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


or any better. There was no danger
OF intermarriages in this State; no
honest negro woman would become a
white mans wife, and vice versa. He
introduced the resolution in order to
give his people some protection ; to
help them in escaping an evil they had
been suffering under for q hundred
years. If he should go out upon the
streets this evening and insult u white
woman, in the morning his body would
6e hanging as sign on the avenue.
But IL the same treatment was &C.
corded the whites for advances to tho
negro the convention would have to
adjourn sine die without finishing it's
work.
a member objected to personal allu-
sion5 by General Smalls, and the Beau
fort statesman replied that he was not
personal to the innocent.
MIR. Barker agreed that the matter
had no place here, but 1t having been
brought up, it should be acted upon.
He agreed with Mr.. Johnstone in be-
lleving the intormarriage of persons,
when either contained any mixed
blood, should be prohibited. He would
be- unworthy Of the teaching Of his
childhood If he entertained any miser-
able prejudice to the negro. But the
question here is the religion of race.
If we are justified in adopting meas
uro of this sort, it can only be done
upon that principle. We cannot enter
into the question Of fractional qualifca-
tion. We eau only be justified in his
tory by our determination to maintain
an absolute division Of the two races
The moment we depart from that we
are gone it will stand before tho
world without Justification. If l-l6
why not Is. If l.S why not IA? No,
Sir; not l-16 or 1872 or one drop other
than pure Anglo-Saxon blood What
other barriers can we erect against
tho evasion Of the ideas become pre-
vulent ut the North, that those wich
negro blood may be upon social cuu.
ality?
The motion to lay on tho table Il
motion to rcconsideriMr. Johnstones Is
motion was then put and lost.
The amendment to section 81 offered
by Mr.. B. II. Tillman wore again pre-
sentcd
MIR. G. ID. Tillman objected to the
amendment as being purely Legislative
tho matter was already provided
for.
Mr.. b. II. Tilman explained that the
section only prohibited intermarryipg,
providing no punishment. He propos-
cd to provide Il punishment.
MIR. G.. ID. Tillma hold that the pro-
posed amendment committed blunder
of half the proposition submitted on
this floor in attempting to mako laws
that should be passed by the legisla-
turc.
Mr.. Is. IL. Tillman said tho eyes OF
tho world arc on tho convention thoy
could not afford to pass this matter
over without recognizing their respon-
, sibilitics.
Mr.. G.. d. Tillman contcndcd that the
section IN tho committees report was
. put there to provide against Il time
when political earthquake might put
those in power who favored intcrmar.
, riages.
Mr.. b. II. TilIman-Ict's put little
dynamite into it.
MIR. JOhnstonc-Oh, no more dynu-
mite.
MIR. Tillman--That amendment OF
}. yours striking out Us negro blood con
8 tains moro dynamite than any othe
- thing offered hero, and you will find i
out. ltcuts of people who have nogr
It blood. but who for ono cause or unothe
's had gotten into good society.
N MIR. JohnstUnc and Mr. Barker muiI
II tanned that this was not retroactive; i
N only Effected what Is to come.
t. Mr.. Tillman admitted that sucl
T. would be it's ofcct, and spoke to hi
ID amendment. Ho said there were fami
ii los living IN the State now, moving /
l. society, who have negro blood in thci
)f veins and you would cast cloud owe
~ thom.
70 Miller: " May you 1.-Two long to te
T. the truth
MIR. Burkor pointed out that tho sc,
IN tion referred only to the future.
d Senator Tillman said "If we ar
l. not Pharisccs Of Pharisees or shown
It the mcrest sham OF morality, we shoul
}. adopt tho amendments. We. woul
. mako mistake, if in faco of taunl
ID that have boon thrown at us, we shOul
y dodge tho issue, and to say you wi
l. leave it to the Legislature You simpl
st dodge the issue"
d MIR. Henderson said that he was sal
,f lsled that tho section would not be +,
Is trOactivc. There is now IL law on tn
IS matter.
N Mir. Johnstonc said that he had vote
y in the Legislature to mako miscogon,
1t tiOn crime and would vote for
Il again, and ho for ono was not acting
A. sham, but wo are here to deal in priI
IT. ciples and not Legislative matters an
he would now vote against putting tn
IL amendment in tho constitution, beca,s
>. it was II matter for the Legislature.
n Maj. Barker said that after cons;dc
III ing Ino QucSLlOn 1urLncr ne tic
Is that it would have II retroactive oifec
% but nevertheless ho would stand by til
T. section. 1t might be unfortunate tn,
y some people might, in tho future, b
h this law, DO prevented from marryn
y in a white family, but sympathy fo
d them fails before his desire to perpct,
+ ate the purity of the race.
+ Senator Tillman said that he kno
J. no such people personally, but he kne
f that there wore such in tho State. VIII
were good Confederate soldiers, wh
n had married into white families an
0 were received in good society. Fl
o thought no law that would be rotr0at
: tive should be passed.
= Mr.. G.. ID. Tillmun asked where prol
: erty rights would be affected. Maj0
: Barker said no.
{ Mr.. JohnstOne, continuing, said thu
he was unalterably opposed to havin
J this Legislation put in the constitution
J., because of tho tuuntS and snecrs hurle
at the members Of the convention.
/ Mr.. Fitch was in favor of no half Gu