent to advertising,
and they did advertise il to tho world,
that negroes who were cnfranchiscd
under the constitution Of the United
States should be disqualified.
| say, sir, that alone is sufficient to
question the validity OF the cOnstitu-
t.on US made by this convention, and
whatever we do, whatever plan of
suffrage is adopted by this body, is
liable to be attacked in the United
States court on the ground Of con-
spiracy to rob the negro Of his elective
franchise. However that may be, sir,
that is not what imDclS me TO say that
[ can not and will not support the re-
port OF the committc on suffrage.
Ia ia,